BRICS Parliamentary Forum Set for Delhi
Why in News?
- On 24 October 2026, The Tribune reported that Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, will skip the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi.
- Iran's embassy cited "certain unforeseen circumstances" and said a parliamentary delegation from Tehran will attend and continue talks with other member countries.
- The forum will be held on 26 and 27 October 2026 in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, with the theme "Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development".
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend and meet visiting delegations.
- The outcome of the forum is not known at the time of writing.
Key Terminologies
- BRICS Parliamentary Forum
- An annual meeting of the legislatures of BRICS countries, held alongside the leaders' summit process. It lets Speakers and Members of Parliament discuss shared concerns and adopt a joint declaration.
- Parliamentary Diplomacy
- Engagement between countries through their legislatures, as against governments. Speakers and parliamentary delegations meet, exchange views and build understanding.
- Joint Declaration
- The common text adopted at the end of a forum, which records the shared positions of the participating parliaments. Adoption usually needs consensus.
- Samvidhan Sadan
- The Central Hall venue in New Delhi where the forum will be held, as named in The Tribune's report.
Key Issues
- Absence of a Key Speaker: Iran's Speaker Ghalibaf will not attend, and the embassy cited "unforeseen circumstances" without detail, The Tribune reported on 24 October 2026. A delegation will represent Tehran, so Iran stays in the process.
- Divergent Positions: The report notes that members and partners include countries with differing positions on West Asian security. Forum consensus therefore depends on avoiding wording that divides members.
- Agenda Beyond Politics: Topics include institutional resilience, human-centric artificial intelligence and digital technology, global governance reform and sustainable development. The regional conflict is not on the formal agenda but could arise in side meetings.
- Consensus Rule: The 11th forum in Brasilia on 4 and 5 June 2025 adopted a declaration with the participation of all 10 member parliaments, including India's positions, The Tribune reported on 6 June 2025.
- Terrorism Language: The Brasilia declaration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and agreed on a "zero tolerance" policy against terrorism, which shows how India uses the forum to press its security concerns.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- India's Convening Role: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chairs the forum as the host, having led India's delegation in Brasilia, which raises India's profile in BRICS parliamentary cooperation.
- Dialogue Under Strain: Iran's delegation will continue talks with other members, which keeps a channel open at a time of West Asian tension.
- Global Governance Agenda: The agenda item on global governance reform gives India a platform to raise reform of multilateral institutions, an analytical point.
- Technology Cooperation: Discussion of human-centric artificial intelligence gives parliaments a say in rules for technology that affect citizens, an analytical point.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Symbolic Weight of Absences: A Speaker's absence reduces the political weight of the meeting. The Tribune linked the context to differing positions on West Asian security, though Iran gave no such reason.
- Consensus Dilutes Texts: A declaration agreed by consensus among members with differing positions may be general, which limits its practical effect.
- Non-Binding Output: Forum declarations are not binding on governments, so their influence depends on follow-up by individual parliaments.
- Risk of Side-Meeting Spillover: Regional disputes could shape informal meetings even if absent from the agenda, as the report noted.
Key Initiatives
- India as Host and Chair: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chairs the 12th forum, which India hosts at Samvidhan Sadan on 26 and 27 October 2026 with the theme "Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development".
- Brazil's Forum, 2025: Brazil hosted the 11th forum in Brasilia on 4 and 5 June 2025, where 10 parliaments adopted a declaration that condemned the Pahalgam attack and backed cooperation on terrorism.
- BRICS Parliaments: The 10 participating parliaments in 2025 were India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia.
- Iran's Delegation: The Iranian embassy said a parliamentary delegation from Tehran would attend and continue talks with other member countries.
The Tribune reported on 24 October 2026 that the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend and meet visiting delegations, and the forum will discuss institutional resilience, artificial intelligence, global governance reform and sustainable development. The regional conflict is not on the formal agenda. The result of the forum is not known.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Keep the declaration focused on points where members agree, such as technology governance and sustainable development, so that consensus is meaningful.
- Set up a follow-up mechanism in which each parliament reports annually on actions taken, which turns declarations into practice.
- Use committee-level exchanges on artificial intelligence regulation, so that legislatures develop expertise before laws are drafted.
- Keep channels open with absent or reluctant members through delegation-level talks, as Iran's case shows.
The forum is useful as a venue for dialogue, but its worth depends on what members agree to do. India's hosting role and a broad technology and governance agenda are strengths, while the absence of a Speaker, tension in West Asia and non-binding declarations are weaknesses. In a Mains answer, credit parliamentary diplomacy as a supplement to government diplomacy, then conclude that the forum will matter only if its consensus texts are followed by action in member parliaments.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum being held?
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be held on 26 and 27 October 2026 in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chairs it, and its theme is "Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development".
Why is Iran's Speaker not attending the BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
Iran's embassy said Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf cannot attend because of "certain unforeseen circumstances" and gave no further detail, according to The Tribune on 24 October 2026. A parliamentary delegation from Tehran will attend and continue talks with other member countries.
What did the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum decide in 2025?
The 11th forum in Brasilia on 4 and 5 June 2025 adopted a declaration with 10 member parliaments. It condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, agreed on a zero tolerance policy against terrorism and recorded consensus on artificial intelligence, trade, cooperation among parliaments and global peace.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is being hosted by India in New Delhi.
It will be held on 26 and 27 October 2026 at Samvidhan Sadan.
2 The BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a body whose declarations bind the governments of all member countries.
Declarations are adopted by consensus but are not binding on governments.
3 The Brasilia declaration of 2025 condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
Ten parliaments agreed to cooperate on terrorism under a zero tolerance policy.