12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting held in Pune
India hosted the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting in Pune on 21 August 2026, chaired by Jyotiraditya Scindia, and signed a telecom and ICT MoU with Brazil on the sidelines.
Summary
The 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting was held in Pune, Maharashtra, on 21 August 2026 under India's BRICS Chairship and was chaired by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Scindia set out the ICT Track theme, 'Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future', with four pillars: resilient digital ecosystems, cybersecurity, digital skilling, and innovation and start-ups. The meeting followed the 7th BRICS Working Group meeting on ICT cooperation (17–19 August) and the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo (20–21 August). On the sidelines, India and Brazil signed an MoU on telecommunications and ICTs covering areas such as AI, 5G and 6G, Open RAN, direct-to-device connectivity, LEO satellites and submarine cables.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 21 Aug 2026, Pune, Maharashtra
- Chaired by
- Jyotiraditya Scindia
- ICT Track theme
- Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future
- Preceded by
- 7th BRICS ICT Working Group (17–19 Aug); Digital BRICS Forum and Expo
- Sideline MoU
- India–Brazil telecom and ICT cooperation
- MoU areas
- AI, 5G/6G, Open RAN, D2D, LEO satellites, submarine cables
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which city hosted the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting in August 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Pune
The 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting was held in Pune, Maharashtra, on 21 August 2026.
What is the theme of the ICT Track under India's BRICS Chairship in 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future
Scindia introduced the ICT Track theme 'Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future', with four pillars.
On the sidelines of the BRICS ICT Track meeting in Pune in August 2026, India signed a telecommunications and ICT MoU with which country?
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Correct answer: B — Brazil
Jyotiraditya Scindia and Brazil's Communications Minister Frederico de Siqueira Filho signed the MoU.