Why in news?

The Delhi Police recently denied permission to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to protest at Jantar Mantar, citing short notice — the group had applied just three days before the march, against a required 10-day notice period.

The protest sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

This episode brings back a recurring constitutional question: how far does the right to protest extend, and what can organisers do when police deny permission?

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Constitutional Right to Protest
• How the Permission System Works?
• Recourse When Permission Is Denied
• Prohibitory Orders: A Separate Legal Track
• The Core Legal Tension

The Constitutional Right to Protest

• The right to protest flows from Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution:
  • Article 19(1)(a): Protects freedom of speech and expression.
  • Article 19(1)(b): Guarantees the right to assemble peacefully and without arms.
• However, neither right is absolute:
  • Article 19(2) permits restrictions on speech, including on grounds of public order.
  • Article 19(3) allows “reasonable restrictions” on peaceful assembly in the interest of public order.
• Key Supreme Court Precedent:
  • Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (2018): The apex court held that holding peaceful demonstrations is a fundamental right, essential for citizens to air grievances.
  • The Court found that authorities had failed to adequately regulate demonstrations and permitted a system of prior permission, to be sought from the Police Commissioner or a delegated authority.

How the Permission System Works?

• Delhi Police guidelines for protests at Jantar Mantar require:
  • Applications submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), ordinarily at least 10 days before the event.
  • Late applications “may also be considered” depending on space availability and time for arrangements — the 10-day rule is not an absolute bar.
  • Applications assessed on a “first-come, first-serve” basis, reviewed by the Special Branch, traffic police, and New Delhi district police.
  • The DCP weighs whether the protest could obstruct traffic, endanger safety, or disturb public tranquillity.
  • Permission may be revoked for unforeseen reasons (VIP security, intelligence inputs), but reasons must be recorded and conveyed to organisers.
  • Protests are capped at 1,000 people at Jantar Mantar; larger gatherings must shift to Ramlila Ground (capacity: 50,000).
• Experts noted that the permission mechanism is meant to be facilitative, not prohibitive.

Recourse When Permission Is Denied

• Step 1 — Approach Police Again: Organisers can seek reconsideration, respond to the stated reasons, or propose a smaller gathering, shorter duration, or alternative venue.
• Step 2 — No Formal Appeal Exists: The DCP’s decision is “final and binding” under the standing order — there is no built-in appeal against refusal (as distinct from revocation, which requires recorded reasons).
• Step 3 — Judicial Remedy: If refusal appears arbitrary, unsupported by guidelines, or inconsistent with the right to peaceful assembly, organisers can approach the Delhi High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.
• Consequences of Defying Denial: Protesting despite denial can attract Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (formerly Section 188 IPC) — disobeying a lawful order by a public servant, inviting imprisonment or fine.
  • However, this must be read alongside the constitutional right to protest; the absence of a genuine alternative venue could be challenged as an unreasonable restriction.

Prohibitory Orders: A Separate Legal Track

• A prohibitory order is a magistrate’s order barring specified activities (e.g., assembly of five or more persons) under Section 163 of the BNSS (earlier Section 144 CrPC).
• Remedies against such orders:
  • Section 163(5): An aggrieved person can apply to the issuing magistrate to rescind or alter the order.
  • Section 163(7): The magistrate must give the applicant an early opportunity to be heard; if rejected, reasons must be recorded in writing.
• Key Judicial Precedents
  • Babulal Parate v. State of Maharashtra (1961): Constitution Bench held affected persons have a right to challenge such orders, even if passed without a hearing.
  • Ramlila Maidan Incident (2012): The Court held that preventive orders must be based on “actual and prominent threat” to public order, and the power must be exercised with “great caution and free from arbitrariness.”
  • Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (2018): Reaffirmed that permission requirements cannot become a tool to reject every protest. In the Court’s words: “Total extinction is not balancing.”

The Core Legal Tension

• Legal experts argue that blanket restrictions without offering an alternative venue amount to a constitutional violation.
• They emphasised that any alternative location must be in the vicinity of those in authority — protest sites far from decision-makers defeat the purpose of dissent.
• Blocking without providing an alternative is illegal, he argued, even when done under Section 163.

