"Parliamentary diplomacy complements, but cannot substitute, executive-led diplomacy." Examine this with reference to the BRICS Parliamentary Forum.

Parliamentary diplomacy means elected representatives working across borders to build trust and find shared interests, while respecting each nation's sovereignty [1]. The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, held in New Delhi in October 2026 under the theme "Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development" [1], shows how this track adds to summit diplomacy but cannot take its place.

How it complements executive diplomacy

• Building trust: Speaker Om Birla called parliaments "bridges of understanding" that can ease international tensions [1]. Delegations include Opposition MPs, so ties can survive when governments fall out.
• Turning promises into action: parliaments can carry the summit Joint Statement forward through legislation, budgets, debate and oversight [1]. No commitment is funded unless Parliament approves the money.
• Democratic legitimacy: the Forum strengthens BRICS's claim to speak for the Global South and judges success by tangible benefits to citizens [1].
• Global practice: a 2025 UN General Assembly resolution, adopted 153–1, asks UN country teams to work with national parliaments [2].

Why it cannot substitute

• Constitutional design: under Article 73, foreign affairs falls within the Union executive's power. The Joint Statement was adopted at a summit chaired by the PM, with no parliamentary vote [1]. Parliament comes in only when a law is needed (Article 253).
• Non-binding forum: the Forum has no reporting system, deadlines or peer review [1]. Birla himself urged BRICS to go "beyond dialogue and declarations" [1].
• Weak oversight at home: only about 11% of Bills went to committees in the 17th Lok Sabha (up to March 2021), and 76% of the 2021 Budget passed without discussion [3]. This weakens the very tools the Forum promotes.

Way forward

• Refer the Joint Statement to the Standing Committee on External Affairs for a yearly progress report.
• As chair, India could propose that each member parliament report its follow-up action at the next Forum.
• Select the ministries that carry summit commitments for detailed Budget discussion, instead of passing their spending by guillotine.

Parliamentary diplomacy adds continuity, legitimacy and accountability to diplomacy led by governments, but it lacks the power to negotiate or bind. If parliaments use their budget and oversight powers seriously at home, the Forum can help turn BRICS's people-centric pledge into real results for the Global South.