India hosts the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on October 26–27 under its 2026 chairship
Why this matters
The forum links India’s BRICS chairship with parliamentary diplomacy, making it relevant to questions on Global South cooperation, democratic institutions, artificial intelligence and reform of global governance. It also shows how legislatures can influence international cooperation beyond executive-level summits.
In plain words
This forum sits at the intersection of India’s foreign policy and parliamentary functioning. BRICS is a cooperation platform of major emerging and developing countries; its parliamentary forum gives legislators a place to exchange practices, build political understanding and discuss how laws can address shared problems. India is hosting the 12th edition in New Delhi during its 2026 chairship, with delegations from 11 member countries and 10 partner countries. The meeting is being held in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on 26–27 October 2026. (pib.gov.in)
The central idea is “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.” Discussions are organised around four themes: resilience of institutions, human-centred artificial intelligence and digital technologies, a more representative system of global governance, and sustainable and inclusive development. A special meeting of international-affairs committee chairpersons will address parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and exchange of best practices. Secretaries of delegations are also preparing a joint statement, showing that the forum seeks a common political message rather than only ceremonial interaction. (pib.gov.in)
The practical significance is that parliaments convert broad international promises into domestic laws, budgets and oversight. A simple analogy is that leaders may design the blueprint, but legislatures decide whether the building receives legal approval, money and public accountability. The forum cannot itself change international law, because BRICS has no constitutive treaty or permanent secretariat, but it can create political convergence and encourage coordinated action on technology, development, institutional resilience and representation in global bodies.
Key facts
- The forum is being held on October 26–27, 2026, at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi.
- It is being hosted by the Parliament of India during India's 2026 BRICS chairship.
- Delegations from 11 BRICS member countries and 10 partner countries are participating.
- The overarching theme is strengthening parliaments for people-centric development.
- Sessions focus on resilience, human-centred AI and digital technologies, representative global governance, and sustainability.
How we got here
The grouping began as BRIC—Brazil, Russia, India and China—in 2006, after the term had been coined in 2001 to describe fast-growing emerging economies. The first leaders’ summit took place at Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, against the background of the global financial crisis and demands for a fairer international financial order. South Africa joined in 2011, creating the BRICS acronym. The 2023 Johannesburg Summit decided the second major expansion, with new members admitted from 2024; the grouping now has 11 members. (brics.br)
BRICS is an informal coordination forum rather than a treaty-based organisation. Its cooperation traditionally covers political and security issues, economic and financial cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. Important institutional outcomes include the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, agreed at the 2014 Fortaleza Summit. India’s 2026 chairship began on 1 January 2026 and has included diplomatic and capacity-building activities before the New Delhi leaders’ summit and parliamentary forum. (brics.br)
The bigger picture
International
Parliamentary diplomacy and Global South representation
The forum broadens diplomacy beyond heads of government and foreign ministries. Legislators can compare laws, scrutinise executive commitments and build relationships that survive changes of government. Its call for more representative global governance reflects the long-standing BRICS demand for greater voice for developing countries in institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. However, parliamentary dialogue produces political influence rather than binding decisions. Its success will depend on whether the joint statement leads to coordinated positions, committee exchanges and follow-up in national legislatures.
Parliamentary diplomacy can strengthen the Global South’s voice, but dialogue must produce sustained institutional follow-up.
Constitutional
Parliamentary accountability in foreign policy
Foreign policy is primarily conducted by the executive, but Parliament exercises democratic accountability through debate, questions, committees, budgetary approval and scrutiny of international commitments. The forum therefore raises the wider issue of how international cooperation can remain answerable to citizens. In India, parliamentary participation can help connect global commitments with domestic legislation on data, technology, climate action and development. The challenge is to avoid reducing Parliament to a symbolic venue while preserving executive flexibility in sensitive negotiations.
International engagement gains legitimacy when Parliament connects executive diplomacy with public scrutiny and domestic implementation.
