New Delhi, September 2026 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the BRICS Session on Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism with a powerful call to reform outdated global institutions. Marking the 20th anniversary of the BRICS bloc, the Prime Minister laid out an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming global governance and elevating the voices of the Global South.

A “Coming of Age” for BRICS Welcoming global leaders to India, PM Modi reflected on the bloc’s two-decade journey, describing it as a “coming of age” moment characterized by new responsibilities and mature consensus-building. Under India’s presidency, which champions a “People-Centric and Humanity First” approach, over 350 meetings were hosted across 30 Indian cities. To ensure that BRICS initiatives do not stall when the presidency rotates annually, the Prime Minister proposed a “BRICS Continuity and Implementation Mechanism” alongside a secure digital repository to seamlessly track the progress of key decisions.

Dismantling the Pyramid of Privilege The core of PM Modi’s address was a sharp critique of the current global governance structure, which he likened to a “pyramid.” Power and decision-making remain concentrated at the top, while developing nations at the bottom bear the brunt of global crises without having the power to shape solutions. Calling for a shift to a “Platform of Partnership,” he proposed developing 10 actionable proposals for global governance reform to establish a formal BRICS Reform Roadmap by the next summit.

The Three Pillars: Representation, Responsiveness, and Rule-Making To rebuild global institutions, PM Modi emphasized three crucial areas:

• Representation: Emphasizing that reform of the UN Security Council can no longer be delayed, he called for text-based negotiations with strict timelines. He also pushed for a realignment of voting power and leadership in global financial institutions to reflect today’s economic realities.
• Responsiveness: Global bodies must solve problems with speed and scale. Recognizing the crucial role of maritime trade, PM Modi proposed creating a Seafarers Emergency Support Network to provide rapid distress alerts, medical assistance, and evacuation coordination globally.
• Rule-Making: As advanced technologies like AI, biotechnology, and outer space exploration define the future, the Global South must transition from being mere “rule takers” to “rule shapers.” India offered to lead efforts in training young diplomats from developing nations in critical negotiation and legal skills.

Bottom Line Speaking on the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, PM Modi’s message to the global community was unambiguous: if the world shares a common future, the right to build and shape it must also be shared equally. Transforming the Global South’s role from “voice to impact” is no longer just an aspiration—it is the new BRICS mandate for the coming decades.