Underlining that the BRICS summit is “coming of age”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday pitched for a greater role for the developing countries in global decision-making architecture. He said the Global South should move from being a “rule-taker” to “rule-shaper”.

Addressing the opening session of BRICS, PM Modi said the current global decision-making architecture looks like a “pyramid” – those at the top are making the decisions and are powerful, and those at the bottom are the ones affected and have no powers and leverage.

He observed that the “pyramid of privilege” should be transformed into a “platform of partnership”.

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He also said BRICS has assumed its identity and is moving forward “through consensus”.

“We are not against anyone,” he said at a time when BRICS is being portrayed as an anti-West grouping by many.

He further said that BRICS should not lose “institutional momentum” despite having a rotational chairship.

To maintain momentum, Modi proposed “continuity and implementation” through the Troika mechanism, which will follow up on the initiatives and projects. This will be done through a digital repository of implementation, status, and timeline.

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Before receiving the leaders of BRICS member countries, the Indian prime minister held meetings with leaders of Ethiopia, Malaysia, and the UAE in the morning.