A special panel discussion at the Aaj Tak India Today Global conclave examined the evolving role of the expanding 11-member BRICS bloc amid global geopolitical volatility. Former Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and seasoned diplomat Muktesh Pardeshi highlighted the rejection of hegemonic global structures and monopolistic currency control, pointing to bilateral trades conducted in rupees and rubles as evidence of economic democratisation. The session focused on the significance of people-to-people connectivity, cultural diplomacy, and digital networks across member nations representing nearly half of the global population. The speakers discussed the retrieval of stolen cultural artefacts, creative economies, and cartographic democratisation. Addressing regional conflicts in West Asia and Eastern Europe, the panel underscored India’s diplomatic capacity to navigate complex global equations through dialogue, shared heritage, and consensus-building.
