Two iconic parts of the Parliament complex—the Central Hall: A practical reader guide

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The event will discuss key issues such as ethical digital transformation, global governance reform and parliamentary diplomacy and feature cultural snapshots from different states and local cuisine.

Two iconic parts of the Parliament complex—the Central Hall and the Library Hall (formerly the Chamber of Princes)—are being decked up to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum next week, officials said.

“After Parliament shifted to the new building, the Library Hall lost its purpose. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has planned various programmes and a Culture Bazar in the Parliament complex. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will attend the event for an interaction with delegates.

Craftsmen and artisans from different states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, will display their works for the BRICS’ guests, according to an official. “Banquets would be hosted by Birla and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, and guests will be given guided tours of the Parliament complex, New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur,” a senior official told HT. Now it is being refurbished for the BRICS Speakers’ Summit,” said a second official.

Another 10 countries, including Belarus, Malaysia and Uzbekistan, are partners of this global alliance. A senior official said that all 21 countries are expected to attend the event. Eleven countries, including India, China, Russia and Brazil, are members of the BRICS. Speaker Birla will chair the inaugural session and also deliver the valedictory speech. His office has also lined up bilateral meetings between Birla and his counterparts. Union ministers, MPs, state-level presiding officers and global parliamentary leaders are also set to attend the programme. The themes centre around “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development, featuring high-level sessions on institutional resilience, ethical AI/digital transformation, global governance reform, sustainability, parliamentary diplomacy, and capacity-building.