The 1st BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) Meeting was held virtually on 2–3 June 2026 under India’s BRICS Presidency, led by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India.

The meeting was inaugurated by Ms. Rachna Shah, Secretary, DoPT, who underscored the need for sustained international cooperation, strong institutions, and technology-driven governance to address evolving corruption challenges. She highlighted India’s Presidency theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” and emphasized the priorities of strengthening asset recovery cooperation, tackling cross-border corruption, and promoting ethical and transparent governance.

The Working Group advanced discussions on two key priority areas viz. International Cooperation for Asset Recovery and Tackling Cross-Border Corruption, and Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Governance.

Delegates actively participated and exchanged views on strengthening practitioner-level cooperation, tracing and recovering illicit assets, addressing fugitive offenders, and leveraging innovation and digital tools to improve accountability and reduce corruption risks.

The first meeting of the focal points of BRICS Expert on Asset Recovery was organized on the margins of 1^st BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting on 2^nd June 2026. The meeting deliberated on the Network’s vision and future work, including measures to strengthen informal cooperation through a directory of focal points, simplified and standardized templates for information exchange, and regular practitioner-level engagement.

The initiatives discussed during the meeting will be taken forward at the 2nd BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, Telangana, on 4–5 August 2026.

***

NKR/AV