Harivansh to Lead India at 153rd IPU Assembly in Tanzania
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh is leading a nine-member Indian parliamentary team to the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly at Arusha in Tanzania.

Why in News
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat announced on 3 October 2026 that an Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh had left for Arusha, Tanzania, for the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which runs from 5 to 9 October 2026.
An Indian parliamentary team has left for Arusha in the United Republic of Tanzania to attend the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the meetings held around it. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat said on 3 October 2026 that the team is led by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The sittings run from 5 to 9 October 2026.
The theme of the Assembly
Lawmakers from parliaments around the world will gather at Arusha to debate the chosen theme, "Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all". The IPU is the world body of national parliaments, and its Assembly is the main occasion on which members of parliament meet one another rather than governments meeting governments.
Who is in the Indian team
Nine members of Parliament make up the delegation. Shri Harivansh leads it. From the Rajya Sabha he is joined by Dr. Sasmit Patra. The Lok Sabha members in the team are Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Dr. Lata Wankhede, Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi and Shri N. K. Premachandran.
What the delegation will do
The leader of the delegation will sit in the Governing Council of the IPU, take part in the General Debate and in the debate on the emergency item, and attend the hearing of the candidates who are standing for the post of IPU President. Other members have been assigned panels and workshops.
Subjects on the agenda
- Democracy, human rights and the place of women in public life
- Peace, international security, maritime security and counter-terrorism
- Sustainable development, climate change and the care of mountain and ocean ecosystems
- Health, including mental health
- Critical minerals, artificial intelligence and the shape of future work
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat said the visit is part of India's steady engagement with the IPU and of its interest in parliamentary diplomacy, by which parliaments talk directly to one another on questions of peace, development and democratic practice. For an aspirant, the facts worth carrying away are the edition of the Assembly, the host city and country, the dates, the theme and the name of the leader of the Indian delegation.
Important Facts
| Event | 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) |
|---|---|
| Host city | Arusha |
| Host country | United Republic of Tanzania |
| Dates | 5 to 9 October 2026 |
| Theme | Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all |
| Leader of Indian delegation | Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha |
| Size of delegation | Nine members of Parliament |
| Rajya Sabha members | Shri Harivansh and Dr. Sasmit Patra |
| Announced by | Rajya Sabha Secretariat |
| Forums for the leader | Governing Council, General Debate, emergency item debate, hearing of candidates for IPU President |
Exam Point of View
Remember the edition of the Assembly (153rd), the organisation (Inter-Parliamentary Union), the host city (Arusha) and country (United Republic of Tanzania), the dates (5 to 9 October 2026), the theme on good governance and inclusivity, the leader of the Indian delegation (Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh) and the four forums he attends, including the hearing of candidates for IPU President.
Practice Questions
In which country is the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union being held?
- A.Kenya
- B.United Republic of Tanzania
- C.Uganda
- D.Ethiopia
Show answer
Correct answer: B. United Republic of Tanzania
Explanation
The correct answer is the United Republic of Tanzania. The Assembly and the meetings held around it are taking place at Arusha, a city in that country, from 5 to 9 October 2026, and the Indian Parliamentary Delegation left for Arusha for this purpose. Option A, Kenya, is a neighbour of Tanzania and a frequent venue for conferences in East Africa, but it is not the host this time. Option C, Uganda, and option D, Ethiopia, are also East African states and are offered because they look plausible; neither hosts the Assembly. Aspirants should hold the city and the country together, since questions are set on either one. It is also worth noting that the theme chosen for this edition is 'Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all', and that the Indian team is led by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Who leads the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 153rd IPU Assembly?
- A.The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- B.The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- C.The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- D.The Minister of External Affairs
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
Explanation
The correct answer is the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh, who heads the nine-member team that went to Arusha. He is to sit in the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, speak in the General Debate and in the debate on the emergency item, and attend the hearing of those who are candidates for the post of IPU President. Option A, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, often leads Indian parliamentary teams abroad, which makes it a tempting choice, but the delegation this time is led by the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman. Option C, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, holds no such role here. Option D, the Minister of External Affairs, belongs to the government and not to a parliamentary delegation; the Assembly is a meeting of parliaments rather than of governments, and the announcement came from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
Which of the following forums will the leader of the Indian delegation NOT take part in at the 153rd IPU Assembly?
- A.The Governing Council
- B.The General Debate
- C.The debate on the emergency item
- D.The election of the United Nations Secretary-General
Show answer
Correct answer: D. The election of the United Nations Secretary-General
Explanation
The correct answer is the election of the United Nations Secretary-General, which has nothing to do with this Assembly. The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the global body of national parliaments and runs its own affairs, so an election at the United Nations is not on its programme. Options A, B and C are all forums the leader of the Indian delegation, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh, is scheduled to attend: the Governing Council, which takes the organisation's decisions; the General Debate, held on the theme of the Assembly; and the debate on the emergency item, which allows a pressing world question to be taken up at short notice. He is also to attend the hearing of the candidates standing for the post of IPU President. Other members of the Indian team will join panels and workshops on democracy, maritime security, counter-terrorism, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and climate change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 153rd IPU Assembly being held?
At Arusha in the United Republic of Tanzania, from 5 to 9 October 2026. The Inter-Parliamentary Union brings together members of national parliaments from across the world for this Assembly and the meetings attached to it.
Who leads the Indian delegation to the 153rd IPU Assembly?
Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He is to sit in the Governing Council, speak in the General Debate and the debate on the emergency item, and attend the hearing of candidates for IPU President.
What is the theme of the 153rd IPU Assembly?
'Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all'. Members will also discuss democracy, maritime security, counter-terrorism, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and climate change.
Sources
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2318590 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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