BRICS countries have adopted a resolution on people-centred urban development

Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar at the 13th BRICS Urbanization Forum 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi on June 12, 2026. Photo: X/@mlkhattar via ANI

The BRICS countries on Friday (June 12, 2026) adopted a declaration on inclusive, resilient and people-centred urban development.

The Ministerial Declaration adopted on the closing day of the 13th BRICS Urbanization Forum in the nation’s capital highlights the key priorities shared by member states and reaffirms the commitment to promote people-centred urban development.

It emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive, sustainable, resilient and livable cities that ensure equitable access to urban services, especially for marginalized groups, according to an official statement by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The two-day forum organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship brought together ministers, senior government officials and urban experts from BRICS member countries to discuss the theme ‘Cities for the People: BRICS Collaboration for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures’.

The forum also presented a compilation of best practices from BRICS countries, titled “Cities for People: Urban Stories from BRICS Nations”.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister ML Khattar in his valedictory address highlighted the value of the forum as a platform for shared learning and practical cooperation among BRICS member states.

He called for the discussions held in New Delhi to continue through sustained institutional engagement, city-to-city exchange and continued cooperation beyond the Indian Presidency.

For continued cooperation, the member countries welcomed India’s proposal to establish a “BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network” for applied urban research, knowledge sharing and mutual learning.

The network was designed as a chaired, institutionally linked platform that provides a practical and sustainable mechanism for urban cooperation within BRICS. It will promote systematic knowledge sharing and mutual learning, while helping to bridge the gap between policy and implementation through the exchange of practical solutions, city-level experiences and operational experiences.

The network, which operates through a virtual, low-cost and flexible model, will be coordinated each year by the lead institution of the BRICS country’s presidency, with activities and outputs handed over to the next presidency, a senior official said.

Published – 12 Jun 2026 23:33 IST