Why in news?

Recently, India achieved a conservation milestone — two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were released into the wild for the first time, at Desert National Park, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

This rewilding pilot is part of Project GIB, run by the Centre, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat. While historic, experts caution that population recovery remains a long-term challenge.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Great Indian Bustard: Why It Matters?
• Project GIB: The Conservation Breeding Effort
• What Does Rewilding Involve?
• Legal Safeguards and Persistent Threats

The Great Indian Bustard: Why It Matters?

• The GIB is a large, ground-dwelling bird found in savannahs, grasslands, and deserts.
• Until the late 19th/early 20th century, it was spread across 11 states — from Haryana in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, and Rajasthan in the west to Odisha in the east.
• Causes of Decline
  • Hunting and egg poaching.
  • Conversion of open habitats into croplands and mining areas.
  • Collisions with renewable energy power lines — the GIB’s poor frontal vision and heavy body make it hard to detect or avoid overhead wires.
• Population Collapse
  • From an estimated 1,260–1,400 birds in the early 1970s, numbers have crashed to just around 150 today.
  • Of these, around 130 (±20) are in Rajasthan — the rest scattered across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, facing local extinction risk.

Project GIB: The Conservation Breeding Effort

• A long-term bustard and lesser florican conservation project was launched by the Centre and Rajasthan government in 2012–13, expanded from 2014 with funding for a conservation breeding programme.
• From 2019, wild GIB eggs were collected from Desert National Park and nearby areas, artificially incubated at two centres — Sam and Ramdevra (Rajasthan) — and hand-reared.
• These hand-reared birds have since bred at the centres, producing 98 birds so far.
• Of these: 2 released (Oct 4, 2026); 11 earmarked for future wild release; the rest remain in captivity for continued breeding.

What Does Rewilding Involve?

• Rewilding means transitioning captive-bred birds back into natural habitats.
• Key steps taken:
  • A rewilding aviary was set up at Ramdevra Centre, and a soft-release facility developed by WII inside Desert National Park.
  • Unlike hand-reared adult birds (used to humans), chicks aged 3–4 months were released here, allowing them to adapt naturally without human imprinting.
  • Released birds are fitted with transmitters, sending location/movement alerts three times daily; teams also monitor them remotely.
  • Release sites were chosen for their grassland cover and freedom from human/technological interference.

Challenges to Long-Term Recovery

• Scaling Beyond Rajasthan: Similar rewilding efforts will be needed in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh — but only after habitat improvement.
• Experts noted that grassland restoration and protection outside Rajasthan is crucial for wider revival, with Gujarat likely to follow if the Rajasthan pilot succeeds.
• The Grassland Protection Gap
  • Unlike forests, grasslands are not traditionally treated as “protected areas” in public or policy perception, making them vulnerable to land-use conversion.
  • This also affects livelihoods of pastoralists and livestock-rearing communities.
  • Bustard expert had flagged this concern as early as 2008 in Hornbill magazine — warning that forest departments, not graziers, posed the bigger threat by converting grasslands into forests through afforestation and artificial waterhole creation, misunderstanding the bustard’s actual habitat needs.

Legal Safeguards and Persistent Threats

• Following a landmark Supreme Court case on GIB protection, the Court accepted an expert panel’s recommendations and ordered:
  • Demarcation of “priority areas” — 14,013 sq km in Rajasthan and 740 sq km in Gujarat.
  • Undergrounding of 80 km of power lines in Rajasthan, to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
  • Creation of “powerline corridors” to accommodate re-routed overhead lines.
• Remaining Threats
  • Experts warn rewilding won’t be sustainable unless power lines are undergrounded soon.
  • Limestone mining threatens the open, flat terrain bustards need — the Supreme Court did not order specific anti-mining measures, and mining operations are proposed on the northern side of Desert National Park, near the release site itself.

Conclusion

The release of two captive-bred bustards marks a symbolic breakthrough, but survival of the species hinges on far more than breeding success — it depends on protecting grasslands long dismissed as “wastelands,” undergrounding power lines on schedule, and curbing mining in critical habitats.

