BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting Focuses on Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity and Resilient ICT Ecosystems

Ø Union Minister of State for Communications, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani Leads High-Level Ministerial Fireside Chat

Ø Ministerial Fireside Chat Focuses on Theme: “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future”

· 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting: Ministerial delegations from BRICS member countries arrived in Pune on August 20, 2026, for the meeting under India’s Chairship.

· Digital BRICS Forum & Expo: The forum brought together governments, industry, academia, startups and research institutions to promote cooperation and showcase digital innovations across BRICS.

· Focus on Digital Public Infrastructure: India highlighted its experience with digital identity, banking, payments, digital documents, consent-based data and sector-specific digital networks at population scale.

· Open and interoperable digital model: India stressed that the key innovation lies in creating open, interoperable and scalable foundational infrastructure, rather than government-built consumer applications.

· Cybersecurity and child online protection: Discussions focused on building trustworthy and secure ICT systems, protecting privacy and vulnerable users, and ensuring child online safety.

· Safety by design: The Department of Telecommunications emphasised that digital enablement and safety must advance together, with security and trust embedded into digital systems from the outset.

· Three pillars for digital safety: India proposed safe-by-design DPI, legal obligations for digital service/data providers, and stronger individual rights and grievance-redress mechanisms.

· Sustainable digital ecosystems: BRICS discussed affordable connectivity, energy-efficient infrastructure, climate resilience, satellite communications and non-terrestrial networks.

· Ministerial Fireside Chat: Communications Ministers discussed the ICT Track under India’s theme, “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future.”

· Innovation showcase: The Digital BRICS Expo displayed innovations from BRICS startups, industry and academic institutions.

· Cultural programme: India hosted the visiting delegations to a cultural programme and dinner showcasing the traditions of Maharashtra and India.

· Key takeaway: The meeting strengthened BRICS cooperation on digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, trustworthy ICT, universal connectivity and resilient digital ecosystems, with India showcasing its DPI architecture as an open and scalable model.

[ABS News Service/21.08.2026]

Ministerial Delegations of BRICS member countries arrived at Pune on 20 August, 2026 to participate in the 12th BRICS Communications ministers meeting. During the day, the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo was held today at Pune, bringing together government, industry, academia, startups and research institutions from across BRICS member countries. The Forum, institutionalised at the 7th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India in 2021, is the multi-stakeholder platform of the BRICS ICT Track. A cultural programme and dinner was hosted by India for the visiting delegations. Welcoming the delegations, Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said that, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to this special evening of culture and fellowship. On behalf of the Government and the people of India, I extend our warmest greetings and heartfelt hospitality to all our distinguished guests. Over the past few days, Pune has become a meeting place not merely of governments, but of ideas, innovation and shared aspirations. Through the BRICS ICT Working Group, the Digital Public Infrastructure Focus Group, the Institute of Future Networks, the Digital BRICS Task Force and the Digital BRICS Forum, our experts and policymakers have explored ways to build digital ecosystems that are inclusive, secure and resilient.”

Two thematic panel discussions were held during the day. The first, on Cybersecurity and Trustworthy ICTs including Child Online Protection, addressed the security and trust dimension of digital transformation, an area in which BRICS Ministers have consistently emphasised the need for a balanced and holistic approach that advances digital development alongside safeguards for privacy, public interest and the protection of vulnerable users. The second, on Sustainable and Resilient Digital and ICT Ecosystems, addressed universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity, energy-efficient and climate-resilient infrastructure, and the role of emerging approaches including satellite and non-terrestrial systems.

Highlighting the significance of sustainable digital ecosystems during the thematic panel, Union Minister of State for Communications stated, “For decades, the story of infrastructure was told in roads, ports and power grids. Today, India offers the world a different story. This is the story of digital identity, banking, payments, documents, consented data and sector-specific networks at population scale.”

He also added, “What makes India's model internationally important is the real innovation is not in any individual app. It is the architectural philosophy that is open, interoperable and at scale. Instead of the government trying to build every consumer application, government and its public institutions establish a foundational infrastructure.”

Speaking on the Thematic Panel Discussion on Cybersecurity and Trustworthy ICTs, including Child Online Protection, Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications emphasized that digital enablement and safety must be pursued simultaneously, stating that safety and trust, alongside the protection of children, should be embedded by design rather than addressed as an afterthought.

To secure the digital landscape, the Secretary outlined three key pillars. First, creation of digital public infrastructure that is safe by design. Second, obligations under law for those delivering digital content or collecting digital personal data to do so in a safe and trustworthy manner. Third, empowerment of individuals by law and born-digital mechanisms to secure their rights and effective redress of their grievances.

Thereafter, BRICS Communications Ministers joined a Ministerial Fireside Chat on the theme of the ICT Track under India’s Chairship, “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future”.

Senior officials visited the Digital BRICS Forum Expo, which showcases innovation from Indian and BRICS startups, industry and academic institutions.

The delegations were hosted at a cultural programme and dinner in the evening, presenting the cultural traditions of Maharashtra and of India.