Why MPs from 13 Countries Are Meeting in India: Understanding the BRICS Parliamentary Forum
Cooperation areas
Source: नवभारत टाइम्स | Original Published At: 2026-10-25 05:16:17 UTC
Key Points
- The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will take place in New Delhi on October 26-27, with a secretaries' meeting on October 25 to finalize the forum's joint declaration.
- The forum is a platform for dialogue among BRICS parliaments; it was first held in Moscow in June 2015, and an MoU to institutionalize parliamentary cooperation was signed during the 2023 meeting in South Africa.
- The forum's main theme is strengthening parliaments for people-centric development, with discussions on institutions, AI and digital technology, reforming the global order, and sustainable inclusive development.
- Parliamentary delegations from 13 countries, including six BRICS member countries and seven partner countries, will participate, with some delegations led by speakers, deputy speakers, or MPs.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said parliamentary diplomacy is important and that India, as the world's largest democracy, has a responsibility to promote cooperation among parliaments in addressing global challenges.
- The article outlines BRICS membership: it began in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India and China, became BRICS in 2011 with South Africa, added new full members in January 2024, and included Indonesia in January 2025.