Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla addressed the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia, Brazil, emphasizing India's support for a fair, rule-based global trading system that addresses the needs of the Global South. He highlighted India's economic growth, noting its rise to the 4th largest economy, driven by robust policies and a youthful population. Shri Birla positioned India as the "Skill Capital of the World" and a global leader in pharmaceuticals and IT. He advocated for increased representation of developing countries in international institutions and stressed the need for collective action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He also criticized Pakistan's failure to address terrorist infrastructure operating within its borders, following a recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, Shri Birla held bilateral meetings with Brazilian leaders, focusing on strengthened cooperation in areas like defense, technology, and innovation, particularly in digital transformation and cybersecurity.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha Secretariat: The administrative office of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India.
INDIA: The Republic of India, a nation in South Asia.
Global South: Refers to countries typically characterized as developing or less developed.
Lok Sabha Speaker: The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha.
SHRI BIRLA: Referring to Om Birla, the current Lok Sabha Speaker.
Pakistan: A country in South Asia, mentioned in the context of terrorist infrastructure.
BRICS Parliamentary Forum: A parliamentary forum involving BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
Brasilia, Brazil: The location of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - A governmental press agency.
New Delhi: The capital of India.
BRICS: An acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, a grouping of emerging economies.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi: The current Prime Minister of India.
Skill India: A campaign launched by the Government of India to train over 400 million people in different skills by 2022.
PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A skill development scheme in India.
New National Education Policy: A comprehensive framework for education in India.
Pharmacy of the World: A description of India's role as a major producer of medicines.
IT: Information Technology.
Industry 4.0: The fourth industrial revolution.
Digital India: A campaign launched by the Government of India to ensure that Government services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity.
Startup India: An initiative by the Government of India to promote startups.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A policy by the Government of India aimed at making India a self-reliant nation.
Unified Payments Interface UPI: An instant real-time payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India facilitating inter-bank transactions.
JAM Trinity: Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile, the Indian government's initiative to link bank accounts, unique identification numbers, and mobile numbers.
eNAM: Electronic National Agriculture Market, a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
Incometax Bill, 2025: A taxation bill presented in India (hypothetical, as the document is dated 2025).
COVID19 pandemic: The global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Sustainable Development Goals SDGs: A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Federal Senate of Brazil: The upper house of the National Congress of Brazil.
H.E. Sen. Davi Alcolumbre: The President of the Federal Senate of Brazil.
Jammu and Kashmir, India: A region in India where a terrorist attack occurred.
Operation Sindoor: A military operation by India in response to terrorist attacks.
President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil H.E. Mr. Hugo Motta: The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil.
Brazilian Congress: The legislature of Brazil.
Digital Transformation: The use of technology to radically improve performance and reach of businesses
Artificial Intelligence: The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Health Technology: The application of organized knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of lives.
Cybersecurity: The state of being protected against the criminal or unauthorized use of electronic data, or the measures taken to achieve this.
Lok Sabha Secretariat
INDIA SUPPORTS FAIR AND RULE-BASED
GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM—ONE THAT
ADEQUATELY ADDRESSES NEEDS AND
ASPIRATIONS OF GLOBAL SOUTH: LOK SABHA
SPEAKER
DESPITE GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES AND
DOMESTIC CHALLENGES, INDIA HAS
CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORMED THE GLOBAL
GROWTH AVERAGE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
WHEN MANY DEVELOPED NATIONS FACE
AGEING POPULATIONS AND LABOUR
SHORTAGES, INDIA IS EMERGING AS THE
SOLUTION—AS THE SKILL CAPITAL OF THE
WORLD: SHRI BIRLA
SHRI BIRLA LAMENTS INADEQUATE
REPRESENTATION OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES IN INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,
HIGHLIGHTING THAT THIS IMBALANCE
HAMPERS GLOBAL EQUITY AND BALANCED
DEVELOPMENT
PAKISTAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE CONCRETE
ACTION AGAINST TERRORIST
INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATING FROM ITSTERRITORY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
LOK SABHA SPEAKER ADDRESSES WORKING
SESSION ON ‘BRICS PARLIAMENTARY ACTION
IN SEARCH OF NEW PATHS FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT’ AT BRICS PARLIAMENTARY
FORUM IN BRASILIA, BRAZIL
Posted On: 05 JUN 2025 6:44PM by PIB Delhi
New Delhi/Brasilia 05 June 2025: Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today said that, “India supports a fair
and rule-based global trading system—one that adequately addresses the needs and aspirations of the Global
South.” He added that “India views the BRICS Parliamentary Forum as a vital platform—where through
shared efforts and dialogue, we can redefine the contours of economic development. This forum further
reinforces our commitment to mutual cooperation, solidarity, and the welfare of our citizens.” He added that
“Despite global challenges, BRICS nations have made inspiring progress in the realm of economic
development. India believes that to further strengthen this progress, we must enhance intra-BRICS trade,
investment, and financial cooperation.” He also said that, “We welcome the recent expansion of the BRICS
grouping. This will make our collaboration more inclusive and impactful.” Shri Birla made these remarks
while addressing the 2nd Working Session of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Brasilia, Brazil on the theme
‘BRICS Parliamentary Action in Search of New Paths for Economic Development.’
