The need for greater technological integration, stronger international cooperation and coordinated action against cross-border corruption emerged as the key focus of the second BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting, which began in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
The two-day meeting, being held under India’s BRICS Presidency, also includes the second meeting of the BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery. Delegates from BRICS member countries, along with policymakers, experts and law enforcement officials, are participating in the discussions themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The meeting featured deliberations on strengthening cooperation among BRICS nations in tracing fugitive economic offenders, facilitating their extradition and enhancing mechanisms for asset recovery. Delegates underscored the urgent need for closer international collaboration, technological innovation and coordinated efforts to tackle increasingly sophisticated forms of corruption.
Addressing the inaugural session, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Secretary Rachana Shah highlighted India’s multi-pronged approach to combating corruption through institutional strengthening, legislative reforms and digital governance initiatives.
“India has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen good governance, to bring in more accountability, and to fight corruption. Best practices have been adopted, for instance, the Government e-Marketplace and the Direct Benefit Transfer. In fact, recently we’ve also further strengthened the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act. The focus is really on prevention as well as punitive action wherever there are malpractices,” Shah said.
She said that as corrupt practices continue to evolve, multilateral forums such as BRICS play a crucial role in enabling countries to exchange best practices and build collaborative mechanisms for effective cross-border enforcement.
Delegates from Russia welcomed the summit being hosted by India, observing that regional and platform-specific initiatives complement broader international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) by facilitating practical cooperation among member countries.
Emphasising the importance of peer learning, Russian delegate Olga Mokhova said, “These discussions are dedicated to issues of countering corruption in BRICS countries because we all have the same problems. Corruption affects every sphere of social life. We share many of the same challenges and similar experiences, and by exchanging knowledge we can strengthen our collective response.”
The Hyderabad meeting builds on the outcomes of the first BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting, held virtually on June 2-3, 2026. During the current session, member countries are expected to deliberate on strengthening international cooperation for asset recovery, combating cross-border corruption and enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.
A dedicated side event titled “Ethical Governance through Innovation and Tech-Driven Systems” will be held on August 5. According to an official release, it will provide a platform for BRICS members to exchange experiences on technology-enabled governance, including digital public procurement, citizen engagement, transparency, accountability and innovative approaches to strengthening integrity in public administration.
(With inputs from ANI)
