India has joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC), a multilateral initiative aimed at supporting manufacturing companies and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS countries, with an emphasis on Industry 4.0 capabilities. The development was formalised on 04 February 2026 at an event held at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi.
The BCIC is designed as a one-stop centre offering integrated services to enterprises, including capacity building, productivity enhancement and support for adoption of advanced manufacturing practices. The framework seeks to strengthen industrial competencies across BRICS economies by facilitating collaboration, skills development and technology-driven manufacturing transformation.
According to a press release issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the BCIC has been launched in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). As part of India’s entry into the initiative, a Trust Fund Agreement was signed between DPIIT and UNIDO, formalising India’s participation in the BCIC structure.
The agreement was signed by the Economic Adviser at DPIIT, Agrim Kaushal, and the Director at UNIDO, Cristiano Pasini. The arrangement establishes the institutional and financial framework for India’s engagement with BCIC activities and programmes.
The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies. Under the policy guidance of DPIIT and with technical support from UNIDO, NPC will lead India’s participation in BCIC and contribute to initiatives focused on industrial capacity building, productivity improvement and the uptake of advanced manufacturing technologies.
NPC’s role will include coordinating with relevant stakeholders, aligning national productivity programmes with BCIC objectives, and supporting Indian manufacturing firms and MSMEs in strengthening competencies linked to digitalisation and Industry 4.0 practices.
The event was presided over by the Secretary of DPIIT, Amardeep Singh Bhatia. It was attended by the Director General of NPC, Neerja Sekhar, senior officials from DPIIT, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Ministry of External Affairs, as well as representatives from UNIDO and industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to industrial development, investment promotion and ease of doing business in India.