BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026: LS Speaker Birla calls for dialogue to resolve global crises
Synopsis
With conflicts raging and multilateralism fraying, India used the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi to make a pointed argument: parliaments — not just governments — must step up as peacemakers. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's call for BRICS to become a 'practical and achievable' voice of the Global South, backed by PM Modi's planned attendance, turns what could have been a ceremonial gathering into a statement of strategic intent.
Key Takeaways
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26 October at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi .
Birla called on parliaments to play a central role in reducing international tensions and resolving global challenges through peaceful means.
He positioned India as the 'mother of democracy' and urged BRICS to become an empowered, practical voice of the Global South .
The two-day forum runs on 26 and 27 October , bringing together presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend and meet visiting delegation leaders during the forum.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, 26 October opened the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi, urging parliaments worldwide to leverage diplomacy and dialogue to defuse international tensions and address pressing global challenges. Birla chaired the two-day forum, which has brought together presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner nations.
Key Remarks by the Lok Sabha Speaker
In his inaugural address, Birla catalogued the scale of challenges confronting the international community. 'Today, the world is grappling with grave issues like regional conflicts, wars, economic instability, trade tensions, terrorism and climate change. The impact of these does not stop at one's border. In such times, the importance of cooperation, dialogue and diplomacy increases,' he said.
He argued that legislatures — not just executives — have a distinct and underutilised role in building interstate trust. 'Parliaments can play a special role in strengthening mutual understanding and trust, reducing international tension and resolving global challenges peacefully,' Birla stated.
India's Democratic Identity at the Centre
Birla also invoked India's democratic heritage, describing the country as the mother of democracy. 'Our democracy is founded on dialogue, diversity of thought, and a sense of mutual respect even amidst agreement or disagreement. Based on this very democratic strength, India has progressed rapidly in its 75-year journey,' he said. The framing positions India as a credible convener of multilateral parliamentary dialogue at a time when geopolitical fault lines are widening.
BRICS as a Voice for the Global South
The Speaker underlined the bloc's strategic potential to amplify the interests of developing and emerging economies. 'BRICS has the ability to become an empowered voice of the Global South. We have to make sure that our ambitions are not just limited to mere discussion, but should also be practical and achievable,' he said. The remark signals a push to move the forum beyond symbolism toward actionable outcomes — a recurring demand from Global South nations navigating Western-dominated multilateral institutions.
Who Is Attending the Forum
The forum, scheduled for 26 and 27 October, has drawn 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. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend and hold meetings with the visiting delegation leaders — a signal of the political weight India is attaching to the event.
Why This Forum Matters Now
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum arrives at a moment of acute global stress: active conflicts in multiple theatres, fragmented supply chains, and a fracturing multilateral order. Hosting the forum in New Delhi allows India to reinforce its self-positioning as a bridge between the Global South and established global powers — a narrative it has cultivated through its G20 presidency in 2023 and its continued engagement with both Western allies and the BRICS bloc. The forum's emphasis on people-centric development and parliamentary cooperation offers an alternative multilateral grammar to one defined purely by executive summits.
Point of View
Not just a scheduling convenience. India is signalling that it can hold together a bloc that now spans vastly different political systems, from liberal democracies to authoritarian states, under the banner of parliamentary values. The tension, however, is real: parliamentary diplomacy is only meaningful if the parliaments involved hold genuine authority, and in several BRICS nations they do not. Birla's call for BRICS ambitions to be 'practical and achievable' is the right instinct — but without binding follow-through mechanisms, parliamentary forums risk becoming high-profile photo opportunities dressed in multilateral language.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
It is a two-day gathering of presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, held on 26 and 27 October in New Delhi. The forum focuses on strengthening parliamentary cooperation and advancing people-centric development.
What did Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla say at the BRICS forum?
Birla called for parliaments to play a special role in reducing international tensions and resolving global challenges through dialogue and diplomacy. He also urged BRICS to become a practical, empowered voice of the Global South rather than limiting itself to discussion.
Will Prime Minister Modi attend the BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
Yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the forum and meet leaders of the visiting delegations from BRICS member and partner countries during the two-day event.
Where is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum being held?
The forum is being held at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House complex in New Delhi, and runs from 26 to 27 October.
Why is India hosting the BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
India is positioning itself as a bridge between the Global South and established global powers — a role it has cultivated since its G20 presidency in 2023. Hosting the forum reinforces this identity and gives India a platform to shape the agenda on parliamentary diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
