NEW DELHI (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged BRICS nations to take a larger role in reshaping global governance, arguing that countries of the Global South should have a voice not only in international debates but also in decisions that determine the rules of the global order.
Speaking at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi said the grouping’s 20th anniversary should mark the beginning of a more ambitious phase, with members translating their consensus into practical initiatives and pressing for reforms in international institutions.
Focus on the Next 20 Years
Modi said India’s BRICS presidency had been guided by a people-oriented approach, with resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability forming the core areas of work.
More than 350 meetings were organised during India’s chairmanship, he said, with BRICS delegations visiting around 30 cities across the country.
Describing the completion of two decades as a moment of “coming of age” for BRICS, Modi said the grouping had established a distinct position on the world stage by respecting differences and relying on consensus.
He called for a long-term agenda for the next 20 years and proposed measures to ensure that initiatives do not lose momentum when the BRICS presidency changes hands.
Proposal for a BRICS Implementation System
Among his suggestions was a dedicated continuity and implementation mechanism under the existing Troika arrangement.
Modi also proposed a secure digital system that could track individual BRICS decisions, including the agency or official responsible for implementation, deadlines and progress.
Such a mechanism, he said, would help preserve institutional continuity despite the annual rotation of the presidency.
Call for Reform of Global Institutions
Modi then turned his attention to the wider international system, saying global decision-making continues to reflect an outdated distribution of power.
According to the Prime Minister, the Global South frequently bears the consequences of wars, economic disruptions and other international crises while remaining underrepresented in the forums where major decisions are taken.
He called for the existing model to evolve into a more collaborative system in which countries have both a voice and a meaningful stake.
Modi proposed that BRICS collectively prepare 10 recommendations for reforming global governance, with the objective of developing them into a formal roadmap before the next summit.
UN Security Council Reform Among Priorities
The Prime Minister identified representation, responsiveness and rule-making as three critical components of the proposed reform agenda.
On representation, he said reform of the United Nations Security Council should no longer be postponed and called for negotiations to be tied to defined timelines and concrete outcomes.
He also argued that international financial institutions need to better reflect present-day economic realities, including through changes in voting rights, leadership structures and policy priorities.
Greater Role for Global South in Emerging Technologies
Modi said the question of who makes international rules would become increasingly important as technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, biotechnology and space applications develop rapidly.
He argued that developing countries should not merely implement standards framed elsewhere.
Through BRICS, he proposed providing young diplomats and policymakers from the Global South with training in negotiations, international law and policymaking so they can participate more effectively in shaping future global frameworks.
Support Network for Seafarers Proposed
The Prime Minister also put forward an initiative aimed at protecting seafarers, whose work remains critical to international commerce.
He proposed a Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network linking maritime authorities and diplomatic missions to facilitate assistance during emergencies, including medical support, distress situations, family communication and evacuations.
Modi noted the significance of the summit coinciding with the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation and said India was ready to contribute to a stronger Global South agenda.
The broader message from India’s BRICS presidency, he said, should be that countries sharing a common future must also share the right to shape it.
For BRICS, Modi’s proposals place greater emphasis on moving from declarations to implementation while seeking a stronger collective voice for developing nations in global decision-making.