Unless these systemic threats are addressed with the same urgency as captive breeding, rewilding risks becoming a short-lived experiment rather than a lasting recovery.

Why in the News?

• India has joined a joint statement by 14 countries and the European Union acknowledging concerns over global structural overcapacity, a development that could influence the outcome of the US Section 301 investigation and proposed tariffs on Indian goods.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Global Manufacturing Overcapacity (Background, Consequences)
• US Section 301 (Meaning, Key Developments, Impact on India, Challenges & Concerns, Way Forward)

Understanding Global Manufacturing Overcapacity

• Global manufacturing overcapacity refers to a situation in which an economy or industry produces more goods than domestic and international markets can absorb at prevailing prices.
• It can emerge because of excessive investment, government support, weak demand, inefficient allocation of capital or the expansion of production beyond sustainable market requirements.
• Overcapacity may lead to:
  • Price distortions: Excess supply can depress international prices and affect competing producers.
  • Trade tensions: Countries may accuse competitors of using subsidies or other non-market practices to gain an unfair advantage.
  • Industrial disruption: Domestic manufacturers may struggle to compete with cheaper imports, potentially affecting employment and investment.
  • Trade protectionism: Governments may introduce tariffs or other restrictions to protect domestic industries.
• Sectors identified as areas of concern in the recent international discussions include automobiles, electric vehicles, batteries, chemicals, foundational semiconductors and solar panels. China is frequently accused of having excess capacity in several of these sectors.
• However, determining whether excess capacity exists, and whether it results from unfair trade practices, requires sector-specific evidence and careful economic assessment.

US Section 301 Investigation

• Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 provides a mechanism through which the United States investigates foreign government practices that it considers unreasonable, discriminatory or restrictive to US commerce.
• The process can have significant implications for international trade because it may lead to trade restrictions or additional tariffs, depending on the findings and actions taken by the US authorities.

Key Developments

• International consultations: At the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Milwaukee recently, participating countries discussed the impact of global overcapacity.
• Joint statement: The United States announced on October 7 that participating countries had acknowledged the challenges posed by structural excess capacity and production.
• Technical discussions: The countries committed to meeting before December 2026 to develop terms of reference, exchange non-confidential information and identify gaps in available data.
• Potential tariff implications: Experts cited in the report suggested that India's participation could influence the US Trade Representative's decision on proposed tariffs. However, this outcome remains uncertain pending the investigation's results.
• The investigation covers multiple economies, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, several Southeast Asian countries and members of the European Union.

Why Is India’s Position Significant?

• India's participation reflects an attempt to engage with international concerns over manufacturing while protecting its domestic industrial interests.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has maintained that India's manufacturing capacity in the sectors identified by the G20 Presidency serves domestic and global demand, and that the country does not have structural excess capacity in these sectors.
• India's position is significant for three reasons.
  • First, tariff exposure: Cooperation with the United States could potentially reduce the likelihood of additional trade restrictions, although this is not guaranteed.
  • Second, export competitiveness: More favourable tariff treatment could help Indian exporters compete with manufacturers from China and ASEAN economies in the US market.
  • Third, industrial policy: India must ensure that international cooperation does not undermine legitimate efforts to expand domestic manufacturing, attract investment and develop strategic industries.

Challenges and Concerns for India

• Despite the potential benefits of cooperation, the investigation raises several concerns.
• Risk of collateral damage
  • Measures designed to address global overcapacity may affect countries beyond those primarily associated with the problem.
  • India's industrial expansion could come under scrutiny if production growth is interpreted as creating excess capacity.
• Conflict between industrialisation and trade restrictions
  • Developing economies often expand manufacturing to generate employment, improve productivity and reduce import dependence.
  • Restrictions based on broad interpretations of overcapacity could constrain these objectives.
• Unequal treatment of subsidies
  • The report raises the concern that international discussions should also examine agricultural overcapacity and subsidised exports in developed economies, particularly their effects on farmers and rural livelihoods in developing countries.
• Impact on domestic industrial corridors
  • An August 2026 US report criticised several global manufacturing hubs, including the Pune-Gujarat-Chennai industrial corridor.
  • Such criticism highlights the potential for trade investigations to become connected with wider competition over industrial capacity and manufacturing investment.

