**Executive Summary**
The two-day meeting of the Heads of BRICS National Standards Bodies (NSBs) commenced in Bengaluru on July 16, 2026, to foster global economic and technical collaboration. Under India’s Chairship, the delegation achieved a consensus on a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in standardization to harmonize quality infrastructure and reduce trade barriers. A key upcoming action item is the July 17 workshop dedicated to identifying priorities for Artificial Intelligence (AI) standardization.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Standardization Principles and Objectives**
* Advocated for an inclusive, transparent, and consensus-based approach to standardization that accounts for the diverse developmental priorities of all nations.
* Focused on the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" to support the "Global Good."
* Emphasized the role of standards in facilitating trade, technological advancement, and building a sustainable future.
**MoU on Cooperation in Standardization**
* Achieved a milestone consensus on a draft MoU intended to reinforce quality infrastructure and enhance consumer protection.
* The agreement aims to reduce technical barriers to trade and strengthen the BRICS bloc’s engagement with international bodies like the ISO and IEC.
* Most member countries signed the MoU during the meeting, with others committing to sign following national-level approvals.
**Technological Cooperation and AI**
* Scheduled a thematic workshop for July 17, 2026, specifically focused on Standardization in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
* The session involves expert presentations from global authorities including BIS (India), GOST R (Russia), SAC (China), ABNT (Brazil), and MoIAT-SAS (UAE).
* Aims to identify emerging AI priorities and explore new avenues for international technological cooperation.
**Impact Analysis**
**BRICS National Standards Bodies (NSBs)**
**Impact**
The NSBs gain a structured framework for closer cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices to strengthen national standardization systems.
**Action Required**
NSBs that have not yet signed the MoU must complete their respective national-level approval processes to finalize the agreement.
**Global Industry and Trade Stakeholders**
**Impact**
The harmonization of standards across a bloc representing 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade promises to reduce technical trade barriers and provide transformative economic benefits.
**Action Required**
Industries must align with the emerging harmonized standards, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence, to maintain market access and competitiveness.
**International Standardization Organizations (ISO/IEC)**
**Impact**
The BRICS bloc will have a more unified and strengthened collective engagement within international standardization platforms.
**Action Required**
These organizations will need to integrate the consensus-based priorities and expertise emerging from the BRICS cooperation framework into broader international standards.
Key Entities Referenced
MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Standardization among BRICS National Standards Bodies: A landmark agreement reached to harmonize quality infrastructure, enhance consumer protection, and reduce technical barriers to trade among member nations.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The primary national standards body of India and the host regulator responsible for coordinating the BRICS standardization meeting.
Shri Pralhad Joshi: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, who articulated the policy theme of 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' for India’s BRICS Chairship.
Thematic Workshop on Standardization in Artificial Intelligence (AI): A specific initiative within the summit focused on identifying emerging AI priorities and fostering global technological cooperation.
Bengaluru: The central location hosting the high-level meeting of the Heads of the National Standards Bodies under India’s BRICS Chairship.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
India’s BRICS Chairship: Two-Day Standards
Bodies Meet Kicks Off in Bengaluru
"Consider Diverse Needs": Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi
Pushes for Consensus based Standardisation Approach for
Global Development
India Champions Global Resilience and Cooperation at the
BRICS National Standards Bodies Meeting in Bengaluru
hosted by BIS
Common Understanding on the MOU for Cooperation in the
Standardization Achieved
प्रव तथ: 16 JUL 2026 4:30PM by PIB Bengaluru
Reaffirming its commitment to fostering global economic and technical collaboration, India inaugurated
the two-day meeting of the Heads of the National Standards Bodies (NSBs) under its BRICS Chairship
today in Bengaluru. The high-level gathering marks a significant step forward in harmonizing quality
infrastructure across emerging markets, culminating in a consensus on a new Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in standardization.
Addressing the delegation, Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister, emphasized India’s dedication to the
"Global Good" under the overarching theme of India’s BRICS Chairship: ‘Building for Resilience,
Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.’Reflecting the people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit, the Union Minister stated, “India firmly believes that standards should be
developed through inclusive, transparent, and consensus-based processes that take into account the diverse
needs and developmental priorities of all countries.” He further commended the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) for its strong institutional foundation, noting that India's growing expertise positions the
nation to make meaningful contributions to international knowledge sharing.
The vital role of standardization in global trade and sustainability was echoed by senior officials. Ms.
Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), highlighted the broader impacts
of the summit: “By working together, we can develop standards that not only facilitate trade and
technological advancement but also contribute to building a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive
future for our nations and the global community.”
Welcoming the international delegates, Shri Sanjay Garg, Director General of BIS, underscored the
operational benefits of the summit. “Through closer cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of
best practices, we can strengthen our national standardization systems while contributing meaningfully to
international standardization efforts,” he said.
A Milestone Achievement: Consensus on Standardization MoU
A major breakthrough of the day's proceedings was the common understanding reached on the draft MoU
on Cooperation in the Field of Standardization among the BRICS National Standards Bodies.
Representatives recognized the agreement as a crucial milestone that will reinforce quality infrastructure,
enhance consumer protection, reduce technical barriers to trade, and strengthen the bloc's collective
engagement with international organizations such as the ISO and IEC.
Affirming their collective commitment for collaboration in the field of Standardization; the NSBs of
majority of the BRICS member countries signed the MoU during the meeting with the remaining NSBs
reaffirming their commitment to sign at the earliest upon completion of the requisite national-level
approval processes.
BRICS now brings together the world's leading emerging markets and developing countries, representing
approximately 49.5% of the global population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade. The
harmonization of standards across this bloc promises transformative economic benefits on a global scale.Looking Ahead: The Future of AI Standards
The Meeting of Heads of BRICS National Standards Bodies will continue on 17 July, 2026, featuring a
highly anticipated Thematic Workshop on Standardization in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The session will
include expert presentations from global standards authorities, including BIS (India), GOST R (Russian
Federation), SAC (China), ABNT (Brazil), and MoIAT-SAS (UAE). This will be followed by an
interactive dialogue among the Heads of the BRICS NSBs to identify emerging AI standardization
priorities and explore new avenues for technological cooperation.
The Bureau of Indian Standards remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing international
partnerships and reinforcing India’s leadership in the global standardization ecosystem through robust,
collaborative initiatives under the BRICS framework.
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SGR/MM
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