Science & Tech
Human-centred artificial intelligence
The innovation session recognises that artificial intelligence affects elections, public services, employment, privacy, security and access to information. A human-centred approach means technology should support dignity, safety, inclusion and accountability rather than merely maximise speed or profit. Parliamentary cooperation can compare rules on transparency, bias testing, liability and access to digital infrastructure. The difficulty is regulatory divergence: countries may differ on privacy, state surveillance, innovation policy and national security. The forum can still promote common principles without imposing one identical law.
The central policy test is not whether artificial intelligence is advanced, but whether its use remains accountable, inclusive and rights-respecting.
Economic
Development finance and implementation
People-centric development requires laws and budgets that convert international cooperation into infrastructure, health, education, energy access and employment. BRICS institutions such as the New Development Bank demonstrate an attempt to supplement existing development-finance channels. Parliamentary forums can improve scrutiny of project selection, debt sustainability, environmental safeguards and distributional outcomes. Yet BRICS members have different economic structures and geopolitical interests, so consensus may remain broad. The practical benchmark is whether cooperation reduces implementation gaps rather than merely producing declarations.
The credibility of BRICS cooperation will be judged by development outcomes, transparency and accountability, not conference language alone.
Environmental
Sustainability and inclusive transition
The sustainability session links development with climate resilience, energy security, resource efficiency and social inclusion. BRICS countries include major energy producers, industrial economies and highly vulnerable developing societies, creating both shared interests and policy tensions. Parliamentary cooperation can support climate-resilient budgets, clean-energy investment, technology transfer and protection for workers affected by structural change. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities remains relevant: countries need shared action, but historical emissions, fiscal capacity and development needs are unequal.
A fair transition must combine environmental ambition with affordable energy, jobs and differentiated national responsibilities.
The big debate
Can parliamentary forums such as the BRICS Parliamentary Forum materially strengthen global governance and people-centric development?
For
- Legislators add democratic legitimacy and can connect international commitments with domestic laws, budgets and oversight.
- Regular committee exchanges build trust and practical cooperation beyond summit-level statements.
- A wider BRICS platform can amplify developing countries’ demands for fairer representation in global institutions.
Against
- BRICS has no constitutive treaty or permanent secretariat, limiting implementation and institutional continuity.
- Members differ sharply on governance models, security interests, economic priorities and interpretations of human rights.
- Parliamentary declarations may remain non-binding and disconnected from national legislative or budgetary processes.
On balance. The forum is valuable as a trust-building and agenda-setting mechanism, not as a substitute for binding institutions. Its influence will depend on follow-up: committee reports, coordinated legislative practices, transparent development projects and measurable implementation. Parliamentary diplomacy becomes consequential when it converts consensus into domestic accountability and sustained cooperation.
For or against?
“Regular committee exchanges build trust and practical cooperation beyond summit-level statements.”
For or against?
“Members differ sharply on governance models, security interests, economic priorities and interpretations of human rights.”
Answer it in Mains
GS2
Parliamentary diplomacy is emerging as an important instrument of India’s foreign policy. Discuss.
Approach. Begin with the BRICS Parliamentary Forum as an example; explain legislative diplomacy, committee exchanges and democratic legitimacy; assess limits from non-binding outcomes; conclude with institutionalised follow-up and public accountability.
Worth quoting. 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum press release, Lok Sabha Secretariat, 22 October 2026: four sessions and a special meeting of international-affairs committee chairpersons. (pib.gov.in)
GS2
Examine the significance and limitations of BRICS as a platform for reforming global governance.
Approach. Define BRICS as an informal Global South coordination forum; trace its expansion and demand for representative institutions; analyse diversity and consensus problems; conclude that issue-based coalitions and implementation determine credibility.
Worth quoting. BRICS official history records the 2009 first summit, 2011 South African entry, 2023 expansion decision and objectives of greater representation in global institutions. (brics.br)
Essay
Human-centred artificial intelligence requires international cooperation as well as domestic regulation. Discuss.
Approach. Use the forum’s Innovation session as the hook; analyse opportunities, bias, privacy, employment and accountability; distinguish common principles from uniform laws; conclude with rights-based, inclusive and innovation-friendly governance.