Way Forward

• Evidence-based assessment: Use sector-specific production, demand, capacity utilisation and export data to demonstrate that manufacturing expansion is commercially justified.
• Constructive negotiations: Engage with the United States to seek clarity on the criteria used to identify structural overcapacity and the potential consequences for Indian exporters.
• Protect policy space: Ensure that international cooperation does not automatically imply acceptance of allegations against Indian manufacturing or restrict legitimate industrial development.
• Strengthen competitiveness: Improve logistics, infrastructure, skills, technology adoption and productivity to make Indian manufacturing competitive without relying on trade distortions.
• Promote multilateral solutions: Use platforms such as the G20 and OECD-related forums to develop transparent and balanced approaches to global trade imbalances.

Why in News?

• After terminating several bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in 2016–17, India is revamping its investment treaty framework to attract sustained foreign direct investment (FDI) while safeguarding its regulatory autonomy.
• Following the announcement in the Union Budget 2025–26 to review the 2016 Model BIT, the government is preparing a revised template, with four to five investment agreements expected to be finalised by the end of 2026.
• India has already concluded agreements with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Israel and the UAE, reflecting a gradual shift towards a more investor-friendly approach.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)?
• India’s Evolving Approach to Investment Treaties
• Investor Rights versus State Sovereignty
• Importance of Domestic Dispute Resolution
• Conclusion

What is a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)?

• A BIT is an agreement between two countries that establishes the rules for protecting and promoting investments made by investors of one country in the territory of the other.
• Key objectives:
  • Provide legal certainty and protection against discriminatory or arbitrary treatment.
  • Build investor confidence and encourage cross-border investment.
  • Establish mechanisms for resolving investment disputes.
  • Balance investor protection with the host country's right to regulate in the public interest.
• Evolution of India’s BIT framework:
  • 1993 Model BIT: India began concluding BITs under its original model, subsequently amended in 2003.
  • 2016 Model BIT:
    • India adopted a revised framework emphasising the State's right to regulate and imposing stricter conditions on access to ISDS - Investor-State Dispute Settlement.
    • ISDS allows foreign investors to bring claims against host governments for alleged violations of investment treaty obligations.
    • India had signed BITs with 83 countries, of which 74 were ratified (as per data presented in Parliament in March 2023).
  • 2016–17: India issued termination notices to numerous treaty partners (~68 countries) and sought renegotiation under the revised model.
• Recent developments: India has signed BITs with countries including Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic, Brazil, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Taiwan.

India’s Evolving Approach to Investment Treaties:

• Relaxation of the Exhaustion of Local Remedies (ELR) requirement:
  • ELR requires foreign investors to approach the host country's domestic courts or administrative authorities before initiating international arbitration.
  • India’s 2016 Model BIT introduced a five-year local-remedies requirement, which was criticised by investors for delaying access to international dispute settlement.
  • Recent agreements indicate greater flexibility -
    • UAE: The 2024 BIT reduced the local-remedies period to three years.
    • Saudi Arabia: The recently concluded agreement provides for a two-year period before investors can approach international arbitration.
  • Some trading partners have sought a one-year period, but India has not accepted such demands so far.
  • The Saudi agreement is particularly significant amid expectations of investment in India's refinery sector.
  • The government argues that the revised approach improves investor access to dispute settlement while preserving the State's regulatory authority.
• Need for a Consistent Treaty Framework:
  • India should adopt a more uniform approach to ELR provisions.
  • A period of one to two years for pursuing domestic remedies could improve investor confidence.
  • The overall limitation period for initiating investor-state claims should also be practical rather than excessively restrictive.

