NEW DELHI, India / AsiaWire.IO / – Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an interaction with members of parliament from BRICS nations during the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi. Modi and the visiting parliamentary delegates exchanged perspectives on a wide range of issues. The two-day forum is being held on October 26 and 27 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament complex. India is hosting the gathering under its chairship of BRICS.
Modi described the meeting in a post on X. “Had a wonderful interaction with MPs from BRICS nations during the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 being held in Delhi,” he wrote. He added that the two sides exchanged perspectives on a wide range of issues. The forum brings together presiding officers, members of parliament and delegates from BRICS member and partner countries. Birla had said before the event that Modi would meet the visiting delegates in person.
The theme of this year’s forum is “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development.” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the programme at a press conference in New Delhi on October 22. He said the conference would include both bilateral and multilateral discussions. Deliberations are covering parliamentary responses to institutional resilience, ethical artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Speakers and deputy speakers from several member nations were expected to lead their delegations.
Four sessions shape the agenda
The forum is organised around four high-level sessions. The first examines the role of parliaments in institutional resilience, while the second focuses on digital technology and AI. A third session addresses parliamentary cooperation for global governance. The fourth looks at the role of legislatures in building a sustainable and inclusive future. Birla said suggestions for the programme had come from 18 countries.
A separate meeting is bringing together the chairs of international affairs committees. Their discussions cover parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and the exchange of best practices. Secretaries of the visiting delegations met on October 25 to work on a joint statement. India has also set up Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries, an effort Birla described as the first of its kind. The sessions are designed to encourage consensus-based dialogue among legislatures.
Iran sends delegation without its speaker
Birla said Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia would not attend the forum. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also stayed away, citing unforeseen circumstances, according to the Iranian Embassy. However, an Iranian parliamentary delegation is taking part in the meetings and continuing dialogue with other members. India’s Vice-President is hosting a banquet for the visiting dignitaries.
The forum adds to a busy period of diplomacy for New Delhi. Modi recently held talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and earlier met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the SCO summit. The BRICS Parliamentary Forum gives legislators from member states a regular platform for dialogue alongside leaders’ summits. The 12th edition concludes on October 27.