Parliamentary Friendship Group

Parliamentary Friendship Group

Why in News? 

Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla formed 64 Parliamentary Friendship Groups (PFGs) with over 60 countries to boost democratic ties, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen global cooperation.

What is a Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG)?

• About: A Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) is an institutional mechanism comprising Members of Parliament (MPs) formed to promote Parliament-to-Parliament engagement between India and other countries. 

• Objectives: The primary objective of a PFG is to establish structured and continuous channels of engagement between domestic MPs and their counterparts abroad, developing inter-parliamentary ties.

• Framework: PFGs are constituted by the Lok Sabha Secretariat under the direction of Om Birla during the tenure of the 18th Lok Sabha. 

• PFGs operate under the management and control of the Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG), an autonomous body established in 1949 to foster parliamentary diplomacy. 

• Composition: Each PFG comprises cross-party Members of Parliament from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ensuring a multi-party representation of Indian democracy. Every group is assigned a designated Group Leader (Chairperson) along with other nominated MPs. 

• Appointment: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the sole authority responsible for appointing the President (Leader) of each specific Friendship Group. Members are selected from among sitting MPs.

• Functions: 

• • • Strengthening Bilateral Ties: The groups act as a platform for maintaining active political, social, and cultural contacts between India and partner nations. This function helps in creating a bridge for dialogue that transcends standard executive-level diplomatic channels. 
    • Legislative Information Exchange: PFGs assist in the exchange of information and experiences on matters specifically related to parliamentary activities. Lawmakers use these forums to discuss procedural reforms, law-making challenges, and institutional improvements based on foreign successes.
    • Cooperation in International Fora: A key role of these groups is to promote coordinated efforts during international deliberations. By consulting on issues of mutual interest before global meetings, such as those of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), groups help align national viewpoints. 
    • Broad Socio-Economic Dialogue: Beyond strictly legislative work, PFGs facilitate discussions on trade, technology, and global challenges. They provide a space where lawmakers can address shared democratic threats and explore collaborative solutions for economic and social development. 

• Formation: On February 23, 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted 64 Parliamentary Friendship Groups, involving more than 700 Members of Parliament.

• • Countries: These groups covers more than 60 countries including Sri Lanka, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Maldives, United States, Russia, Nepal, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Brazil, UAE and Australia, etc.

• Notable Group Leaders: Here are Notable Parliamentary Friendship Group Leaders (2026):

• Shashi Tharoor (France) – Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been appointed as the Group Leader for the India-France Parliamentary Friendship Group. 
• Manish Tewari (Japan) – Congress leader Manish Tewari heads the India-Japan Friendship Group, aimed at deepening legislative cooperation and tech-economic engagement with this Indo-Pacific partner. 
• Asaduddin Owaisi (Oman) – AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi leads the group with Oman, enhancing parliamentary dialogue with an important West Asian nation.
• Baijayant Panda (United States) – BJP MP Baijayant Panda is the Group Leader for the India-USA Parliamentary Friendship Group, focusing on parliamentary diplomacy with India’s strategic partner. 
• Nishikant Dubey (Russia) – BJP leader Nishikant Dubey heads the friendship group with Russia, reinforcing parliamentary engagement with a long-standing global partner.
• Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Switzerland) – Senior BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy has been appointed to lead the India-Switzerland group, targeting enhanced bilateral parliamentary cooperation. 
• Hema Malini (South Africa) – Renowned BJP MP Hema Malini serves as the Group Leader for South Africa, promoting legislative exchange with a major African democracy.
• Biplab Kumar Deb (Bhutan) – Former Tripura CM and BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb leads the India-Bhutan Friendship Group, strengthening ties with India’s close Himalayan neighbour.
• K C Venugopal (Portugal) – Congress MP K C Venugopal is at the helm of the India-Portugal group, facilitating parliamentary engagement with the European nation. 
• Gaurav Gogoi (Philippines) – Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi heads the India-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group to support stronger legislative and diplomatic relations in Southeast Asia. 

Significance of PFGs

• Bipartisan Diplomatic Resilience: By appointing leaders like Shashi Tharoor (France) and Asaduddin Owaisi (Oman), India leverages Opposition voices to project national unity. This prevents “diplomatic gaps” during domestic government transitions, ensuring that India’s sovereign commitments remain consistent regardless of which party is in power.
• Institutionalising Second-Track Channels: These groups serve as an institutionalised “Track 1.5” diplomacy channel. Unlike formal MEA protocols, PFGs allow for informal legislative brainstorming on sensitive topics like cyber-law harmonisation and AI ethics, providing a safe space for lawmakers to align before formal treaties are signed.
• Economic De-risking and Investments: PFGs act as a bridge for Sovereign Wealth Funds. For instance, the India-Kuwait group is critical for managing the $10 billion+ investment from the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA). Legislators help navigate local regulatory hurdles, acting as high-level facilitators for bilateral trade targets.
• Diaspora Protection and Labour Laws: In regions like the Middle East, where 8.5 million Indians reside, PFGs provide a direct legislative link to local governments. This allows Indian MPs to advocate for labour law reforms and social security for the diaspora, bypassing the slower bureaucratic channels.
• Parliamentary Oversight on Global Commitments: The groups facilitate peer-to-peer accountability regarding international climate and sustainability goals. Through joint study visits, MPs gain firsthand data on global best practices, which they then use to inform domestic legislative debates and policy drafting back in New Delhi.
• Countering Hegemonic Narratives: PFGs build direct rapport with smaller nations in the Global South. This “soft power” outreach helps India secure support in multilateral forums like the UN, ensuring a broader consensus for India’s bid for a permanent Security Council seat.