At BRICS, PM Modi calls for reform of global institutions and zero double standards on terrorism
On 6 July 2025 at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, PM Narendra Modi said institutions built in the 20th century lack Global South representation and called for reform of the UN Security Council, WTO and multilateral development banks.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed two BRICS sessions in Rio de Janeiro on 6 July 2025. In the session on Reform of Global Governance, Modi congratulated President Prabowo on Indonesia's inclusion in the BRICS family, said the Global South has often faced double standards, and noted that two-thirds of humanity still lack proper representation in global institutions built in the 20th century, which without the Global South are 'like a mobile phone with a SIM card but no network'. He called for reform of the UN Security Council, the WTO and Multilateral Development Banks. In the session on Peace and Security, Modi described the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April as a direct assault on the soul, identity and dignity of India, and said there must be no hesitation in imposing sanctions on terrorists and that condemning terrorism must be a matter of principle, not convenience.
Key facts
- Date/place
- 6 July 2025, Rio de Janeiro (17th BRICS Summit)
- Governance session
- Two-thirds of humanity lack representation in 20th-century institutions; 'SIM card but no network'
- Reforms sought
- UN Security Council, WTO, Multilateral Development Banks
- Peace & Security session
- Pahalgam attack (22 April) an assault on India's soul; no hesitation in sanctioning terrorists
- New member
- PM congratulated President Prabowo on Indonesia's inclusion
Practice MCQs 3 questions
At the BRICS session on Reform of Global Governance (6 July 2025), PM Modi compared global institutions without the Global South to what?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — A mobile phone with a SIM card but no network
PMO: 'Without the Global South, these institutions are like a mobile phone with a SIM card but no network.'
According to PM Modi's BRICS statement of 6 July 2025, what share of humanity still lacks proper representation in global institutions built in the 20th century?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Two-thirds
PMO: 'Two-thirds of humanity still lack proper representation in global institutions built in the 20th century.'
Consider the following about PM Modi's BRICS statements of 6 July 2025: 1. He called for reform of the UN Security Council, the WTO and Multilateral Development Banks. 2. He said there must be no hesitation in imposing sanctions on terrorists. 3. He congratulated President Prabowo on Indonesia's inclusion in BRICS. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct: statements 1 and 3 are from the Global Governance session and statement 2 from the Peace and Security session (PMO).