India, Oct. 23 -- The world community is looking to the Brics grouping to play a positive role as it grapples with challenges ranging from wars and conflicts to food and energy security and disinformation in an age of technology, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.

Modi made the remarks while addressing a closed plenary session of the Brics Summit in the Russian city of Kazan, the first gathering of the bloc since its expansion last year. The approach of Brics, he said, should remain people-centric and it should send a message it isn't a "divisive group but a public interest group".

"I believe that as a diverse and inclusive platform, Brics can play a positive role on all issues," he said, speaking in Hindi. "We support dial...