BRICS lawmakers urged to turn talks into action by India's Lok Sabha speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged lawmakers from BRICS nations and partner countries to convert their discussions into real results as the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum opened in New Delhi. He said the forum’s success will depend on turning shared commitments into improvements that people can feel. Birla highlighted that a joint statement was unanimously adopted at the recent BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi, where India held the chair, but noted that putting the pledges into practice remains a hurdle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with various parliamentary delegations during the opening. The two‑day gathering, titled “Strengthening Parliaments for People‑Centric Development”, will look at resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability against a backdrop of rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Birla warned that wars, regional conflicts, trade frictions, terrorism and climate change spill over borders, making diplomatic dialogue essential. He emphasized that legislatures can build trust, bridge gaps and push peaceful solutions through lawmaking, budgeting and oversight. The speaker called for a louder voice for the Global South, urging that the concerns of developing nations move beyond statements to policies that benefit citizens. He also pushed for stronger legislative frameworks and accountability so democratic bodies stay effective during crises, and stressed that economic growth and environmental protection must go hand in hand. On youth empowerment, Birla asked BRICS parliaments to create real opportunities for young people and channel their tech skills into nation‑building. Prior to the forum, he held a bilateral talk with Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, discussing cooperation at global platforms, counter‑terrorism and deeper parliamentary ties. ## Context The forum reflects India’s role as current BRICS chair and its push to make the bloc a platform for concrete solutions rather than just dialogue.