Investor Rights versus State Sovereignty:

• India's decision to terminate several BITs followed concerns that adverse international arbitral awards could constrain domestic policymaking.
• Developing countries like South Africa and Indonesia have also withdrawn from or restructured investment treaty arrangements to preserve regulatory autonomy.
• Key concerns associated with BITs and ISDS:
  • Erosion of policy space: Treaty obligations may constrain governments' ability to regulate in the public interest.
  • High litigation costs: Defending international investment claims can impose a substantial financial burden on governments.
  • Regulatory chilling effect: Governments may hesitate to introduce legitimate regulations for fear of costly arbitration.
  • Constraints on technology transfer: Treaty protections may limit the policy instruments available to developing countries seeking to strengthen domestic productive capabilities through FDI.
  • These concerns have fuelled demands for reforming the international investment regime, particularly in the Global South.
• Changing international practices:
  • The debate is not confined to developing countries. For example,
    • The European Union has withdrawn from the Energy Charter Treaty amid concerns about compatibility with its climate objectives.
    • The US and Canada removed ISDS provisions from the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
    • New Zealand has opted out of ISDS provisions in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
  • These developments illustrate growing scrutiny of the balance between investment protection, climate action and domestic regulatory autonomy.

Importance of Domestic Dispute Resolution:

• Requiring investors to exhaust domestic remedies can give governments an opportunity to understand grievances and resolve disputes before they escalate to international arbitration.
• However, this approach will work only if investor disputes are resolved efficiently. A treaty provision alone cannot compel domestic courts to prioritise foreign investors over Indian investors.
• A possible way forward is to establish a statutory, time-bound grievance-redressal mechanism accessible to both domestic and foreign investors.
• Faster dispute resolution could prevent disputes from escalating, reduce litigation costs and improve India's investment climate.

Conclusion:

• India's investment treaty reform must strike a careful balance between investor confidence and sovereign regulatory autonomy.
• A predictable, transparent and time-bound dispute-resolution framework, supported by a modern and consistent Model BIT, can help attract long-term FDI without compromising legitimate public-interest regulation.

Context

• The Bhagavad Gita (Verse 18.46) teaches that a person attains perfection by performing their work with dedication and devotion.
• This principle emphasises the dignity of labour and recognises craftsmanship as a virtue.
• India’s performance at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in September 2026 reflects the growing potential of its skilled workforce.
• Securing 10th position globally with 26 medals, including six silver medals, India demonstrated that vocational skills are essential for economic productivity and national development.

Skilled Talent on the World Stage

• The WorldSkills Competition, held every two years, is considered the Olympics of vocational skills.
• It brings together over 1,400 participants from approximately 70 countries to demonstrate expertise in welding, robotics, cybersecurity, industrial design and other trades.
• India’s performance has improved significantly, rising from 39th position in 2011 to 19th in 2017 and 13th in 2019 and 2024.
• In Shanghai, India achieved its best-ever performance, winning six silver medals and 20 Medallions for Excellence. Its 70-member team competed across 63 skills.
• Mohammed Salam won silver in dental prosthetics, Kovid Gangrade in digital interactive media design, and Saniya Joshi in retail sales.
• Smriti Nambiar, Parth Vohra and Mehrunissa Begum also secured silver medals in bakery, industrial design technology, and logistics and freight forwarding, respectively.
• These achievements challenge the traditional preference for academic qualifications over vocational careers.
• Skill-based professions deserve recognition equal to academic achievements, as economic development requires both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

Humble Beginnings to Excellence

• India’s medal winners demonstrate how talent can flourish through determination and appropriate opportunities.
• Kaif Khan from Lucknow developed his car-painting skills while working in a private automobile workshop after Class 10.
• Following success in IndiaSkills competitions, he received industry training and international exposure before earning a Medallion for Excellence in Shanghai.
• Mohammed Salam from Tamil Nadu won silver in dental prosthetics, a discipline requiring exceptional precision.
• Other Indian participants received recognition in automobile technology, additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and robot systems integration.
• These achievements demonstrate that talent exists across diverse social and geographical backgrounds, but access to quality training remains crucial.
• Identifying promising candidates, providing practical instruction and offering industry exposure can transform local talent into internationally competitive professionals.

From Capex and Opex to Skill-Ex

• Economic development traditionally emphasises capital expenditure (Capex), which creates infrastructure, and operational expenditure (Opex), which maintains it.
• However, factories, machinery and infrastructure cannot deliver their full potential without trained workers.
• Skill-Ex, or deliberate investment in human skills, must therefore become the third pillar of development.
• It improves productivity, strengthens industrial competitiveness and enables workers to operate advanced technologies effectively.
• The PM-SETU scheme, or Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs, reflects this approach.
• With an allocation of ₹60,000 crores, it aims to upgrade 1,000 government Industrial Training Institutes into 200 hubs and 800 spokes, with industry partners managing the clusters.
• Its success will depend on modern equipment, qualified instructors, updated curricula and measurable employment outcomes.

