India to push for common standards, AI rules in expanded Brics meet

New Delhi: India will this week try to lay the groundwork for a common framework of standards across the Brics bloc to shape the technical rules that increasingly shape global trade, manufacturing and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). These developments are seen to lower compliance hurdles for Indian exports and strengthen New Delhi’s role in setting global standards.

A two-day meeting of heads of national standards bodies, organized by the BIS under India’s Brics chairmanship in Bengaluru in 2026, is expected to establish a formal mechanism for cooperation in development, adoption and implementation of standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said on Wednesday, referring to its parent, consumer affairs department.

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The meeting brings together national standards bodies from all 11 Brics members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The expanded grouping now accounts for nearly half of the world’s population, about 40% of global GDP, and about 26% of global merchandise trade.

The proposed framework would allow Brics countries to work together to draft standards, share technical expertise, undertake joint capacity-building initiatives and coordinate priority sectors, which would help reduce technical barriers to trade while increasing the bloc’s influence in setting global standards, the statement said.

A strategic tool

Standards are increasingly becoming strategic tools in international trade. Countries use technical regulations not only to ensure product safety and quality, but also to shape market access in sectors ranging from electronics and electric vehicles (EVs) to medical devices, clean energy and artificial intelligence.

In India’s case, closer convergence of standards with Brics partners could boost exports by reducing compliance costs and improving acceptance of Indian products in major emerging markets, a senior government official said. It could also boost New Delhi’s push to position the BIS as a more influential player in setting international standards, the person said.

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Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the meeting on Thursday. Minister for Consumer Affairs Nidhi Khare and BIS Director General Sanjay Garg will also attend the inaugural meeting, which will be attended by heads of national standards bodies from all 11 Brics member countries.

“One of the key discussions will focus on the standardization of artificial intelligence,” the statement said. On Friday, BIS will host a dedicated workshop bringing together experts from India, Russia, China and Brazil to discuss the development of standards for safe, trustworthy and accountable AI systems.

Common specifications

“Unlike regulatory frameworks that govern the legal use of AI, technical standards set common specifications for areas such as security, interoperability, transparency, testing and risk management. Governments around the world are racing to develop AI governance frameworks, cooperation between Brics members could influence future international standards in the technology,” it said.

The meeting in Bengaluru also fits into India’s broader strategy of strengthening the domestic quality ecosystem. Over the past few years, the government has rapidly expanded the use of quality control orders (QCOs), making compliance with BIS standards mandatory for hundreds of products to improve manufacturing quality, protect consumers and increase the competitiveness of Indian industry.

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According to government data, around 23,700 Indian standards are currently in force, of which nearly 94% are harmonized with global ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards.

As of November 2025, domestic manufacturers have obtained 26,793 certifications for notified products and 24,330 voluntary certifications, indicating increasing acceptance of BIS standards, especially among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).