India to host 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting on August 21

MUMBAI: The BRICS agenda is going digital, and India is putting connectivity at the centre of the conversation. India will host the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting on August 21, 2026, under its BRICS Chairship, bringing together communications ministers and senior representatives from member countries to discuss cooperation in ICT, digital transformation, innovation and resilient digital infrastructure.

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia will chair the meeting, which is being held under India’s overarching BRICS Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, and the ICT Track theme, “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future.”

The discussions will focus on some of the technologies and infrastructure increasingly shaping the digital economy, including emerging technologies, digital public infrastructure (DPI), future networks, cybersecurity, capacity building and inclusive digital connectivity.

The meeting is also expected to look beyond policy discussions towards practical cooperation, with BRICS members exchanging best practices and exploring ways to support digital transformation across the bloc and the wider Global South.

During its BRICS Chairship, India has placed particular emphasis on ICT cooperation, including resilient digital infrastructure, future networks, cybersecurity, DPI, innovation and capacity building. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been leading discussions through the BRICS Working Group for Cooperation in ICTs, including proposals for BRICS Capacity Building Centres and greater collaboration in emerging technologies.

The meeting will build on the outcomes of the 11th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting, held under Brazil’s BRICS Chairship in 2025. That meeting highlighted continued cooperation among member countries in ICTs, digital public infrastructure and global digital governance.

There will also be a technology showcase alongside the ministerial discussions. Scindia is scheduled to visit the Digital BRICS Forum Expo, where digital technologies, innovations and solutions relevant to the BRICS ecosystem will be showcased, offering participating countries and stakeholders an opportunity to exchange ideas and highlight technological capabilities.

The Union Minister will also hold a media briefing following the meeting to outline the discussions and key outcomes.

With digital infrastructure becoming increasingly central to economic growth, public services and connectivity, India’s BRICS Chairship is using the communications track to push a broader message: digital resilience will require countries to connect not just their networks, but their expertise, policies and ambitions too.