India is preparing to host a major parliamentary gathering that will bring lawmakers and parliamentary representatives from BRICS member and partner countries to New Delhi on October 26 and 27.
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is scheduled to take place in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the Parliament complex. The Lok Sabha Secretariat announced the programme on October 22, describing it as an opportunity for parliamentary leaders to discuss strategic priorities under India’s chairship.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
Location: Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi
Authority/Organisation: Parliament of India and Lok Sabha Secretariat
Action Taken: Forum scheduled for October 26–27
Impact: Platform for parliamentary diplomacy and policy discussion among member and partner countries
The forum is expected to bring together presiding officers of parliaments, members of legislative bodies and other dignitaries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the gathering and meet visiting delegations, according to the official announcement.
The agenda is designed to cover both institutional questions and broader international challenges, including ethical AI, digital transformation, global governance reform and sustainable development.
Why parliamentary diplomacy matters
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The forum gives parliamentary leaders an opportunity to discuss shared policy challenges and exchange institutional experience. Its concrete impact will depend on the outcomes formally adopted.
Diplomacy is not limited to meetings between heads of government or foreign ministers. Parliaments can also provide a forum for discussing legislative practices, institutional resilience and ways to strengthen cooperation between countries.
Parliamentary exchanges may help representatives compare approaches to legislation, oversight and public accountability. They can also provide an opportunity to discuss common challenges that affect countries with different political and economic systems.
However, a parliamentary forum should not be confused with a summit that automatically produces binding government agreements. The outcome depends on the discussions held and the declarations or commitments formally adopted.
Ethical AI and digital transformation on the agenda
The announced programme includes discussion of ethical artificial intelligence and digital transformation. These issues have become increasingly important as governments assess how emerging technologies affect public services, employment, privacy and institutional decision-making.
Parliamentarians may examine the policy and legislative questions associated with technological change, including accountability, responsible use and the need to ensure that digital systems serve public interests.
The forum’s inclusion of these subjects signals their relevance to international parliamentary discussions. It does not, by itself, establish that BRICS countries have agreed on a common AI regulation or adopted a binding digital policy.
Global governance and sustainable development
The official announcement also identifies global governance reform, institutional resilience and sustainable development among the themes.
These subjects concern how international institutions respond to changing economic conditions, geopolitical tensions and development needs. Parliamentary representatives can use such meetings to exchange views and discuss possible areas of cooperation.
The practical value of the forum will depend on the substance of the discussions and whether participating delegations agree on clear follow-up measures.
What happens next?
The forum is scheduled to open on October 26 and conclude on October 27. A meeting of delegation secretaries was also announced for October 25 to finalise the joint statement.
The joint statement and official post-event briefings will be important sources for determining what participating delegations ultimately agreed upon.
