At BRICS meet, Birla calls on parliaments to listen to youth

At the recent BRICS summit in Johannesburg, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla took the floor to urge national parliaments across the five member states to give greater attention to the concerns of young people. He highlighted that the median age in most BRICS economies is below thirty, and that policies on education, employment and climate must reflect the aspirations of this large demographic. Birla argued that listening to youth is not a symbolic gesture but a practical step toward sustainable development and social stability.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla echoed the call for stronger parliamentary diplomacy, suggesting that legislators can serve as bridges between governments and civil society on issues ranging from health to technology. He noted that the BRICS platform offers an opportunity for parliamentarians to exchange best practices and to coordinate responses to global challenges such as pandemics and supply chain disruptions. In a parallel meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the delegations of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and other partners, reinforcing India’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and to incorporating youth perspectives into policy dialogues.

Analysts say that the combined emphasis on youth engagement and parliamentary dialogue could shape future legislation on education reform, job creation and climate action in India and other BRICS nations. By bringing young voices into formal diplomatic channels, governments hope to reduce the gap between policy makers and the population groups most affected by economic transitions. Observers will watch whether the calls made at the summit translate into concrete bills or joint statements in the coming months, a development that could influence electoral debates and budget allocations.