The Parliament of India is hosting the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26-27, 2026, at the Parliament House Complex. The Forum will deliberate on the overarching theme of 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development' through four high-level sessions focused on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability. A special meeting of the Chairpersons of the International Affairs Committees of BRICS member and partner countries will also be held to discuss parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building, and exchange of best practices.
Ahead of the Forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held bilateral meetings with parliamentary delegations from Russia, Cuba, Egypt, and Belarus. The meeting with the Russian delegation, led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, focused on strengthening cooperation at global fora and collective efforts to combat terrorism. Birla appreciated Russia's consistent support for India's fight against terrorism and its bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Both sides emphasized the need for regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations, particularly young and women parliamentarians, and promoting dialogue through the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission.
Discussions also covered opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy, industry, trade, and agriculture. Volodin stressed the importance of promoting joint business ventures and removing obstacles to bilateral trade and investment. Cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts were highlighted as vital pillars of the India-Russia relationship, which will complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet the leaders of the visiting delegations on Monday, and the Vice-President of India will host a banquet in honor of the distinguished guests. The conference will include parallel meetings, bilateral exchanges, and a cultural program, concluding on October 27, 2026.