India is set to host the BRICS ICT Track in Pune from August 17 to 21 as part of the country’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026. The five-day programme, being organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), will bring together communication ministers, senior government officials and technology experts from BRICS member countries to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in information and communication technology.
The programme will focus on building a secure, inclusive, sustainable and resilient digital ecosystem. Under the theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future,” the event is expected to place digital connectivity, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital skills at the centre of discussions.
The Pune programme comes at a time when digital infrastructure and emerging technologies are playing an increasingly important role in economic development, public services and international cooperation. Through the BRICS ICT Track, India is expected to push for greater collaboration among member countries in areas that can support a stronger and more accessible digital future.
BRICS ICT Track to Bring Together 11 Member Countries
The BRICS grouping currently consists of 11 emerging and developing economies: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Representatives from these countries will participate in different sessions of the BRICS ICT programme in Pune. The discussions are expected to cover both existing challenges in the digital sector and opportunities created by rapidly developing technologies.
The five-day ICT Track will feature three major events: the 7th BRICS Working Group Meeting on ICT Cooperation, the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, and the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting.
BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting to Focus on Digital Cooperation
The programme will begin with the 7th BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting, scheduled from August 17 to 19.
During the meeting, representatives are expected to discuss the development of an ICT ecosystem capable of supporting universal, meaningful, affordable, sustainable and resilient connectivity. The focus will not only be on expanding digital access but also on creating a trusted, secure and human-centred digital environment.
Digital skills and capacity building will also form an important part of the discussions. As countries continue to expand their digital economies, improving access to technology and developing a skilled workforce have become key priorities.
The meeting is also expected to explore ways to encourage innovation, startups and entrepreneurship in the ICT sector. Greater cooperation in these areas could help BRICS countries share knowledge, develop new solutions and create opportunities for technology-driven businesses.
Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Among Key Areas
Emerging technologies are expected to receive significant attention during the BRICS ICT discussions. Artificial intelligence, next-generation communications, digital public infrastructure and cybersecurity are among the major areas likely to be addressed.
Online safety, particularly the protection of children in the digital environment, will also be part of the discussions. With internet usage expanding rapidly, BRICS countries are expected to consider approaches for creating safer and more reliable online spaces.
The discussions may also examine cooperation across digital ecosystems, with an emphasis on technologies that can remain reliable and resilient during changing economic, social and technological conditions.
Digital BRICS Forum and Expo on August 20
The Digital BRICS Forum and Expo will take place on August 20. The event will provide a platform to showcase emerging digital technologies and highlight opportunities for cooperation in developing resilient ICT ecosystems.
The forum will include discussions on cybersecurity, trusted ICT systems and child online safety. Sustainable and resilient digital infrastructure is also expected to remain a major theme.
The expo will offer an opportunity to demonstrate technological developments and solutions connected with the wider objectives of the BRICS ICT Track. It is expected to highlight how digital innovation can contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.
BRICS Communications Ministers to Meet on August 21
The final major event of the programme will be the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting on August 21.
India will be represented at the meeting by Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.
The communications ministers of BRICS countries are expected to review the priorities discussed during the ICT Track and consider ways to deepen cooperation in several important areas. These include sustainable and resilient ICT ecosystems, cybersecurity and trusted ICT, digital skills and capacity building, as well as innovation, startups and entrepreneurship.
The ministerial meeting will provide an opportunity for member countries to discuss common priorities and explore practical areas of cooperation in the rapidly changing digital sector.
India’s BRICS Chairmanship Places Digital Cooperation in Focus
Hosting the BRICS ICT Track in Pune is part of India’s wider efforts under its 2026 BRICS chairmanship to strengthen international cooperation in technology and digital development.
The programme reflects India’s focus on using digital innovation to support technology-driven, sustainable and inclusive growth. It also underlines the importance of cooperation between BRICS countries as governments work to expand connectivity, improve digital skills and respond to emerging technological challenges.
According to the Ministry of Communications, the programme reflects India’s commitment to promoting digital innovation and technology-led sustainable and inclusive development while working with BRICS partners to build a more resilient digital future.
With artificial intelligence, next-generation networks, cybersecurity and digital public infrastructure rapidly changing the global technology landscape, the discussions in Pune are expected to provide an important platform for BRICS countries to exchange ideas and identify areas for closer cooperation.
The BRICS ICT Track will therefore serve not only as a series of high-level meetings but also as a broader platform for discussing how emerging and developing economies can work together to build secure, affordable, inclusive and future-ready digital ecosystems.
