Hyderabad: Emphasising the growing role of technology in ensuring transparency and accountability, department of personnel and training (DoPT) secretary Rachna Shah on Tuesday said technology-driven governance and preventive vigilance are crucial for tackling emerging corruption risks.Addressing delegates at the inaugural session of a two-day BRICS anti-corruption meeting in Hyderabad, Shah said initiatives such as digital identity systems, electronic service delivery, digital payments and transparent public procurement mechanisms have significantly reduced opportunities for corruption while strengthening public oversight.She cited the Govt e-Marketplace (GeM) and direct benefit transfer (DBT) programmes as examples of technology-enabled reforms that have enhanced transparency and efficiency in public administration. Faceless and paperless tax systems, technology-based vigilance, data-driven monitoring and robust grievance redressal mechanisms have also played a key role in improving accountability, she said.Shah said the special session on ‘Ethical governance through innovation and technology’ would serve as a platform for BRICS member-countries to exchange technology-driven solutions, scalable vigilance mechanisms and preventive oversight practices aimed at strengthening anti-corruption efforts.The two-day meeting will deliberate on the creation of an informal BRICS cooperation repository to facilitate coordination in tracing and extraditing fugitives involved in corruption cases. Delegates will also take part in a meeting of the BRICS law enforcement network and the second meeting of the BRICS experts network on asset recovery.Another important session will focus on tackling money laundering and the concealment of illicit wealth through the misuse of fintech platforms and virtual digital assets.Officials said the discussions are aimed at deepening anti-corruption cooperation among BRICS nations through practical and collaborative mechanisms. The focus is on developing frameworks that complement existing international arrangements while addressing emerging challenges in preventing and combating corruption.
