12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting Held in Pune

India hosted the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune on 21 August 2026 under its BRICS Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and brought together communications ministers and representatives from the 11 BRICS member countries.

BRICS and the ICT Track

BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The 2026 ICT Track carried the theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future”, which is linked to digital cooperation among BRICS members.

Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Governance

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) refers to digital systems that support public and private service delivery at scale, including identity, payments, and data exchange layers. The ministerial discussions covered emerging technologies, future networks, cybersecurity, capacity building, and global digital governance.

BRICS ICT Track Activities in Pune

The Department of Telecommunications organised the five-day BRICS ICT Track from 17 to 21 August 2026. The 7th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group for Cooperation in ICTs was held during this period, and the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo took place in Pune on 20 August 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• BRICS expanded to 11 member countries after the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Digital Public Infrastructure is a policy and technology framework used in India for digital identity, digital payments, and service delivery.
• The Department of Telecommunications functions under the Ministry of Communications in India.
• Cybersecurity and future networks are regular themes in international digital cooperation forums.

India’s Digital Infrastructure Model

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure model is described as scalable, open, and interoperable. The model is used in discussions on digital transformation, public service delivery, and cross-border digital cooperation.