Deep Kapuria

Is BRICS Looking More Cohesive Grouping than G-20? India hosted a highly successful BRICS Summit. It witnessed the participation of thirteen heads of states from member and partner countries, several Ministers, heads of multilateral and regional organisations which included UN, WHO, WTO amongst others. A big achievement for the host India is the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This became the major international headlines and drawn the attention of wider international community. In the midst of heightened geopolitical turmoil and weakening multilateral institutions, the outcomes of BRICS Summit injected a much-needed lifeline into the ongoing efforts to restore global governance mechanism and promote international cooperation by bridging the trust deficit. The very first recommendation of BRICS New Delhi Declaration is on “inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism” – clearly stressing the importance of multipolarity and restoring the rules-based governance. For the host India, getting a 140 paras long New Delhi Declaration with consensus is a remarkable achievement. Only four months back in May 2026, the BRICS’ Foreign Ministers meeting failed to issue a joint statement owing to differences over Middle East conflict. But four months later, India managed a unanimous adoption of the very comprehensive New Delhi Declaration, in which members expressed their strong opposition to unilateral tariffs and sanctions not authorised by the UN, backed UN Security Council reforms and emphasised the need for cooperation on trade and energy security. In fact, overcoming intense divisions - specifically bridging gaps between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the language regarding West Asia conflict, is an important accomplishment for India. The New Delhi Declaration also highlighted the importance of the Global South as a driver for positive change, especially in the face of significant challenges on international front - prolonged geopolitical tensions, rapid economic downturns, technological changes, trade protectionist measures, migratory challenges, and climate change. The New Delhi Summit proves that the BRICS, which was formalised in the year 2006, further expanded to include South Africa in 2010 and six more emerging economies in 2024 and 2025, today appears to be a very cohesive grouping. There are eleven full members and ten partner countries – adding to twenty-one, exactly matching the G20 numbers, which has now twenty-one members after admission of African Union during India’s Presidency in 2023. Over the years, G20 emerged as the most powerful multilateral forum. However, following the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and growing geopolitical turbulence, serious differences have surfaced amongst the powerful nations in G20. This has had an impact on their participation too. For instance, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been attending G20 leaders meet since Indonesian Presidency in 2022. US’ complete boycott of South African G20 Presidency as President Trump didn’t send a single representative to attend G20 Summit held at Johannesburg. The other world leaders who preferred not to attend G-20 leaders’ summit at Johannesburg include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Argentina's President Javier Milei, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. While US completely boycotted it, the rest deputed their deputies or foreign ministers to represent. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his frustration over these absences, particularly by the two largest world economies – US and China. He warned that the absence of approximately one-third of top leadership participation posed a serious risk to the future relevance and effectiveness of the G20 as a global governance forum. He noted that already the forum is struggling to solve major global crises together. The problem doesn’t end here. After the completion of first cycle of G20 Presidency, the US took the baton of G20 Chair. Even before formally assuming the G20 Presidency, President Donald Trump announced in November 2025 that South Africa will not be invited to next year’s G20 summit in Miami. The US used the accreditation process to lock South Africa out of the G20 process during its Presidency, blocked South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Central Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago from attending G20 finance meetings. Thanks to India’s G20 Presidency for facilitating the accession of African Union as the 21st member of the forum, otherwise African voice would have been completely missing from the US G20 Presidency. Given the current scenario in G20 and the serious differences amongst the major powers on critical geopolitical issues, it is highly unlikely the forum would be able to untie the complex knot of political, economic and climate problems of the world. In contrast the New Delhi BRICS Summit provided a glimmer of hope to the world, particularly the large number of developing nations, who do not have place in such high tables. Later this month world leaders would meet at UN General Assembly in New York and at the year-end in December, the United States would host the G20 Leaders’ Summit at Miami. We all sincerely hope that the positive hope and momentum created out of New Delhi BRICS Summit would be carried forward at G20, which is the most powerful global forum. As US has promised that its presidency is about – “practical solutions, real outcomes that delivers prosperity, security, and strength at home and around the globe” - the world is desperate to see this positive result. #BRICS2026 #GlobalSouth #multilateralism #GlobalGovernance #BRICSvG20

