BRICS ICT Ministers Chart Digital Cooperation Agenda
Jyotiraditya Scindia chairs BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting in Pune, highlights resilient digital infrastructure and inclusive innovation
- India hosted the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting in Pune.
- Focus remained on resilient ICT infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity and digital inclusion.
- Scindia said BRICS has an expanding role in shaping global digital governance.
- Meeting concluded with discussions on future ICT cooperation among member nations.
GG News Bureau
Pune, 21st Aug: India on Friday hosted the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting in Pune, where Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia called for stronger international cooperation to build resilient, secure and inclusive digital ecosystems amid rapid technological transformation.
The meeting, held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, brought together communications ministers and senior delegations from all BRICS member countries to discuss priorities for information and communication technology (ICT) cooperation.
Opening the ministerial session, Scindia presented the ICT track theme, “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform for a Resilient Future,” built around four pillars—sustainable and resilient digital ecosystems, cybersecurity and trusted ICT, digital skilling and capacity building, and innovation, startups and entrepreneurship.
Addressing the gathering, the minister said India had assumed the BRICS Chairship with a commitment to resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. He noted that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, next-generation networks, satellite communications, cloud computing and advanced digital infrastructure are transforming economies worldwide and stressed that innovation must remain secure, inclusive, sustainable and people-centric.
Scindia said BRICS countries have an increasingly significant role in shaping global digital governance, noting that the grouping represents nearly half of the world’s population and around two-fifths of the global economy.
The minister also highlighted India’s digital transformation over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the country has witnessed substantial progress in expanding digital infrastructure and public digital platforms.
During a media briefing after the meeting, Scindia outlined eight priority areas identified for future BRICS ICT cooperation, including universal connectivity, resilient public infrastructure, trusted digital ecosystems, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Artificial Intelligence, future network technologies, startup innovation, entrepreneurship and enhanced digital collaboration among member countries.
The ministerial meeting followed a series of engagements held during India’s BRICS Chairship, including the 7th BRICS Working Group on ICT Cooperation, meetings of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks, the Digital Public Infrastructure Focus Group, the Digital BRICS Task Force, and the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of future cooperation priorities, followed by a visit by the ministers to the Digital BRICS Forum Expo, where delegates explored advanced telecom technologies and digital solutions showcased by Indian and international technology companies.
