India has reaffirmed its commitment to forging strong, future-oriented partnerships with BRICS nations, with a focus on connectivity, space sustainability, and digital ecosystems. The commitment was articulated during a multilateral meeting of communication ministers held in Brasilia.
The expanded BRICS group now includes 11 countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Under Brazil’s 2024 presidency, the bloc has prioritised four key themes, universal and meaningful connectivity, space sustainability, environmental sustainability, and the digital ecosystem. Further, India is set to host the BRICS Communications Ministers meeting in 2026.
The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development emphasised that India’s approach to digital governance combines civilisational wisdom with cutting-edge innovation. The Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly the Universal Service Obligation Fund) has enabled BharatNet, one of the world’s largest rural broadband projects, connecting over 0.218 million gram panchayats via high-speed optical fibre.
The Minister also highlighted emerging geopolitical challenges due to increasing satellite density in low-Earth orbit (LEO), including risks such as orbital congestion, signal interference, and spectrum monopolisation. Further, India’s forward-thinking regulatory framework, exemplified by the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, reflects a commitment to protecting user rights and ensuring data sovereignty.