Twice this year an AI has broken out of the cage built to hold it. Indian industry, of all industries, should know what that means. #AGI #AI #AIAlignment #AIRegulation #AISafety #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanCentricAI #ResponsibleAI

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement opens far more than export opportunities, offering Indian businesses a pathway into the UK's innovation ecosystem, financial sector, and global value chains. Its true success will depend on how effectively industry leverages it to achieve deeper integration with the wider UK economy. #IndiaUKFTA #EconomicIntegration #InternationalTrade #Innovation #ServicesTrade #ForeignDirectInvestment #GlobalValueChains #IndiaUKRelations @DoC_GoI @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc @CimGOI @DPIITGoI @FollowCII

UK and India: Connecting innovation and trade for a brighter future. 🇬🇧🇮🇳

Elon Musk's AI paradoxes

You’ve been given free access to this article from The Economist as a gift. You can open the link five times within seven days. After that it will expire. Why the OpenAI escape is the most worrying AI mishap yet economist.com/science-and-te…

Glad to see @anujkapuria, contribute to the India–Canada CEO Forum — a significant platform addressed by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Our appreciation to @FollowCII for convening this important dialogue. As a company with strong linkages and operations in Canada, @thehitechgears remains committed to supporting deeper collaboration across advanced #manufacturing, #mobility, and emerging #technologies. We are pleased to amplify this moment that strengthens the long-term economic partnership between India and Canada @PMOIndia @MarkJCarney @CanadainIndia @HCI_Ottawa @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc @DoC_GoI @thehitechgroup @roboticssystemz #IndiaCanada #CEOsForum #TradePartnership #GlobalCooperation #EconomicDialogue #Innovation2025

A pivotal moment for India–Canada relations: Carney’s visit pushes CEPA forward and lays the groundwork for a long-term economic partnership. @CanadainIndia @HCI_Ottawa @FollowCII @MEAIndia @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc @DoC_GoI @thehitechgears @thehitechgroup @roboticssystemz #IndiaCanada #CEPA #EconomicPartnership #TradeRelations #StrategicCooperation business-standard.com/econom…

Major FTAs done; focus now on their effective utilisation #India #FTA #TradeDeals @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc @DoC_GoI @DPIITGoI @rajivmemani @CB_CII @FollowCII @NaushadF @RajeshAgrawal94 ecoti.in/XagM9a via @economictimes

The "Mother of All Deals" is officially signed! 🇮🇳🤝🇪🇺 My latest article in @bsindia explores how the historic India-EU FTA marks a new dawn for our economic partnership, de-risking supply chains and boosting #MakeInIndia. Read more here: business-standard.com/econom… @FollowCII @ACMAIndia @thehitechgroup #IndiaEUFTA #Trade #Economy #GlobalTrade #CII

On this Republic Day, we salute the vision of our Constitution and the Spirit of every Indian who strengthens our nation through integrity, Hard work, and Unity. #RepublicDay2026 #IndianRepublic #THG #Novus @thehitechgroup @thehitechgears @roboticssystemz

Wishing you all a joyful & prosperous New Year! #HappyNewYear2026 #THG @thehitechgears @roboticssystemz

May your heart be full of contentment, your spirit strong, and your days ahead filled with wonderful surprises. Happy Diwali !! #Diwali2025 #THG #THGL #THGL #Novus @thehitechgroup @thehitechgears @roboticssystemz

Glad to share my views published in Business Standard on how India is recalibrating its trade priorities — pivoting to the EU as tariffs stall talks with the US. The analysis highlights key implications of the UK FTA and what lies ahead in EU negotiations. #TradePolicy #indiaeuengagement #economicanalysis #FTA #GlobalTrade #indoeutrade #businessstandard #IndoUSRelations #InternationalTrade #EconomicStrategy @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc @DPIITGoI @DoC_GoI @CimGOI @FollowCII

Proud to be an Indian, grateful for our journey, and hopeful for our future. Wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day 2025! #IndependenceDay2025 #india #THG #NovusHiTech