India’s Ministry of Law and Justice participated in the BRICS Ministers of Justice meeting on 18 September 2024, with the Indian delegation led by Anju Rathi Rana, Additional Secretary in the Department of Legal Affairs. The virtual event included representatives from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and other legal departments, with a focus on India's evolving legal framework and key achievements in recent years, according to a press release by India’s Press Information Bureau.

Rana underscored the Ministry's role in spearheading legal reforms aimed at enhancing justice delivery and legal infrastructure. She highlighted the introduction of India's Mediation Act, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at streamlining dispute resolution through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms. The Act, she noted, offers a structured and cost-efficient process for conflict resolution, which preserves relationships while alleviating pressure on the judicial system.

These reforms are particularly relevant for BRICS nations, where ADR is gaining recognition as a method to expedite justice and reduce case backlogs.

Further attention was drawn to India’s focus on addressing judicial delays by reforming litigation processes and improving the government's role as a responsible litigant. This effort to streamline government litigation is highly relevant to the BRICS community, providing a model for reducing delays in legal proceedings across member states.

Rana also stressed the significance of India’s Administrative Mechanism for Resolution of CPSEs Disputes (AMRCD), an initiative designed to resolve commercial disputes without resorting to litigation.

This mechanism has proven effective domestically and may offer valuable lessons for other BRICS members facing similar challenges. Justice ministers from other BRICS nations, including China, Russia, and South Africa, echoed the importance of legal cooperation, particularly in areas like cyber security, artificial intelligence, and extradition.

The meeting also saw contributions from Brazil, Egypt, Iran, and the UAE, emphasising the potential of collaboration to address broader human rights concerns and foster a more equitable global legal order.