The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum opened on Thursday, 11 June 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi, bringing together ministers, senior officials, and urban experts from across BRICS nations and partner countries under India's 2026 Chairship. The two-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, centres on the theme 'Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures'.

Inauguration and Key Priorities

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal formally inaugurated the Forum, underscoring its role in integrating the urban agenda into global development discourse. He identified inclusive urban development, climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure, institutional strengthening, and digital innovation as the four pillars anchoring India's urban growth narrative.

Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Srinivas Katikithala welcomed delegates, noting that the Forum has consistently enabled the exchange of best practices, deepened mutual understanding of governance systems, and built trust for long-term collaboration among member nations.

Participating Nations and Forum Format

The Forum drew participation from Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. This marks the fourth time India has hosted the event, following earlier editions in New Delhi (2013), Visakhapatnam (2016), and a virtual session in 2021.

A high-level plenary session, chaired by Manohar Lal, gave member nations a platform to present country statements on shared urban challenges, future prospects, and collective aspirations.

India's Urban Transformation Publication

During the inaugural session, Manohar Lal released a publication titled 'India's Urban Transformation: Stories of Change', which documents successful urban initiatives and experiences from states and Union Territories across the Forum's four priority areas. The publication is intended to serve as a reference for BRICS partners seeking to adapt India's urban models.

India-Russia Bilateral and Sideline Talks

On the sidelines, India and Russia held a bilateral meeting co-chaired by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu and Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation Yury Mutsenek. Discussions reviewed progress on a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sustainable urban development, with both sides expressing commitment to finalise it soon.

Topics covered included urban planning, affordable housing, municipal infrastructure, sustainable construction technologies, capacity building, and governance best practices. Separate bilateral talks also took place between Iran and Russia, Iran and China, and Russia and the UAE.

Delegates Visit Delhi's Urban Showcase Projects

Delegates were taken on visits to landmark urban projects in and around New Delhi, including the New Parliament Complex and the India Gate-Kartavya Path precinct — offering first-hand exposure to India's ongoing urban transformation. The Forum concludes on 12 June 2026, with further sessions expected to produce a joint communiqué on BRICS urban cooperation priorities.