Onlykashmir.in News Desk
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 at Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex, urging legislatures of member and partner countries to strengthen their collective resolve for people centric development, global peace, sustainability and international cooperation.
Welcoming parliamentary delegations to India, Birla said their presence reflected a shared commitment to dialogue, mutual respect and democratic values. Despite differences of geography, culture, language and society, he noted, BRICS nations were united by faith in democratic ideals, and the true strength of the grouping lay in turning that diversity into shared purpose and collective progress.
Describing the unanimous adoption of the Joint Statement at the BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government in New Delhi, held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a significant milestone, the Speaker said the real challenge now was converting commitments into lasting outcomes. Parliaments, he said, could play a pivotal role through legislation, budgets, deliberation and oversight, ensuring that decisions reach citizens as tangible benefits.
Observing that the world was passing through a period of deep uncertainty marked by regional conflicts, economic instability, trade tensions, terrorism and climate change, Birla stressed that dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation were more important than ever. Parliamentary diplomacy, he said, allows elected representatives to exchange perspectives, build trust and ease international tensions.
The theme of the two day Forum is “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development”, and deliberations will centre on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. On resilience, the Speaker called for continuous strengthening of legislative frameworks to ensure continuity and accountability in times of disruption. On innovation, he said reform must go beyond technology to include fresh ideas and practices that make institutions more transparent, participatory and responsive.
Turning to sustainability, Birla said Indian philosophical thought treats development and environmental protection as complementary goals, a principle that should guide BRICS parliaments. Development, he said, must not come at the cost of ecological balance or the interests of future generations.
The Speaker also highlighted the aspirations of young people, saying parliaments must listen to youth voices and create pathways that channel their energy and skills into nation building. Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of turning BRICS into an “ecosystem of solutions”, he said the Forum’s success would be judged by the depth of its outcomes and the difference they make to people’s lives, and not by the breadth of discussion alone.
He emphasised that BRICS carries the responsibility of amplifying the voice of the Global South, and that aspirations must translate into responsive policy and practical cooperation.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also addressed the gathering, while the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha delivered the welcome address.
