Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for greater representation of the Global South in international decision-making, saying countries driving global economic growth must have a meaningful voice in global governance. Addressing world leaders at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi said the existing global system must move from a “pyramid of privilege” towards a “platform of partnership” where every nation has a voice and a stake.
In his opening statement, Modi proposed that 10 proposals for reforming global governance be drafted as part of a “BRICS Reform Roadmap”. He said the roadmap should focus on three key areas — representation, responsiveness and rule-making. According to Modi, the proposals should be prepared before the bloc’s next summit to give greater momentum to discussions on reforming international institutions.
On representation, the Prime Minister said reforms to the United Nations Security Council could no longer be delayed. He called for text-based negotiations on the issue to be connected to a definitive timeline and clear outcomes. Modi also argued that international financial institutions should better reflect present economic realities, including through changes to voting power, leadership positions and policy priorities.
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Modi said India’s BRICS chairmanship was guided by a people-centric and humanity-first approach, with resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among its priorities. He noted that BRICS had developed a distinct identity on the global stage over the past two decades and said the bloc was entering a new phase that would bring greater maturity and responsibility to its role in international affairs.
The Prime Minister stressed that BRICS members would seek to advance their agenda through consensus rather than against any country. “We are not against anyone,” he said, adding that the bloc should work towards taking everyone along. He called for BRICS unity and consensus to be translated into tangible outcomes on the global stage while respecting the different perspectives of member countries.
Looking ahead, Modi said BRICS should develop an ambitious agenda for the next 20 years. His remarks placed global governance reform at the centre of India's BRICS presidency, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that countries and regions contributing significantly to global growth also receive greater representation in institutions shaping international economic and political decisions.
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