BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions Summit Adopts Bengaluru Declaration on Urban Mobility
Primary region BRICS
Tags Policy ยท Economy
Regions BRICS ยท Asia
The 5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions Leaders' Summit concluded in Bengaluru under the theme 'Ease of Living with a Focus on Urban Mobility,' bringing together delegates from nine BRICS countries. The summit adopted the Bengaluru Declaration and the BRICS SAI Work Plan 2027-28. India's CAG K Sanjay Murthy announced a special audit of 101 Indian cities to assess ease of living from citizens' perspective, noting that global congestion indices rose from 20% to 25% as of 2025, costing urban commuters 100-180 hours per year.
Strategic interpretation
The BRICS SAI summit reflects India's effort to use its 2026 BRICS chairmanship to advance governance-focused cooperation that sidesteps geopolitical divisions within the bloc. By focusing on urban mobility and audit standards, India positions BRICS as a functional cooperation platform rather than solely a counter-Western bloc.