The BRICS India 2026 New Delhi Declaration, adopted at the 18th Summit on September 12-13, places technology at the center of the bloc’s cooperation agenda. Here are ten key technology takeaways and why they matter for India.
AI Governance as a Collective Commitment
BRICS committed to implementing the “BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.” The declaration emphasized international cooperation to ensure AI is “safe, secure, inclusive and reliable.” For India, this validates its push to shape global AI norms, particularly after hosting the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
Wider Access to AI Resources
The declaration called for “wider access to AI resources” alongside safeguards, stressing that such cooperation is essential for “a just, fair, equitable and prosperous future of all countries, especially those of Global South.” For India, this supports its ambition to be a voice for developing nations in ensuring AI benefits are not monopolized.
Trustworthy AI and Energy Efficiency
BRICS emphasized “developing trustworthy AI technologies” and “improving energy efficiency of AI systems.” For India, this aligns directly with the AI-native networks Indian telecom operators are already building, where energy optimization is a core priority.
Sovereign and Self-Reliant Digital Ecosystems
The declaration recognized digital and ICT ecosystems as “critical foundation for economic development” and called for “deepening BRICS cooperation towards a sovereign and self-reliant digital ecosystem.” For India, this resonates with its Atmanirbhar Bharat digital agenda and trusted-sources approach to ICT supply chains.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Repository
BRICS noted a “proposal to launch the digital public infrastructure repository” and pilot projects for DPI solutions across member countries. For India, this is a major opportunity to export its successful DPI model—UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker—as a template for the Global South.
Submarine Cable Infrastructure and Network Resilience
The declaration supported continued cooperation on submarine cable infrastructure, with a dedicated Task Force concluding the “BRICS Cable Requirements: directive brief.” For India, this addresses a critical vulnerability: India’s international connectivity depends heavily on undersea cables, and route diversity is essential for resilience.
Interoperable ICT Supply Chain Security Standards
BRICS called for “globally interoperable common rules and standards for supply chain security.” For India, this mirrors the “trusted-sources” approach the country has already embraced for telecom equipment, giving multilateral legitimacy to its security-first posture.
Cybersecurity and Combating Digital Threats
The declaration pushed for concerted efforts to address threats from “malicious software, data security, and the misuse of technologies including cybercrime, misinformation, hate speech, disinformation and deepfakes.” For India, this supports its domestic cybersecurity priorities and the need for international cooperation against cross-border digital threats.
BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and Incubator Network
Leaders welcomed the establishment of a “BRICS Incubator Network” and considered a “BRICS Startup Innovation Fund” to catalyse innovation-led growth. For India, with its booming startup ecosystem, this creates new avenues for cross-border investment and market access within the Global South.
Quantum Technologies and Frontier Tech Cooperation
The declaration committed BRICS to deepening cooperation in “artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, quantum technologies, startups, MSMEs, science, and research.” For India, this positions the country as a hub for frontier technology collaboration and reinforces its role as a “trusted technology bridge and design engine for the Global South.”
Why This is Important for India
India’s chairship of BRICS 2026 has positioned the country at the intersection of technology diplomacy and domestic capability building. The declaration’s technology agenda—spanning AI governance, DPI export, supply chain security, and submarine cable resilience—reflects priorities that India has championed domestically and now seeks to scale across the Global South.
As the telecom industry body COAI noted, the declaration “reaffirms that connectivity should be treated as core national infrastructure.” For India, this is not just diplomatic language—it is a strategic framework for the next phase of its digital and economic rise.
