Leaders cutting across party lines on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 hailed the conclusion of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, calling it a significant platform for India to assert its voice as a global leader and exchange governance best practices with member nations. The forum closed with the adoption of a Joint Declaration, a day after its inauguration by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

What the Joint Declaration Affirmed

The declaration formally reaffirmed the member countries' commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, encompassing sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. According to participants, the language of the declaration was agreed upon amicably after discussions among delegations.

What Government Leaders Said

BJP MP Anurag Thakur described the forum as 'yet another success on the international stage,' adding that it demonstrated India's evolution from being 'a follower' to 'a leader' in global affairs. He pointed to the G20 Summit in 2023, the BRICS Summit in September, and the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum as evidence that India has proven its capacity to organise and lead major international events.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal called the forum an 'excellent opportunity' for all participating nations to learn from each other's parliamentary processes and exchange best practices. He noted that India's own legislative strides in recent years have given other nations a chance to understand its 'positive aspects, best practices, as well as its rules and procedures.'

Union Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu invoked the concept of 'Vishwa Bandhu' — a philosophy of collective growth — and said India is playing a 'solid role' in fostering development not just within its borders but across partner nations. He attributed India's growing international stature to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Opposition Voices Support

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also called the forum a 'very successful event,' noting that just as an agreement on language was reached during the BRICS Summit earlier in the year, the joint declaration here too was finalised after deliberation. 'In the end everything was handled amicably, and India peacefully handed over the chair to China,' Tharoor told reporters. He expressed hope for India's 'continued role in international cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy through BRICS as well as through other forums.'

Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Kumar Rai added a note of caution, warning that the global order risks losing relevance if the voice of BRICS nations goes unheard. 'The BRICS forum covers nearly one-third of the world's geographical area. If its voice goes unheard, the global order loses its relevance,' he said.

Why This Forum Matters

The BRICS Parliamentary Forum is distinct from the heads-of-state BRICS Summit in that it brings together parliamentarians from member nations, enabling legislative-level diplomacy. Notably, this edition was held amid a broader expansion of the BRICS grouping, with new member nations joining its orbit — making the forum's reach, and its declarations, more consequential than in earlier years. India's role as host and its smooth handover of the chair to China signals a pragmatic diplomatic posture, particularly given the complex bilateral relationship between the two countries.

With the chair now passing to China, attention will turn to how Beijing shapes the agenda for the next edition, and whether the cooperative tone struck in New Delhi holds through a geopolitically uncertain period.