There Must Be a Focus on ‘Skill-Ex’

• Government initiatives alone cannot establish a sustainable skilling ecosystem.
• Industry participation is essential because employers understand evolving technological requirements and workplace needs.
• Businesses should invest in workforce training as seriously as they invest in machinery and infrastructure.
• Industry-linked apprenticeships, practical training, recognised certifications and continuous reskilling can reduce the gap between educational qualifications and employment requirements.
• India must also address the social stigma surrounding vocational occupations, uneven training quality and limited career progression.
• Skilled workers need fair wages, safe working conditions and opportunities for advancement.
• The dignity of labour must translate into practical recognition, rather than remaining a symbolic ideal.

Conclusion

• India’s WorldSkills 2026 performance demonstrates the potential of its young workforce when talent receives systematic training and institutional support.
• The priority now is to convert competitive achievements into large-scale employability, higher productivity and inclusive growth.
• Strengthening vocational institutions, expanding industry partnerships and investing in Skill-Ex can prepare India’s workforce for technological transformation.
• Ultimately, national progress depends not only on policymakers and infrastructure developers but also on those who weld, bake, paint, repair and manufacture with precision.
• As the Bhagavad Gita teaches, dedicated work is a source of excellence and service to society.

Context

• The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, demonstrated the grouping’s ability to reconcile divergent interests through the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
• Under India’s chairmanship, the summit reinforced strategic autonomy, multipolarity and consensus-building.
• However, institutional weaknesses, geopolitical rivalries and economic inequalities continue to limit BRICS’ effectiveness.

The New Delhi Declaration: Major Achievements

• The declaration addressed global governance, trade, finance, energy, climate change, technology, health and agriculture.
• Its major objectives included:
  • Promoting local-currency trade and interoperable cross-border payment systems.
  • Implementing the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030 and the Global Value Chain Action Plan for 2026–2030.
  • Reforming the United Nations and international financial institutions to improve developing countries’ representation.
  • Supporting de-escalation in West Asia and humanitarian access to Gaza.
  • Strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, food security and sustainable development.
• The declaration also defended the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its rules-based trading system.
• Nevertheless, the success of these initiatives depends on translating commitments into practical outcomes.

The Message and the Approach

• Reforming Global Governance
  • Existing international institutions inadequately reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities.
  • India advocated reforms to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to provide emerging and developing economies with greater representation.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BRICS leaders to develop ten proposals for global governance reform.
  • The emphasis on multi-polarity reflected the demand for a more inclusive international order.
  • However, meaningful reform requires sustained negotiations and political commitment.
• Strategic Autonomy and Diplomatic Engagement
  • India’s approach reflected strategic autonomy and multi-alignment, allowing cooperation with competing powers without excessive dependence on any single country.
  • The participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the UAE and Iran demonstrated BRICS’ potential to facilitate dialogue.
  • However, diplomatic cordiality does not necessarily resolve underlying disputes.
  • Sustained cooperation requires members to manage differences while pursuing common interests.
• Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development
  • The declaration recognised artificial intelligence (AI) as a driver of economic growth, improved public services and sustainable development.
  • It encouraged cooperation in computing resources, research, skills and innovation.
  • Collaboration in technology, healthcare, energy and agriculture could help developing countries address shared challenges and reduce technological inequalities.

What a More Sober Assessment Shows

• The Limits of Multilateral Cooperation
  • Since the first BRIC summit in 2009, major demands for reforming the IMF, World Bank and United Nations have remained substantially unfulfilled.
  • BRICS has also failed to achieve sufficient economic integration to challenge the dominance of the Bretton Woods institutions effectively.
  • This reveals a persistent gap between declared ambitions and practical achievements.
  • Consensus has limited value without implementation, institutional capacity and measurable results.
• From Multilateralism to Pragmatic Coalitions
  • The contemporary world increasingly favours ad hoc cooperation and interest-based partnerships over permanent alliances.
  • BRICS members differ in political systems, economic priorities and strategic objectives.
  • Consequently, the grouping is better understood as a flexible platform for consultation and selective cooperation than as a unified geopolitical bloc. 

