Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that India will usher in a renewed and people-centric vision for BRICS during its chairmanship of the bloc in 2025.
Speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, he outlined a fresh interpretation of the BRICS acronym — “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability.”
“Under India’s BRICS Chairmanship, we will define BRICS in a new form,” the Prime Minister stated. “BRICS would mean 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability’.”
He further emphasised that India’s leadership will be guided by the values of inclusivity and a focus on the Global South.
India’s approach to its BRICS chairmanship mirrors the priorities it upheld during its G20 presidency, with PM Modi asserting, “Just as during our G-20 Presidency, we ensured inclusivity and prioritised issues of the Global South in the agenda. In the same way, during our BRICS Chairmanship, we will take this forum forward with a people-centric approach and the spirit of Humanity First.”
The summit, hosted by Brazil from July 7 to 9, brought together not only the five founding nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - but also the group’s latest members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. PM Modi participated in the sessions on July 6 and 7, as confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Leaders from across BRICS and its partner nations discussed an array of global issues, including governance reforms, international peace, sustainable development, multilateral cooperation, and the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence.
In his address during the inaugural session, themed around global governance and peace, PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to amplifying the voice of the developing world.
He stressed the need for systemic reform in global institutions to better reflect today’s geopolitical and economic realities. "The global organisations of the 20th century cannot address the challenges of the 21st century,” he said, calling for urgent reform of institutions like the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO.
The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the Summit’s strong language on UN Security Council reform, reflected in the Rio de Janeiro Declaration adopted at the end of the event.
On security issues, PM Modi condemned global terrorism and specifically referenced the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. “It was not just an attack on India but an onslaught on all of humanity,” he said, urging unified global action. “There should be no double standards in dealing with terrorism,” he added, thanking BRICS leaders for their strong condemnation of the attack.
Touching on global conflicts, including those in West Asia and Europe, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s consistent call for dialogue and diplomacy, stating India’s readiness to assist in peace-building efforts.
During another session focused on multilateralism, financial affairs, and artificial intelligence, PM Modi described BRICS as a grouping that embodies diversity and multipolarity. He stressed that BRICS has a critical role to play in stabilising the world order amid rising global uncertainty.
He put forward four key proposals to strengthen the bloc's impact:
1. The New Development Bank should base its operations on demand-driven principles and long-term sustainability.
2. A shared Science and Research repository should be created to support innovation across the Global South.
3. Greater focus is needed on securing critical mineral supply chains.
4. BRICS should commit to the responsible use of AI while also advancing innovation in the sector.
PM Modi also extended his gratitude to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for hosting the event and acknowledged Brazil’s hospitality and efficient summit organisation.