India will host the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum in New Delhi on June 11-12, bringing together ministers, policymakers and urban development experts from BRICS nations to discuss strategies for building inclusive and resilient cities.
Announcing the event at a pre-forum press conference on Monday, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar said the forum will be held under the theme, “Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures.” The event is a key ministerial engagement under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026.
The minister said the theme reflects India’s people-centric approach to urban planning, governance and development, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Humanity First” and the BRICS Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Highlighting India’s role in shaping the BRICS urban agenda, Khattar noted that India first hosted the BRICS Urbanisation Forum in New Delhi in 2013, which formally placed urbanisation on the grouping’s cooperation agenda. India subsequently hosted the forum in Visakhapatnam in 2016 and virtually in 2021.
The minister said the forum comes at a time when BRICS countries are witnessing rapid urban growth while facing common challenges related to housing, urban mobility, climate risks, municipal capacity, urban finance and public service delivery.
Discussions during the two-day forum will focus on inclusive urban development, climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure, strengthening municipal institutions and leveraging digital innovation for improved urban governance.
All eleven BRICS member countries have been invited to participate through ministerial-level delegations. The event will feature ministers, senior government officials, urban practitioners and experts from member nations.
The first day of the forum will include an inaugural session and a high-level plenary discussion on shared urban priorities across BRICS countries. Delegates will also visit selected sites in New Delhi to gain first-hand exposure to India’s urban transformation initiatives.
The second day will feature thematic panel discussions, where participating countries will share experiences and best practices in addressing urbanisation challenges. Bilateral meetings among member nations are also scheduled on the sidelines of the event.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the deliberations are expected to promote cooperation among BRICS countries and contribute to developing shared policy approaches for creating inclusive, resilient and people-centric urban futures.
India is hosting the BRICS Urbanisation Forum for the fourth time, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening cooperation on sustainable urban development within the grouping.
