13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum concludes with Declaration on inclusive and resilient urban futures

📌 Summary:

• The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum concluded at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, New Delhi, adopting a Ministerial Declaration on inclusive, resilient and people-centred urban development
• Hosted by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under India's BRICS Chairship 2026; theme 'Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures'
• India hosted the Forum for the 4th time (after New Delhi 2013, Visakhapatnam 2016, and virtually in 2021)
• India's proposal to establish a 'BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network' was welcomed by member nations
• Publications released: 'Cities for People: Urban Stories from BRICS Nations' and 'India's Urban Transformation: Stories of Change'
• Sideline bilateral meetings held (India-Russia, India-Iran, Iran-Russia, Iran-China, Russia-UAE)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS1 (urbanisation, resilient cities) and GS2 (BRICS, multilateral cooperation).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Forum hosted by MoHUA; India is BRICS Chair in 2026
• New initiative: BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network

🔑 Key Term: People-centred urban development — inclusive, climate- and disaster-resilient cities.