# BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Delhi adopts declaration on West Asia, terror and sanctions

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-28/brics-parliamentary-forum-delhi-declaration/
Date: 28 October 2026 (2026-10-28)
Source: Indian Express, Page 5
UPSC papers: GS2
Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing.

**In one line:** Legislators from BRICS countries, meeting in New Delhi under India's chairship, unanimously adopted a declaration on West Asia, sanctions, terrorism and global governance.

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum ended in New Delhi on 27 October 2026 with a joint declaration adopted unanimously. The Parliament of India hosted the two-day meeting (26 and 27 October) under the theme "Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development", with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as the Forum's chairperson. Eleven BRICS member countries and ten partner countries were invited. The forum held four high-level sessions on resilience, innovation (including digital technology and artificial intelligence), cooperation for a more representative global governance system, and sustainability, plus a separate meeting of the chairs of parliamentary committees on international affairs.

The declaration expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in West Asia and called for "exercising maximum restraint", for protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for dialogue and diplomacy towards lasting peace. It called for keeping global trade, supply chains and energy flows open, consistent with international law, and opposed unilateral coercive measures, including economic and secondary sanctions. It sought reform of global governance towards a fairer, more democratic multilateral system with the Global South as a driver of change. On terrorism it condemned all terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, specifically condemned the 22 April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people, and pledged to counter cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens, rejecting double standards.

The BRICS Parliamentary Forum brings together the presiding officers and members of BRICS legislatures. Brazil proposed it in 2011, and the first forum was held under Russia's presidency in 2015. India presided over the forum in 2016 and 2021; the 11th forum met in Brasília in 2025 under Brazil's BRICS presidency. The 2026 forum, held under India's BRICS chairship, is the first since the group's expansion to be hosted by India. For New Delhi, the text matters on two counts: it names the Pahalgam attack in a BRICS document, and its language on secondary sanctions and open energy flows reflects concerns of oil importers like India. The declaration is a statement by legislators and does not bind governments.

## Prelims facts

- The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum met in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October 2026 under the theme 'Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development'.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired the Forum; the joint declaration was adopted unanimously on 27 October 2026.
- The declaration opposed unilateral coercive measures, including economic and secondary sanctions, and backed open trade, supply chains and energy flows.
- It condemned the 22 April 2025 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people and rejected double standards on terrorism.
- The first BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in 2015 under Russia's presidency; the 11th met in Brasília in 2025.

## Quick recall

- **Where and when was the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held?** New Delhi, 26 and 27 October 2026.
- **Theme of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?** 'Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development'.
- **Who chaired the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?** Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
- **When and under whose presidency was the first BRICS Parliamentary Forum held?** 2015, under Russia's presidency.
- **Which country first proposed a BRICS parliamentary forum?** Brazil, in 2011.
- **Where was the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held?** Brasília, Brazil, in 2025.
- **Which terror attack did the 2026 declaration specifically condemn?** The 22 April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people.
- **What kinds of measures did the declaration oppose?** Unilateral coercive measures, including economic and secondary sanctions.

## Prelims practice question

With reference to the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, consider the following statements:
1. The first BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in 2015 under Russia's presidency.
2. The 12th Forum was held in New Delhi in 2026.
3. Declarations of the Forum are legally binding on BRICS governments.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. 1 is correct: the first forum met in 2015 under Russia's presidency. 2 is correct: the 12th forum met in New Delhi on 26 and 27 October 2026. 3 is wrong: the Forum is a gathering of legislators; its declarations express positions and do not bind governments.

## UPSC previous-year questions this connects to

- UPSC Mains 2026, GS2: "BRICS acts as a powerful counterweight in global governance, actively amplifying the voice and influence of the Global South." Explain the role of BRICS in projecting itself as an alternative to other groupings. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q013-brics-acts-powerful-counterweight-global-governance-actively/)
  How to use this story in the answer: Use the October 2026 BRICS legislators' declaration as evidence of BRICS articulating Global South positions distinct from Western-led groupings.
- UPSC Prelims 2025, Prelims: Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS. III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (https://upsc.help/pyq/q245-consider-following-statements-regard-brics-i-16th/)
- UPSC Prelims 2014, Prelims: With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009. 2. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (https://upsc.help/pyq/q247-reference-grouping-countries-known-brics-consider-following/)

## Mains practice question

What role can parliamentary diplomacy play in multilateral groupings like BRICS? Discuss with reference to the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum hosted by India. (150 words)

### Model answer

Parliamentary diplomacy is engagement between legislatures that complements the work of governments. India's hosting of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26 and 27 October 2026 shows its uses.

## Roles
- **Building consensus:** the forum's declaration, adopted unanimously, backed restraint in West Asia, protection of civilians and dialogue.
- **Voicing shared interests:** it opposed unilateral coercive measures, including secondary sanctions, and backed open energy and trade flows.
- **Advancing India's priorities:** it condemned the 22 April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir and rejected double standards on terrorism.
- **Global governance reform:** it called for a fairer multilateral system with the Global South as a driver.
- **Capacity building:** sessions on digital technology, AI and sustainability, and a meeting of foreign affairs committee chairs.

## Limits
- Declarations do not bind governments.
- Divergent interests in an expanded BRICS limit depth.

Used well, parliamentary forums add legitimacy and continuity to India's multilateral diplomacy.

## The basics

## Why this matters

BRICS is now an eleven-member grouping that India chairs in 2026. Its parliamentary track is less known than its summits, but it is a regular Prelims trap and a useful Mains example of how India uses multilateral fora to push its concerns on terrorism, sanctions and global governance.

## What BRICS is

BRICS began as an economists' label for fast-growing economies and became a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China, later joined by South Africa. It expanded from 2024, and it now also has a category of partner countries.

## The parliamentary track

The BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a meeting of presiding officers and legislators of BRICS countries. Brazil proposed it in 2011, and it has met yearly since 2015 under the presidency of the BRICS chair. It is part of a wider practice called Parliamentary diplomacy, in which legislatures build ties alongside governments.

## What the Delhi declaration says

## Why India cares

India buys much of its oil abroad, so language opposing Unilateral coercive measures such as secondary sanctions, and backing open energy flows, matches its interests. Getting the Pahalgam attack named in a text agreed by legislators from countries as different as China, Iran and the UAE is a diplomatic gain. But these are statements of legislators, not governments, and do not bind anyone.

## Sources

- https://newsonair.gov.in/12th-brics-parliamentary-forum-concludes-with-unanimous-joint-declaration-2/
- https://newsonair.gov.in/12th-brics-parliamentary-forum-to-begin-in-new-delhi-tomorrow/
- https://theprint.in/india/12th-brics-parliamentary-forum-meet-on-oct-26-27-pm-modi-to-attend/3078792/
- https://www.nextias.com/ca/headlines-of-the-day/28-10-2026/87479
- https://infograficos.camara.leg.br/brics-en/history-brics/