Shri Birla said that, “India’s economic journey over the past decade has been remarkable. Despite global
uncertainties and domestic challenges, India has consistently outperformed the global growth average. Rising
from the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the 4th largest today is a testament to India’s robust policies and the
strength of its people. From 2014-15 to 2024-25, India’s GDP has grown at an average rate of over 7%,
making it the fastest-growing major economy in the world.” Shri Birla noted that “India is not only the
world’s largest and most vibrant democracy but also a nation with stable governance, strong constitutional
institutions, the rule of law, a transparent and accountable tax system, and decisive leadership that has earned
the trust of global investors.” He mentioned that “under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
India’s unprecedented progress in infrastructure—water, energy, road and rail connectivity, ports, airports,
industrial corridors, and logistics hubs - now defines the New India.”
Observing that India’s greatest strength is its youthful population, he said that “Over 65% of Indians are under
the age of 35. This youthful energy is propelling India forward—be it in manufacturing, digital technology,
healthcare, or green energy. Through programs like Skill India, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, and the New
National Education Policy, India is skilling its youth under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi.” He added that “At a time when many developed nations face ageing populations and labour
shortages, India is emerging as the solution—as the Skill Capital of the World. We are not only meeting
domestic needs but also supplying skilled human resources to the world. This is India’s strength, our
responsibility, and our moment.”
Shri Birla underlined that “Today, India is established as the Pharmacy of the World—one in every three
medicines globally comes from India. Additionally, India is a global leader in IT services, has the third-largest
startup ecosystem, and is at the forefront in mobile phone manufacturing, digital payments, space technology,
and renewable energy.” He also said that, “In the era of Industry 4.0, technology can be a powerful medium
for inclusive and sustainable development. Initiatives like Digital India, Start-up India, and Atmanirbhar
Bharat are successful models in this direction. Platforms like Unified Payments Interface (UPI), JAM Trinity,and e-NAM have transformed citizens’ lives and serve as inspirational models for BRICS.” Shri Birla also
said that, “India has also undertaken significant reforms in taxation. The recently presented Income-tax Bill,
2025, is a major step towards a transparent and effective tax regime.”
Shri Birla also said that “We are concerned that representation of developing countries in international
institutions remains inadequate. This imbalance hampers global equity and balanced development. Therefore,
BRICS countries must collectively make concrete efforts to enhance the participation of the Global South in
such institutions.” He added that, “Global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately
affected the Global South. Challenges related to health, food, and energy security have intensified. Without
concrete and coordinated action, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will remain difficult.”
PAKISTAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE CONCRETE ACTION AGAINST THE TERRORIST
INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATING FROM ITS TERRITORY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
On the opening day of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Lok Sabha Speaker held a bilateral meeting with the
President of the Federal Senate of Brazil, H.E. Sen. Davi Alcolumbre. He mentioned that, “Both countries
have been partners on the global stage. Our bilateral relations have developed on the basis of shared
democratic values, peace, cooperation, sustainable development, and common objectives.”
Noting that in today’s era, terrorism is the biggest threat to global peace and stability, Shri Birla said that “The
recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India, in which 26 innocent civilians were brutally killed, has
shaken not only India but also the conscience of the entire world.” He also added that, “Pakistan has failed to
take concrete action against the terrorist infrastructure operating from its territory; India exercised its right to
respond, to prevent such cross-border attacks in the future, and to defend itself.” On Operation Sindoor, Shri
Birla said that “these steps were measured, non-provocative, proportionate, and responsible. Their sole
objective was to destroy terrorist infrastructure and neutralize the capabilities of terrorists.” He said that
“Today’s India is firmly committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards all forms of terrorism and gives a
strong response to every terrorist attack.”
INDIA AND BRAZIL CAN JOINTLY PROMOTE INNOVATION IN EMERGING AREAS SUCH
AS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, HEALTH TECHNOLOGY,
AND CYBERSECURITY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
On the sidelines of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla also held a bilateral
meeting with the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil H.E. Mr. Hugo Motta. Shri Birla observed
that “India and Brazil are natural partners. Both countries have, from time to time, provided direction and
momentum to their bilateral relations through high-level dialogues.” He added that, “There is extensive
collaboration between the two countries in areas such as defence, technology, space, energy, and culture. The
special session organized by the Brazilian Congress in 2022 on the occasion of 75 years of India’s
independence is a testament to our special friendship.” Shri Birla hoped that “India and Brazil can jointly
promote innovation in emerging areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, health technology,
and cyber security, and can set an example for the countries of the Global South.”
***
AM
(Release ID: 2134625)