Parliament of India is all set to host 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26 October 2026.
Ahead of the two day Forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla held a bilateral meeting with the Parliamentary Delegation from Russia, led by H.E. Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
During the meeting, Indian and Russian Parliamentary Delegations underscored the need for strengthening cooperation at global fora and collective efforts to combat terrorism. Extending a warm welcome to Mr. Volodin and his Delegation on behalf of the Parliament of India and 1.4 billion Indians, Shri Birla highlighted the special and time-tested friendship between India and Russia, rooted in mutual trust, respect and shared aspirations. He also appreciated Russia’s consistent support for India in its fight against terrorism and stressed that the international community must demonstrate unity and resolve towards terrorism, and work together for global peace. Noting that the two countries would complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, he emphasised that the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership has been further strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin.
Emphasising on the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, Shri Birla called for sustained institutional engagement between Lok Sabha and the State Duma through regular meetings of the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission and exchanges of parliamentary delegations, particularly young and women parliamentarians.
Referring to India's BRICS Presidency in 2026, Shri Birla emphasised the importance of a people-centric approach and sought Russia's active participation in strengthening cooperation among BRICS Parliaments. He highlighted the need for collective efforts to address contemporary global challenges, including climate change and terrorism, and underscored the importance of making international institutions more responsive to changing global circumstances. Shri Birla also reiterated the need for reforms of the United Nations Security Council and conveyed his appreciation for Russia's continued support for India's permanent membership of the Council.
During the meeting, Shri Birla also highlighted opportunities for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy, industry and other sectors. Underscoring the importance of cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts as vital pillars of bilateral relations, he observed that the deep affection and goodwill shared by the peoples of India and Russia provide a strong foundation for further expanding cooperation.
Noting the growing scope of cooperation in trade, industry and agriculture, Chairman of the State Duma H.E. Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin stressed on the need to promote joint business ventures and remove obstacles to bilateral trade and investment. He also underscored the importance of regular exchanges between the State Duma and the Parliament of India, including through multilateral platforms such as BRICS. He reaffirmed Russia's commitment to strengthening cooperation in cultural and humanitarian spheres and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. Expressing confidence in the future of India-Russia relations, he observed that sustained parliamentary engagement and closer cooperation across diverse sectors would contribute to further deepening the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
Later in the day, Shri Birla met Parliamentary Delegations from Cuba, Egypt and Belarus and engaged in mutually enriching and productive discussions.
On Monday, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi would grace the event and meet the leaders of the visiting delegations.
The Forum would deliberate on the overarching theme of “Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.” It would facilitate consensus-based dialogue through four high-level sessions themed on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
In addition, a special meeting of the Chairpersons of the International Affairs Committees of the parliaments of BRICS member and partner countries will be held to deliberate on parliamentary diplomacy, capacity building and the exchange of best practices.
Alongside high-level plenary sessions, parallel meetings and bilateral exchanges, the conference would also feature a cultural programme. The Vice-President of India will host a banquet in honour of the distinguished guests.
The conference will conclude on 27 October, 2026.
Had a warm and fruitful meeting with H.E. Mr Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, ahead of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026. The enduring bonds of friendship, mutual trust and understanding between India and Russia form the bedrock of our longstanding partnership. As our two nations mark 80 years of diplomatic relations, we reaffirmed our commitment to further deepening the India–Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, rooted in mutual respect, trust and shared aspirations. We discussed expanding parliamentary cooperation through sustained institutional engagement between Lok Sabha and the State Duma, regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations, and greater interaction among young and women parliamentarians. I also shared India’s initiatives to leverage technology, including Sansad Bhashini, to make parliamentary proceedings more accessible, inclusive and citizen-centric. We also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation among BRICS Parliaments, combating terrorism through concerted international efforts, and advancing reforms of the United Nations Security Council. I conveyed my appreciation for Russia’s continued support for India’s permanent membership of the Council. I am confident that stronger parliamentary engagement will impart fresh momentum to our time-tested partnership, further reinforcing the deep-rooted friendship and close ties between India and Russia. #BRICS2026 #BRICSParliamentaryForum