New Delhi: India has called for the dismantling of export controls within BRICS nations, promoting intra-bloc economic cooperation and supply chain resilience. This proposal was made during the 15th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting, held under Brazil’s presidency.
The meeting witnessed India strongly backing a decentralised, rules-based trading system that supports the developmental aspirations of the Global South. Additionally, the discussions around the mutual affirmations to strengthen digital cooperation set the stage for India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026.
Economic Adviser Yashvir Singh, who represented India at BRICS, emphasised the need to eliminate restrictive trade practices among all the member countries.
He also highlighted the importance of seamless supply chains and reiterated India’s stand on the concessional transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), backed by financial support.
However, a significant achievement of the meeting was the adoption of a Joint Declaration accompanied by three key annexures:
- BRICS Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening of Multilateral Trading System
- BRICS Data Economy Governance Understanding
- BRICS Trade and Sustainable Development Framework
The declaration reaffirms BRICS’ shared goal of a fair, inclusive and transparent global trade environment.
Notably, they cautioned against the misuse of climate-related trade policies as disguised restrictions or discrimination.
India restated its demand for a Permanent Solution to Public Stockholding (PSH) for food security at the WTO. It should be noted that the “30 for 30” proposal was also promoted, aiming at introducing 30 specific reforms to mark the WTO’s 30th anniversary.
India further stressed on the digital governance leadership through flagship initiatives such as Digital India, IndiaAI Mission and its active role in forums like the G20 and Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
The BRICS Data Economy Governance Understanding recognised Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a critical enabler of digital transformation.
Capacity Building on Digital Transformation
In parallel, India also hosted a Virtual Capacity Building Session on Digital Transformation through the Department of Telecommunications’ National Communications Academy – Technology (NCA-T), under the BRICS ICT Working Group.
Inaugurated by BRICS Chair Daniel Cavalcanti and NCA-T Director General Atul Sinha, this session explored digital policy priorities like mobile user protection (DoT’s Sanchar Saathi initiative becoming pivotal in safeguarding mobile users from fraud), cyber resilience (the need for cross-border collaboration to counter cyber threats), Digital Public Infrastructure (Aadhaar becoming a model for inclusive digital identity) and digital twin technologies (the Sangam initiative, using AI and simulation for smarter governance and planning).
