BRICS Communications Meeting 2026 was held in Pune on 21 August, with India hosting the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting under its 2026 BRICS Chairship. 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.

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India is chairing BRICS in 2026 with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The discussions in Pune focused strongly on digital technology, communication networks and cooperation among member countries as digital systems become increasingly important for economies and public services.

BRICS Communications Meeting Focuses on Digital Cooperation

The BRICS Communications Meeting was part of India’s wider effort to strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries in information and communication technologies. The 2026 ICT Track was organised around the theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future.”

The discussions covered several areas that are becoming important in the digital economy. These included emerging technologies, future communication networks, cybersecurity, digital skills and capacity building.

Ministers and officials also discussed global digital governance and ways in which countries can cooperate on the development and responsible use of new technologies.

BRICS Expands Digital Technology Cooperation

BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping that includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

With the expansion of the grouping, cooperation in technology and digital infrastructure has become an increasingly important area. The participating countries have different levels of digital development, but they share an interest in improving connectivity, digital services and technological cooperation.

The communications ministers’ meeting provided a platform for these countries to discuss common challenges and possible areas of collaboration.

Digital Public Infrastructure Takes Centre Stage

One of the important areas discussed during the meeting was Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI refers to large-scale digital systems that help people and organisations access services. These systems can include digital identity, payment networks and platforms for secure data exchange.

India has developed several large digital platforms that support public services and digital payments. India’s experience with scalable and interoperable digital systems has attracted international attention, and DPI has increasingly become part of discussions on digital transformation.

The BRICS discussions provided an opportunity to explore how digital infrastructure can support economic activity, public service delivery and wider digital inclusion.

Cybersecurity and Future Networks

Cybersecurity was another important part of the discussions. As governments, businesses and citizens depend more on digital services, protecting digital networks and data has become a major concern.

BRICS members discussed the need for stronger cooperation in cybersecurity and the development of reliable future communication networks. Technologies such as advanced mobile networks, artificial intelligence and other emerging digital tools are expected to change how people communicate and access services.

Building secure and resilient networks is therefore becoming an important part of digital development strategies.

Five-Day BRICS ICT Track in Pune

The Department of Telecommunications organised the five-day BRICS ICT Track from 17 to 21 August 2026 in Pune. Several activities were held during this period as part of India’s BRICS Chairship.

The 7th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group for Cooperation in ICTs was also held during the programme. The working group provides a platform for member countries to discuss cooperation in information and communication technologies.

Another major event was the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, which was held in Pune on 20 August 2026. The forum highlighted digital technologies and provided an opportunity for participating countries and organisations to discuss technology-driven development.

India’s Digital Infrastructure Model

India used its BRICS Chairship to highlight its approach to digital infrastructure. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure model is based on systems designed to work at a large scale and support different services through interoperable platforms.

Digital identity, electronic payments and digital data-sharing systems are examples of areas where such infrastructure can support public and private services.

The Indian model has also become part of wider international conversations about how developing countries can use digital technology to improve access to services and encourage innovation.

Role of the Department of Telecommunications

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, played an important role in organising the ICT Track and related activities in Pune.

Its work for the BRICS programme reflects the growing importance of telecommunications and digital networks in international cooperation. Beyond traditional communication services, the sector now covers areas such as 5G and future networks, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and data-based services.

The BRICS Communications Meeting in Pune therefore brought communication ministers together at a time when digital technology is rapidly changing economies and public administration. The discussions on digital infrastructure, emerging technologies, cybersecurity and global digital governance formed a key part of India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship agenda.