The China Factor

• Growing Economic Asymmetry
  • China’s economic and political influence has expanded considerably relative to other BRICS members, creating an imbalance of power within the grouping.
  • Such dominance risks reproducing the concentration of power that BRICS seeks to challenge internationally.
  • China’s growing influence also complicates its claim to represent the diverse interests of the Global South.
• India–China Strategic Rivalry
  • Relations between India and China remain uneasy despite diplomatic efforts following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
  • Strategic mistrust between two leading BRICS members constrains collective decision-making.
  • India must ensure that BRICS remains a platform for cooperation rather than an instrument of disproportionate influence by any single member.

Implications for India

• The summit enhanced India’s diplomatic visibility and demonstrated its ability to facilitate dialogue.
• Nevertheless, BRICS membership does not automatically guarantee economic benefits or political leverage.
• India should pursue a balanced foreign policy, combining engagement with BRICS, cooperation with Western economies and partnerships across the developing world.
• Its influence will ultimately depend on domestic economic strength, diplomatic credibility and effective international coalitions.

The Way Forward

• Institutional reform: Advance realistic proposals for more representative global governance.
• Economic integration: Strengthen local-currency trade, payment systems, investment and value chains.
• Conflict management: Develop consultation mechanisms to prevent bilateral disputes from obstructing cooperation.
• South-South cooperation: Deliver measurable benefits through healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy and technology.
• Strategic autonomy: Enable India to pursue national interests through diversified international partnerships.

Conclusion

• The New Delhi Summit reaffirmed the demand for a more inclusive and multipolar international order while strengthening India’s diplomatic profile.
• However, institutional weaknesses, limited economic integration, geopolitical rivalries and China’s growing dominance continue to constrain BRICS.
• Its future relevance depends on converting consensus into concrete outcomes. India should engage actively with BRICS while preserving strategic autonomy and diversified partnerships.
• The true measure of BRICS’ success lies in practical cooperation and meaningful global reforms, not merely unanimous declarations.

About Bhavanisagar Dam:

• Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir, also called Lower Bhavani Dam, is located on the Bhavani River (a major tributary of the Cauvery River) in Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the world's largest earthen dams.
• It is a Multi-Purpose Dam.
  • It is used to store water for irrigation, generate electricity, supply drinking water, control floods, and control the silt formation in the downstream river.
  • The dam feeds the Lower Bhavani Project Canal and is the second largest dam in Tamil Nadu.
  • It forms the tail end of the long river chain on the eastern side of the Western Ghats in Nilgiris.

About Snow Leopard:

• It is a large wild cat native to the high-altitude mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.
• It is popularly known as the “Ghost of the Mountains” because of its elusive nature and excellent camouflage.
• Scientific Name: Panthera uncia
• Formerly classified as Leo uncia, the snow leopard has been placed with the lion, tiger, and other big cats, in the genus Panthera.
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • They inhabit the highlands of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, ranging from the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Plateau of Tibet in the south to the Altai Mountains and highlands, west of Lake Baikal in Russia.
  • They are found in rocky, shrub-dominated, and grassy habitats occurring between 500 and 5,800 meters.
  • India is home to the snow leopards spread across the Himalayas and Trans-Himalayan region.
  • It is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

About Green Keelback:

• It is a non-venomous, semi-aquatic snake that is native to South and Southeast Asia.
• Scientific Name: Macropisthodon plumbicolor
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • It is found in parts of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and parts of Indonesia.
  • It prefers wetlands, including ponds, rivers, streams, rice fields, and marshy areas.
  • It is often found in areas with abundant vegetation where it can hide and hunt in the water and on land.
• Features:
  • Keels: The term "keelback" comes from the pronounced ridges or "keels" along the scales of their bodies. These keels provide texture and grip, assisting the snake in climbing and swimming.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.