Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries on February 23, 2026. The stated purpose is to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation, legislative dialogue and India’s parliamentary diplomacy. Each group has 11 Members of Parliament drawn from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, so it promotes dialogue between legislatures, exchange of legislative best practices and people-to-people contacts. The participation of MPs from both Houses directly connects the update with India’s bicameral parliamentary structure.

The groups cover major global partners, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Brazil and South Africa, along with all neighbouring countries. For exam preparation, this development links with the Indian Parliament, the role of the Lok Sabha Speaker, inter-legislative cooperation and the parliamentary side of foreign policy. For RAS/UPSC and other state examinations, it can be useful as a factual prelims update around the date, number of countries and group composition. For factual recall, remember February 23, 2026, 64 countries, 11 MPs per group and representation from both Houses together.

The static-GK linkage is with India’s bicameral Parliament, the role of MPs and institutional arrangements such as parliamentary groups. India has also been a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since 1949. The update should therefore be remembered not only as a count of 64 countries, but as a step in India’s wider parliamentary engagement and legislative dialogue with partner countries. In governance context, it can be used as an example of institutional dialogue and parliamentary outreach.