12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum opens at Parliament House, Modi to meet delegation leaders
Synopsis
India is hosting the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan on 26-27 October, with PM Modi meeting visiting delegation leaders. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's bilateral with Russia's State Duma chief Volodin — centred on counterterrorism and the India-Russia strategic partnership approaching its 80th anniversary — signals that parliamentary diplomacy is carrying substantive geopolitical freight this week.
Key Takeaways
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum opened on 26 October at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House complex, New Delhi .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet heads of visiting parliamentary delegations during the two-day event.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a bilateral with Vyacheslav Volodin , Chairman of Russia's State Duma, focusing on counterterrorism cooperation and global peace.
Birla noted that India and Russia will complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027 , underscoring the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
The Forum's central theme is 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development' , with delegates from BRICS member and partner countries participating.
The Parliament of India on Monday, 26 October 2026, inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House complex, New Delhi, gathering parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on strengthening legislative cooperation and advancing people-centric development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to grace the occasion and hold meetings with visiting delegation heads.
Key Developments at the Forum
The two-day Forum, spanning 26 and 27 October, carries the overarching theme of 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development' — focusing on the role of parliamentary institutions in advancing development aligned with citizens' needs and aspirations. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla described the Forum as 'a new chapter in the history of India's parliamentary diplomacy' at a press conference held earlier at Parliament House.
The event brings together Presiding Officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner nations, Union Ministers, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Presiding Officers of State Legislatures, Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries.
India-Russia Bilateral on Terrorism and Cooperation
Ahead of the Forum's inauguration, Birla held a bilateral meeting with the parliamentary delegation from Russia, led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The two sides underscored the need to strengthen cooperation at global forums and make collective efforts to combat terrorism.
According to an official statement, Birla extended a warm welcome to Volodin 'on behalf of the Parliament of India and 1.4 billion Indians', highlighting the 'special and time-tested friendship between India and Russia, rooted in mutual trust, respect and shared aspirations.' Birla also appreciated Russia's consistent support for India's counterterrorism efforts, stressing that 'the international community must demonstrate unity and resolve towards terrorism, and work together for global peace.'
India-Russia Strategic Partnership in Focus
Notably, Birla pointed out that India and Russia would complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, emphasising that the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership had been further strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This bilateral exchange sets a significant diplomatic tone ahead of the broader multilateral deliberations at the Forum.
Significance for India's Parliamentary Diplomacy
India's hosting of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum comes at a time when the BRICS grouping has expanded its partner-country architecture, making parliamentary-level engagement increasingly consequential. The forum provides New Delhi a platform to shape the legislative agenda within the BRICS framework — from development financing to counterterrorism norms — at a moment when India's global diplomatic footprint is being actively consolidated. The outcomes of the two-day deliberations are expected to feed into the broader BRICS leaders' process in the coming months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a two-day gathering of parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, held on 26 and 27 October at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House complex, New Delhi. It focuses on the theme 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.'
Who is participating in the BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026?
Participants include Presiding Officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, Union Ministers, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Presiding Officers of State Legislatures, and Members of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet the visiting delegation heads.
What did Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Russia's Volodin discuss?
Birla and Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of Russia's State Duma, held a bilateral meeting ahead of the Forum, underscoring the need to strengthen cooperation at global forums and to combat terrorism collectively. Birla also highlighted the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and noted that the two nations will mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
What is the significance of India hosting the BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla described the Forum as a new chapter in India's parliamentary diplomacy. Hosting the event gives India a platform to shape the legislative agenda within the BRICS framework on issues ranging from people-centric development to counterterrorism norms.
When will India and Russia complete 80 years of diplomatic relations?
India and Russia are set to complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, as highlighted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during his bilateral meeting with State Duma Chairman Volodin on the sidelines of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum.
