12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum Held in New Delhi Emphasising Multilateral Dialogue and Reform

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi. The gathering marked the forum's 20th anniversary, bringing together legislative leaders from member countries following India's assumption of the forum's chairmanship at the 11th forum in Brasilia in June 2025. Addressing the delegates, the Speaker and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh stressed that cross-border challenges—including regional conflicts, terrorism, economic instability, trade friction, and climate change—require sustained diplomacy, dialogue, and institutional collaboration.

Significance for UPSC Aspirants

The proceedings underscore several vital areas within the General Studies syllabus, notably multilateral platforms, South-South cooperation, and the growing concept of parliamentary diplomacy:

• Parliamentary Diplomacy: While executive diplomacy negotiates international treaties and declarations, legislative bodies play a critical role in converting multilateral commitments into binding domestic laws, budgetary support, policy deliberation, and executive oversight.
• Strengthening the Global South: BRICS countries account for nearly half of the world's population and roughly a third of its landmass. India has consistently utilised its leadership within the grouping to amplify the priorities of developing economies and advocate for a multipolar global order.
• Global Governance Architecture: The forum reiterated support for the New Delhi Declaration adopted by the BRICS Heads of State, highlighting the urgency of reforming multilateral institutions to reflect current geopolitical and economic realities.

Key Highlights and Context

Under India's BRICS presidency, the grouping operated under a people-centric vision with the guiding theme of Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability. The discussions at Samvidhan Sadan focused on leveraging inter-parliamentary mechanisms to ease international tensions, build mutual confidence, and address complex transnational crises that cannot be confined within national borders. Delegations stressed that despite geographical, linguistic, and cultural diversities, member nations remain linked by shared commitments to collective progress, inclusiveness, and democratic dialogue.