Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, arrived in New Delhi on 25 October to attend the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which India is hosting at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on 26–27 October. The forum, convened under India's chairship, will bring together presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner nations to deliberate on people-centric development and deeper parliamentary cooperation.

India Hosts a Landmark Parliamentary Gathering

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla described the forum as 'a new chapter in the history of India's parliamentary diplomacy.' Addressing reporters at Parliament House, Birla said the event would be attended by Union Ministers, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, presiding officers of state legislatures, Members of Parliament, and other senior dignitaries from across the BRICS grouping.

The forum's overarching theme — 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development' — will frame discussions on how legislative bodies can better serve citizens across the diverse BRICS membership, which has expanded significantly in recent years to include new partner nations.

PM Modi to Meet Visiting Delegation Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the forum and hold separate meetings with the heads of visiting delegations, according to Birla. Such engagements are likely to carry diplomatic weight given the current global geopolitical climate, with Russia's Volodin's participation drawing particular attention amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Bilateral and multilateral interactions between parliamentary leaders and parliamentary friendship groups are also scheduled on the sidelines, adding a layer of legislative diplomacy to the proceedings.

Joint Statement and Pre-Forum Preparations

A preparatory meeting of delegation secretaries was convened on 25 October to finalise the Joint Statement of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. According to Birla, suggestions had been received from 18 countries ahead of the drafting process, with discussions to proceed on that basis.

This preparatory step underscores the level of coordination involved in producing a consensus document across an increasingly diverse multilateral grouping.

India's Parliamentary Friendship Push

Birla also highlighted a new Indian initiative: the establishment of Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries. He called it the first time such a large-scale effort had been undertaken, noting that while earlier attempts were made, none reached this scale. India is reportedly continuing to expand these groups wherever bilateral parliamentary friendship forums already exist.

This initiative positions India as an active architect of parliamentary-level multilateralism — distinct from, but complementary to, executive-level diplomacy through summits and state visits.

What Comes Next

The forum's outcomes, including the Joint Statement, will be closely watched as a signal of where BRICS parliamentary consensus stands on development, multipolarity, and global governance reform. With the grouping's expanded membership and India at the helm, the 26–27 October sessions at Samvidhan Sadan could set the tone for BRICS legislative cooperation well into 2025.