The 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting brought together government representatives, industry leaders, academics, startups and research institutions to discuss the future of digital cooperation.
Pune : Ministerial delegations from BRICS member countries gathered in Pune for the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting, alongside the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, which brought together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, startups and research institutions.
The Digital BRICS Forum serves as a multi-stakeholder platform under the BRICS ICT track. The forum was established during the 7th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India in 2021.
The event focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, trusted ICT, child online safety, affordable connectivity and sustainable digital infrastructure.
A cultural programme and dinner were also organised for the visiting delegations.
Scindia Welcomes BRICS Delegations
Welcoming the participating delegations, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia said he was delighted to welcome the guests to an evening celebrating culture, interaction and cooperation.
He extended greetings on behalf of the Government and people of India and said that Pune had, over the past few days, become a meeting point not only for governments but also for ideas, innovation and shared aspirations.
Scindia highlighted the work being undertaken through various BRICS platforms, including the BRICS ICT Working Group, Digital Public Infrastructure Focus Group, Institute of Future Networks, Digital BRICS Task Force and Digital BRICS Forum.
According to him, experts and policymakers through these platforms have been working towards building digital ecosystems that are inclusive, secure and resilient.
Two Key Panel Discussions
Two major thematic panel discussions were organised during the day.
The first session focused on cybersecurity and trusted ICT, including child online safety. Discussions centred on the security and trust challenges accompanying the rapid digital transformation.
BRICS ministers have consistently emphasised the need for a balanced and comprehensive approach that promotes digital development while protecting privacy, public interest and vulnerable users.
The second session focused on sustainable and resilient digital and ICT ecosystems.
Participants discussed the importance of meaningful and affordable connectivity for everyone, energy-efficient and climate-friendly infrastructure, and emerging technologies such as satellite and non-terrestrial networks.
India’s Digital Infrastructure Model
Speaking during the thematic panel on sustainable digital ecosystems, the Union Communications Minister highlighted how the definition of infrastructure is changing.
He noted that for decades, infrastructure development was largely associated with roads, ports and power grids. India, he said, is now presenting a different model to the world—one built around digital identity, banking, payments, digital documents, consent-based data and sector-specific networks operating at population scale.
Scindia said that the international significance of India’s digital model does not lie in any single application.
Instead, he highlighted the underlying architectural philosophy, which is designed to be open, interoperable and capable of operating at massive scale.
Rather than attempting to build every consumer-facing application itself, the government and public institutions focus on creating foundational digital infrastructure that enables multiple players to develop services on top of it.
Cybersecurity and Child Online Safety
The panel on cybersecurity and trusted ICT, including child online safety, also highlighted the need to integrate security into digital systems from the beginning.
Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, emphasised that digital empowerment and digital security must advance together.
He said that security, trust and child safety should be built into the design of digital systems, rather than being treated as additional measures after a system has already been developed.
Three Pillars for a Secure Digital Environment
Agrawal outlined three key pillars for strengthening the digital environment.
First, he emphasised the creation of secure-by-design digital public infrastructure, where security is incorporated into the architecture from the outset.
Second, he stressed the importance of legal requirements for entities that provide digital content or collect personal digital data to ensure that such activities are carried out in a secure and trustworthy manner.
Third, he highlighted the need to empower citizens through law and digital tools, enabling people to understand and exercise their rights and seek appropriate remedies when those rights are violated.
Focus on Inclusive and Sustainable Digital Growth
The discussions at the Digital BRICS Forum reflected the growing importance of digital infrastructure in economic and social development.
The participating countries discussed how digital systems can remain accessible, affordable, secure, sustainable and resilient, while also protecting privacy and vulnerable users.
The emphasis on interoperability and open digital architecture also highlighted the potential for greater cooperation among BRICS countries in developing digital public infrastructure and emerging ICT technologies.
Pune Emerges as a Platform for Digital Cooperation
With government representatives, technology companies, startups, academics and research institutions participating in the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, Pune became a platform for discussions on the future of digital cooperation among BRICS nations.
The event highlighted India’s growing focus on open digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, trusted ICT and inclusive connectivity, while providing BRICS members an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore cooperation in emerging digital technologies.
