In early February 2026, India formally joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC), a UNIDO-supported initiative. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed the project document with India's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi, marking India's official accession.

The National Productivity Council (NPC), a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has been designated as the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies. The NPC will lead capacity-building initiatives, facilitate technology transfers, and help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) close productivity gaps through UNIDO's technical support.

The BCIC is a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and MSMEs across BRICS nations with a focus on strengthening Industry 4.0 competencies, including automation, AI-driven quality control, smart manufacturing, and sustainable industrial processes. India's accession is timed to coincide with India's BRICS Presidency in 2026 — the theme being 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The initiative is aligned with India's Make in India 2.0 and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, while the National Mission on Manufacturing targets raising manufacturing's GDP share to 25% by 2035. For Rajasthan, where MSMEs contribute significantly to the economy — particularly in textiles, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts — BCIC membership offers avenues for technology upgradation and access to global industrial best practices.