Worth quoting. UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, 2021, especially its emphasis on human rights, inclusion, transparency and accountability.
GS2
How can sustainable development be made people-centric in a multipolar world?
Approach. Start with the forum’s Sustainability theme; connect climate action, energy access, finance and social justice; discuss differentiated capacities and parliamentary budget scrutiny; conclude with measurable implementation aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Worth quoting. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions and Sustainable Development Goal 17 on partnerships for the Goals.
Prelims quick-fire
- International. BRICS began as BRIC in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India and China; South Africa joined in 2011. The letter S was added only after South Africa’s entry; the first leaders’ summit was in 2009.
- International. The first BRICS leaders’ summit was held at Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009 amid the global financial crisis. Do not confuse the 2006 foreign-ministers’ meeting with the first leaders’ summit.
- Body/Institution. BRICS is an informal coordination forum without a constitutive treaty, permanent secretariat or independent budget. It is not equivalent to a treaty-based international organisation such as the United Nations.
- International. The New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement were established at the 2014 Fortaleza Summit. The New Development Bank is a BRICS institution; it is not the World Bank.
- Data. The 12th Parliamentary Forum is held in New Delhi on 26–27 October 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. The forum is hosted by India’s Parliament during India’s 2026 BRICS chairship.
- Data. The 2026 forum includes delegations from 11 BRICS member countries and 10 partner countries. Member countries and partner countries are distinct participation categories.
- Term. The four official sessions are Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, under a people-centric development theme. Innovation specifically includes human-centred artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
- International. The 2023 Johannesburg Summit decided BRICS expansion, with new members admitted from 2024. South Africa’s 2011 entry was the first expansion; the 2023 decision was the second major expansion.
What should happen
- Create a structured follow-up mechanism for the joint statement, including annual progress reporting by relevant parliamentary committees. A reporting cycle can convert broad declarations into measurable legislative, budgetary and oversight outcomes. Lok Sabha Secretariat, 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum press release, 2026 (pib.gov.in)
- Develop common parliamentary principles for human-centred artificial intelligence, covering transparency, safety, inclusion, privacy and accountability. Shared principles can reduce regulatory fragmentation while allowing each country to retain domestic legislative flexibility. UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, 2021
- Strengthen international-affairs committee exchanges and parliamentary friendship groups through regular expert briefings and legislative comparison. Institutionalised committee-level engagement is more likely to produce practical cooperation than occasional ceremonial meetings. Lok Sabha Secretariat, 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum press release, 2026 (pib.gov.in)
- Align BRICS parliamentary cooperation with inclusive development, climate resilience and accountable public finance. This would connect the forum’s sustainability theme with implementation, especially for infrastructure and development-finance projects. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 and Sustainable Development Goal 17
Jargon, demystified
- BRICS
- An informal cooperation forum of major emerging and developing countries seeking coordination on global governance, development and international affairs. Originally BRIC; South Africa joined in 2011, adding the letter S.
- Parliamentary diplomacy
- International engagement by legislators through dialogues, committees and friendship groups to build understanding and influence policy. It complements, but does not replace, executive and diplomatic negotiations.
- Institutional resilience
- The ability of public institutions to withstand crises, adapt to change and continue delivering accountable governance. In this forum, resilience concerns the capacity of parliaments and related institutions.
- Human-centred artificial intelligence
- Artificial intelligence designed and used to protect human dignity, rights, safety, inclusion and meaningful human control. Relevant issues include bias, privacy, transparency, liability and unequal access.
- Global governance
- Rules, institutions and cooperation mechanisms used to manage problems that cross national borders. BRICS seeks greater representation and fairness in existing global institutions.
- Sustainable development
- Development that improves present well-being without damaging the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It requires balancing economic progress, social inclusion and environmental protection.
- Sustainable Development Goal 16
- The United Nations goal promoting peaceful societies, access to justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. It directly connects the forum’s people-centric and institutional themes with the 2030 Agenda.
Check the term
What does "Parliamentary diplomacy" mean?
Check the term
What does "Sustainable Development Goal 16" mean?