Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit on Sunday, asked the five-nation grouping to become a force for world cooperation and a genuine multipolar world order, especially by addressing the needs of the Global South.
Addressing the Outreach Session on "Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Affairs and Artificial Intelligence," Modi urged that BRICS' real strength is diversity and its collective resolve towards a multipolar world order.
The heterogeneity of the BRICS group and our strong conviction on multipolarity are our biggest assets. We need to think about how BRICS can be a guiding force for a multipolar world in the future to come," the Prime Minister stated.
He exhorted internal reforms within the bloc to make it more credible, emphasizing that only by strengthening its mechanisms can BRICS be able to plead the cause of reformed multilateralism effectively.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Modi again repeated calls for introspection: "First, focus should be on enhancing our own systems such that our credibility is increased when we appeal for reformed multilateralism. This is necessary given economic cooperation within BRICS has been moving steadily forward."
Laying stress on the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) role, Modi proposed a more strategic funding of projects. "When approving projects under the BRICS New Development Banks (NDBs), there should be emphasis on demand-led decision-making, long-term financial viability and a healthy credit rating," he said.
Touching upon the bloc's duties towards developing and emerging economies, Modi added that BRICS needs to adopt the mantle of a leader in innovation as well as sharing knowledge.
"The Global South looks towards us. To deliver to them, we need to adhere to the principle of 'Lead by Example'. India is committed to working shoulder to shoulder with all partners to deliver mutual objectives," he asserted.
He pointed to the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform led by India as an example of successful collaboration that facilitates the exchange of strides in agricultural biotechnology, precision agriculture, and climate-resilient farming.
To further promote scientific cooperation, Modi suggested creating a BRICS Science and Research Repository that will benefit other developing countries with shared technological advancement.
In response to international supply chain accidents, he underlined the need for collaborative action on key minerals and technology access. "We should never allow any country to utilize these resources for its own good or as a means of attack," he cautioned.
Regarding Artificial Intelligence, the Prime Minister advocated for balanced regulation that fosters innovation while ensuring ethical considerations.
“Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, India is actively and extensively using AI in sectors such as agriculture, health, governance and education,” Modi noted.
“We believe that resolving concerns in AI governance and encouraging innovation should both be given equal priority,” he said, also extending an invitation to all BRICS members to participate in the AI Impact Summit, which India will host in 2026.
The summit, which unites Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, also featured representation from invited outreach nations as well as partner countries.
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