Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will chair the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, featuring two days of discussions on global priorities. (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: The national capital is set to become a key venue for international parliamentary diplomacy as India hosts the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26 and 27, 2026. The gathering will bring parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, where discussions will focus on the future of parliamentary cooperation, ethical artificial intelligence, institutional resilience and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the event and meet leaders of visiting delegations. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who will chair the forum, is also set to hold bilateral discussions with visiting parliamentary leaders and deliver the valedictory address.
The two-day forum will be held under the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development.” It aims to encourage consensus-based dialogue on how parliamentary institutions can respond to emerging global challenges while keeping public welfare and inclusive development at the centre of policymaking.
The programme is expected to bring together presiding officers, members of parliament, Union Ministers, representatives of state legislatures and other dignitaries from BRICS member and partner countries. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh is also listed among the expected participants.
The forum comes at a time when governments and institutions worldwide are grappling with the implications of rapid technological change, demands for stronger institutional frameworks and calls for more representative global governance. The discussions will provide a platform for parliamentary leaders to exchange perspectives and explore areas of cooperation.
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will feature four high-level sessions addressing major priorities for legislatures. The first session will examine the role of parliaments in strengthening institutional resilience and preparing governance systems for future challenges.
The second will focus on innovation, including the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in ways that retain a human-centred approach. The third session will explore how parliamentary cooperation can contribute to a more representative global governance architecture. The fourth will address the role of legislatures in advancing sustainable and inclusive development.
Together, these discussions are intended to examine how parliaments can respond to changing social, economic and technological conditions while supporting stronger institutions and long-term development.
Alongside the main sessions, the forum will hold a dedicated meeting of the chairs of international affairs committees from BRICS member and partner parliaments. The discussions will cover parliamentary diplomacy, capacity-building and the exchange of best practices.
The programme will also include plenary debates, parallel meetings, bilateral exchanges and cultural engagements. Visiting delegations are scheduled to take part in a guided tour of the Indian Parliament and a cultural excursion in Delhi. The Lok Sabha Speaker and the Vice President of India are also scheduled to host banquets in honour of the visiting dignitaries.
A meeting of delegation secretaries is scheduled for October 25 to finalise the joint statement of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. The statement is expected to reflect the outcomes of the deliberations and areas of consensus among participating delegations. Proceedings will be open to accredited media personnel, including official photographers and videographers.
As India hosts the forum under its chairship, the discussions will place parliamentary dialogue, technological innovation and sustainable development at the centre of engagement among BRICS member and partner countries. The focus will be on identifying shared priorities and strengthening cooperation between legislatures in addressing challenges that increasingly cross national boundaries.
