Full Breakdown
India Hosts 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum Focused on People-Centric Development and AI Ethics
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Core Event
India will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26-27 2026 in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi. Delegates from the five BRICS states—China, Russia, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and Iran—plus invited partner countries will meet under the theme “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event.
Background & Context
India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship follows a September summit in Delhi that produced a joint declaration after India helped bridge differences between Iran and the UAE. The parliamentary forum aims to deepen parliamentary diplomacy, promote ethical AI, and advance reforms of global governance institutions.
Key Figures & Groups
- Om Birla – Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha and chair of the forum.
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – Speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly; will not attend in person.
- Vyacheslav Volodin – Chairman of Russia’s State Duma, leading the Russian delegation.
- Narendra Modi – Prime Minister, scheduled to inaugurate the forum.
- Parliamentary friendship groups – India’s Lok Sabha maintains formal groups with 64 foreign parliaments.
Timeline
- September 12 2022 – India hosted the previous BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
- October 24 2026 – Iranian embassy announced Speaker Ghalibaf’s absence.
- October 25 2026 – Delegation secretaries will meet to finalise a joint statement.
- October 26-27 2026 – Forum takes place in New Delhi.
Data & Statistics
- Delegations from 11 BRICS member countries and 11 invited partner countries are expected.
- The forum will feature four high-level plenary sessions on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
- India’s parliamentary friendship groups span 64 countries and groupings, including the EU and Nordic states.
Official Statements & Responses
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the forum a platform for “consensus-based dialogue” on parliamentary roles, human-centred AI, and sustainable development. He said a joint declaration is anticipated.
Vyacheslav Volodin stressed cooperation in trade, industry and agriculture and urged removal of obstacles to bilateral investment, highlighting regular exchanges between the State Duma and India’s Parliament through BRICS.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the spelling of Iran’s speaker’s name—variations include “Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf,” “Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf,” and “Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.” All agree he will not attend in person; the Iranian delegation will be present. No details on the “unforeseen circumstances” have been provided.
Why It Matters / Impact
The forum seeks to shape parliamentary approaches to emerging technologies, especially ethical AI, while addressing climate change, digital transformation and security challenges. India’s chairmanship gives it a platform to influence the Global South agenda and advocate reforms of institutions such as the United Nations Security Council.