<h2>BRICS Ministers of Justice Adopt Declaration on Strengthening ADR</h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="BRICS – A coalition of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa that collaborates on economic, political and security issues (GS2: International Relations)">BRICS</span> countries, under India’s 2026 chairmanship, approved a declaration to boost <span class="key-term" data-definition="Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – Methods such as mediation and arbitration that resolve disputes outside the formal court system, reducing litigation burden (GS3: Law & Justice)">ADR</span> by enhancing <span class="key-term" data-definition="capacity building – Efforts to improve skills, knowledge and institutional strength of stakeholders (GS3: Governance)">capacity building</span> in mediation and arbitration.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>Adopted on <strong>21 May 2026</strong> at the Ministers of Justice meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.</li>
<li>Declaration finalised by senior officials on <strong>19‑20 May 2026</strong> and endorsed by representatives of Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa and the UAE.</li>
<li>Focus on training <span class="key-term" data-definition="Government Legal Officers – Lawyers and officials who represent the government in legal matters (GS2: Polity)">government legal officers</span>, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Mediators – Neutral facilitators who help disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable settlement (GS3: Law & Justice)">mediators</span>, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Arbitrators – Neutral experts who render binding decisions in disputes, bypassing courts (GS3: Law & Justice)">arbitrators</span>, judges and other legal professionals.</li>
<li>Promotion of institutional reforms to make mediation and arbitration more accessible, efficient and enforceable.</li>
<li>Encouragement of digital tools and innovation for knowledge‑sharing among BRICS members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The declaration was issued by the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Department of Legal Affairs – The wing of the Ministry of Law and Justice that formulates legal policy and handles international legal cooperation (GS2: Polity)">Department of Legal Affairs</span>, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. It reflects a shared commitment to reduce the caseload of domestic courts and to create a stable legal environment for trade and investment across the BRICS bloc.</p>
<h3>Relevance for UPSC</h3>
<p>Understanding this development is crucial for several reasons:</p>
<ul>
<li>It showcases India’s leadership in multilateral legal cooperation, a topic under <strong>GS2: International Relations</strong> and <strong>GS2: Polity</strong>.</li>
<li>Strengthening <span class="key-term" data-definition="mediation – A voluntary, confidential process where a neutral third party assists disputants in reaching a settlement (GS3: Law & Just
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