Brics leaders have committed to deeper cooperation between their national auditors and statistics agencies, as reported by Business Standard. The commitment was formalised in the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the opening of the two-day Brics Summit in New Delhi. The leaders highlighted the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) — including India's Comptroller and Auditor General — in promoting accountability, transparency, effectiveness, and good governance in public administration. According to the declaration, the leaders also acknowledge the evolution of SAIs through complementing financial and compliance auditing with more outcome-oriented, data-driven, and impact-focused approaches. The latest declaration emphasizes the commitment to fostering inclusive, mutually beneficial and development-oriented partnership with Partner countries and encourages their increasing participation in BRICS engagements.
According to the declaration, the leaders acknowledged that auditors across the bloc were evolving beyond traditional financial and compliance checks towards more outcome-oriented, data-driven, and impact-focused approaches. The declaration welcomed continued exchange of expertise among Brics auditors, specifically highlighting cooperation in the auditing of urban mobility systems. The leaders also reaffirmed the importance of strengthening statistical cooperation for policymaking in the evolving data ecosystem. As per the latest declaration, the leaders emphasized the need to compile and periodically update information on national statistical reforms — including the use of administrative and alternative data sources, artificial intelligence and capacity-building initiatives — to support knowledge exchange among member countries. The declaration also encourages the modernisation of statistical systems and the adoption of innovative methodologies and data sources to enhance policymaking capabilities across the Brics member nations.
As reported by Business Standard, the leaders backed implementation of the Brics SAI Work Plan 2027-2028, recalling the Bengaluru Declaration adopted at the Fifth Brics SAIs Heads' Meeting. The declaration appreciated efforts to strengthen the relevance, impact, and credibility of audit bodies in improving the ease of living for citizens. The latest declaration specifically appreciate efforts to enhance the relevance, impact, and credibility of SAIs in contributing to better governance and improving the ease of living for citizens across BRICS countries including through implementation of BRICS SAI's Work Plan 2027-2028. The leaders also endorsed the continuation of the annual Brics Joint Statistical Publication and its Snapshot, describing them as instruments for transparency, mutual learning, and cooperation.
According to the declaration, the leaders flagged the need to compile and periodically update information on national statistical reforms — including the use of administrative and alternative data sources, artificial intelligence and capacity-building initiatives — to support knowledge exchange among member countries. The leaders encouraged the modernisation of statistical systems and the adoption of innovative methodologies and data sources to enhance policymaking capabilities across the Brics member nations. As per the latest declaration, the leaders also encourage the continued cooperation in areas of common interest, including the modernization of statistical systems, adoption of innovative methodologies and data sources and encourage enhanced knowledge sharing and capacity-building within BRICS. The declaration further reaffirms the importance of strengthening statistical cooperation on policymaking in the evolving data ecosystem and supports the continuation of the annual BRICS Joint Statistical Publication and BRICS Joint Statistical Publication Snapshot.
The commitments come as India holds the Brics chairmanship in 2026 in New Delhi, as reported by Business Standard. India will hand the chairmanship to China in 2027, marking the transition of leadership within the Brics framework. This transition occurs during the two-day Brics Summit being held in New Delhi, highlighting India's current leadership role in the bloc's activities. The latest declaration emphasizes the commitment to fostering inclusive, mutually beneficial and development-oriented partnership with Partner countries and encourages their increasing participation in BRICS engagements.
