India to Host BRICS Anti-Corruption Meeting in Hyderabad
| General Studies Paper II: Important International Institutions, Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests |
Why in News?
India is hosting the 2nd BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) Meeting in Hyderabad under the theme of India’s BRICS Presidency.
Highlights of 2nd BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) Meeting
- Venue: The 2nd BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) Meeting is being held on 4–5 August 2026 under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
- The meeting is hosted at Hotel Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Organiser: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), under the Government of India, is the primary organizing body.
- Ms. Rachna Shah, Secretary of DoPT, formally inaugurated the high-profile session.
- Participation: The meeting is expected to bring together about 40 delegates from BRICS countries.
- Focus Areas: The 2-day will be focused on the formal ACWG dialogue and the 2nd BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery meeting.
- The agenda will center on establishing a robust BRICS Repository on Informal Cooperation, aimed at efficiently tracing fugitive offenders and easing cross-border extradition blockades.
- Delegates will discuss how to combat cross-border corruption and enhance mutual financial intelligence sharing.
- Discussion will be focused on emerging institutional vulnerabilities linked to Financial Technology (FinTech). Members will analyze risks from virtual digital assets (VDAs) used to launder proceeds.
- On August 5, a dedicated event titled “Ethical Governance through Innovation and Tech-Driven Systems” is scheduled. It promotes digital public procurement and citizen engagement tools.
- First Meeting Details: The 1st BRICS ACWG Meeting was conducted virtually on 2–3 June 2026 under India’s Presidency.
- It laid the foundation for discussions that are now being advanced during the Hyderabad meeting.
What is BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG)?
- About: It is an official BRICS institutional mechanism established by BRICS Leaders.
- The group was formally established in 2015 during the BRICS Ufa Summit in Russia.
- It was created following the BRICS Leaders’ commitment to enhance good governance, transparency, and integrity.
- Legal Foundation: The Working Group aligns its activities with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), 2003, the world’s principal legally binding anti-corruption treaty.
- Its initiatives complement international standards on prevention, criminalisation, asset recovery and global cooperation.
- Membership: The ACWG comprises all 11 BRICS members under the expanded grouping: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- Each country nominates senior officials from anti-corruption institutions.
- Framework: The group has no permanent secretariat. It is chaired by the country holding the rotating annual BRICS Presidency.
- The group works closely with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
- It treats the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) as a key knowledge partner.
- It strictly integrates Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
- Functions: It functions through annual meetings, technical consultations, expert-level discussions, and the BRICS Expert Focal Points on Asset Recovery.
- The Working Group conducts policy dialogues, prepares joint recommendations, organises technical meetings, shares best practices, and develops cooperation frameworks for anti-corruption agencies across BRICS countries.
- It mainly focuses on asset recovery, tracing illicit financial flows, fugitive offender cooperation, mutual legal assistance, digital governance, innovation, and public accountability.
- Initiatives: The Group established the BRICS Expert Focal Points on Asset Recovery. It includes a directory of national contact points to accelerate international investigations.
- The Ethical Governance through Innovation initiative mandates proactive corporate disclosure models.
| Important Fact: BRICS is an influential intergovernmental bloc representing major emerging economies—originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The bloc was conceived by Jim O’Neill in 2001 and held its first summit in 2009.It is now expanded into BRICS+ with members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. It represents over 37% of global GDP and serves as a crucial platform for South-South cooperation.It provides alternative financial mechanisms like the New Development Bank (NDB).Know More About BRICS |
India’s BRICS Presidency 2026
- Assumption: India assumed the BRICS Presidency 2026 from 1 January 2026 after Brazil.
- As Chair, India is coordinating ministerial meetings, working groups, and the 18th BRICS Summit.
- The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026.
- India’s Presidency is the first to fully coordinate the expanded BRICS membership.
- As Chair, India is coordinating ministerial meetings, working groups, and the 18th BRICS Summit.
- Theme: India’s Presidency is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS)”.
- The vision follows a people-centric and “Humanity First” approach.
- Strategic Pillars: India has structured its Presidency around four pillars:
- Resilience (health and supply chains),
- Innovation (Digital Public Infrastructure, AI and fintech),
- Cooperation (reformed multilateralism), and
- Sustainability (green growth and climate action).
- Major Meetings: India is hosting numerous ministerial meetings, including Energy, Labour, Health, Statistics, Anti-Corruption, and other sectoral engagements before the Leaders’ Summit.
- Focus Areas: India has prioritised energy, health, agriculture, trade, finance, digital economy, statistics, labour, anti-corruption, disaster management, science and technology.
- India is promoting Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Artificial Intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, innovation ecosystems, and digital inclusion.
- The Presidency emphasises clean energy, green finance, energy transition, climate resilience and universal energy access under the Energy Track theme “Energy for All (सर्वेषां ऊर्जम्)”.
- India advocates comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization, demanding greater representation.
- India prioritizes strengthening the New Development Bank (NDB) and developing institutional alternative cross-border payment settlement systems.
- India integrates its strict national security priorities into global governance. It advocates for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
- India initiated a massive one million hours youth volunteer program through the MY Bharat portal. The 3rd Culture Working Group in Bhopal standardized policies regarding AI protections for creative economies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. What is the BRICS Anti-Corruption Meeting?
An official BRICS Working Group meeting promoting cooperation against corruption, asset recovery, transparency, and institutional integrity.
2. Why is Hyderabad hosting the BRICS Anti-Corruption Meetings?
Hyderabad hosts it under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026, facilitating high-level anti-corruption cooperation among BRICS members.
3. Which countries are members of BRICS?
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
4. What are the main objectives of the meeting?
Strengthen asset recovery, legal cooperation, transparency, digital governance, and combat cross-border corruption.
5. Which Indian ministry is coordinating the event?
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions coordinates the event.
Disclaimer: Information in this article is based on official announcements and public records. Regulations and implementation details may evolve over time.
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