Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for a fundamental restructuring of global governance, asserting that the Global South can no longer remain merely a recipient of rules framed by a handful of powerful nations. Addressing the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi said BRICS was not an alliance directed against any country and proposed a 10-point roadmap centred on greater representation, responsiveness and participation in rule-making. He also made a fresh push for long-pending reforms of the United Nations Security Council.
Speaking before global leaders at 18th BRIcs summit at Bharat Mandapam, Modi argued that the existing international system has become increasingly disconnected from present-day economic and geopolitical realities. He described global governance as a “pyramid of privilege”, in which decision-making remains concentrated among a limited group while a much larger number of countries are left to deal with the consequences.
The Prime Minister proposed replacing this model with a “platform of partnership”, where nations have a meaningful stake in decisions and an effective voice in shaping them.
He identified three broad priorities for such a transformation—representation, responsiveness and rule-making.
According to Modi, strengthening BRICS should go hand in hand with efforts to reform wider global institutions. He stressed that the world cannot continue with structures designed for an earlier era while the economic weight, population and strategic importance of several developing nations have expanded dramatically.
The Prime Minister made a particularly strong case for reforming the UN Security Council, saying the issue could no longer be pushed into an indefinite negotiating process.
Modi called for negotiations on Security Council reform to be linked to a clear timeline and measurable outcomes. He also argued that international financial institutions need to reflect today's economic realities through changes in voting rights, leadership positions and policy priorities.
His remarks underline India's longstanding demand for greater representation for developing countries in global decision-making institutions.
Modi also placed emerging technologies at the centre of the debate over the future international order. Artificial intelligence, cyberspace, outer space, biotechnology and other critical technologies, he said, will not merely create new opportunities but will also determine the rules governing the next generation of global activity.
For the Global South, he argued, the challenge is therefore to move from being a “rule-taker” to becoming a “rule-shaper”.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the vulnerability of seafarers amid growing tensions along crucial maritime trade routes. With attacks on commercial shipping raising concerns over the safety of merchant vessels, Modi proposed establishing a “Seafarers' Emergency Support Network”.
He pointed out that seafarers are indispensable to global commerce and deserve stronger international mechanisms for assistance during emergencies.
Beyond maritime security, Modi proposed using BRICS as a platform to build the institutional capacity of developing nations. He suggested training young diplomats and policymakers from the Global South in negotiation, legal expertise and practical international policymaking.
The underlying message of his address was that greater economic participation must translate into greater political influence. India, he said, was prepared to take the lead in helping the Global South acquire a stronger role in shaping global rules.
Concluding his address, Modi emphasised that a shared future must also mean a shared right to determine that future. For BRICS, he said, the direction should be clear: moving from voice to impact and from privilege to partnership.
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