India Hosts BRICS Ministerial Meetings in Jaipur and Chennai

The Government of India, holding the 2026 BRICS Presidency, hosted two major ministerial meetings on August 22, 2026, under the overarching theme of Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.

In Jaipur, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat led tourism ministers from nine member states in the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration. This framework prioritizes the responsible use of artificial intelligence, community-centered sustainable tourism, workforce capacity building, and the facilitation of seamless travel. During the summit, India conducted bilateral talks with Brazil, Iran, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, while delegates toured heritage sites including the Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort.

Simultaneously, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting in Chennai. The meeting resulted in the Chennai Declaration, which aims to build a resilient innovation ecosystem for the Global South. Singh advocated for international collaboration in frontier technologies such as quantum computing, biotechnology, and high-performance computing, citing India's National Quantum Mission and BioE3 Policy as potential models for partner nations to enhance talent mobility and research infrastructure.