Content :
- India Participates in 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting in Brasília
- Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal Launched
India Participates in 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting in Brasília
Event Overview
- Event: 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting
- Date: 21st May 2025
- Venue: Itamaraty Palace, Brasília, Brazil
- Theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”
- Participants: BRICS+ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE)
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
India’s Key Contributions
- Launch of BRICS Startup Knowledge Hub (31st Jan 2025):
- First-of-its-kind dedicated digital platform.
- Aims to promote cross-border startup collaboration.
- Facilitates policy exchange, innovation sharing, and best practices.
- Focus on MSMEs:
- India highlighted that MSMEs employ 25 crore people.
- 5.93 crore registered MSMEs contribute 45.73% of exports (2023–24).
- Advocated for MSMEs as a pillar of industrial resilience globally.
Strategic Themes Highlighted by India
- Industry 4.0 & Digital Transformation:
- Stressed on innovation and technology as drivers of sustainable development.
- Promoted a future-ready industry that is inclusive and digitally empowered.
- Digital India Success:
- India grew from 251.59 million internet users (2014) to 954.40 million (March 2024).
- Touted as the world’s largest digitally connected democracy.
Joint Declaration Outcomes
- Reaffirmed commitment to:
- Multilateralism, openness, fairness, and resilience.
- Promoting inclusive & sustainable industrial growth.
- Leveraging digital and industrial innovation for socio-economic transformation.
Guiding Philosophy Proposed by India
India invoked four key principles for BRICS cooperation:
- Sahyog (Collaboration)
- Samanjasya (Harmony)
- Samagrata (Inclusiveness)
- Sarvasammati (Consensus)
Relevance & Implications
- Positions India as a thought leader in digital public infrastructure and startup ecosystems.
- Boosts South-South cooperation in innovation and MSME development.
- Aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India industrial strategies.
- Strengthens India’s soft power and diplomatic influence in the expanded BRICS bloc.
BRICS: Key Facts
- Full Form: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
- Established: 2006 (initially as BRIC), South Africa joined in 2010
- Purpose: Promote peace, development, cooperation among emerging economies
- Population: ~42% of world population
- GDP (combined): ~25–30% of global GDP
BRICS 2025 Expansion
- New Members (BRICS+): Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE
- Focus: Greater voice for Global South, inclusive multilateralism
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal Launched
Purpose & Vision
- What is PAI 2.0?
A rationalized, data-backed framework to assess and monitor the performance of 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across India. - Objective:
Enable evidence-based, participatory planning, aligned with Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). - Transformational Goal:
From data collection to performance-based rural governance → promotes accountability, transparency, and inclusion.
Relevance : GS 2(Local Governance ,Governance )
Key Improvements in PAI 2.0 over PAI 1.0
| Feature | PAI 1.0 | PAI 2.0 |
| Indicators | 516 | 147 (↓72%) |
| Data Points | 794 | 227 |
- Rationalisation:
- Reduces reporting burden
- Enhances usability and data reliability
- Focus on quality over quantity
Nine LSDG-Aligned Themes in PAI 2.0
- Poverty-free and Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayat
- Healthy Panchayat
- Child-Friendly Panchayat
- Water-Sufficient Panchayat
- Clean and Green Panchayat
- Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
- Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat
- Panchayat with Good Governance
- Women-Friendly Panchayat
Institutional and Technical Backbone
- Portal: https://pai.gov.in
- Resources Launched:
- Local Indicator Framework (LIF) Booklet (FY 2023–24)
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Writeshop Features:
- 250+ stakeholders across 32 States/UTs
- Live demos, walkthroughs, field insights
- Collaboration with NIC, NITI Aayog, UNICEF, UNFPA, TRI, Piramal Foundation
Expected Impact
- Strengthens bottom-up planning and local self-governance
- Encourages data culture at the grassroots level
- Benchmarks Panchayats against national development priorities
- Supports Viksit Bharat 2047 vision through Sabka Prayas
