BRICS Science Ministers adopt 'Chennai Declaration'
The 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, chaired by India, unanimously adopted the 'Chennai Declaration' on 22 August 2026.
Summary
The 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting, chaired by India under its BRICS Chairship, closed on 22 August 2026 with the unanimous adoption of the 'Chennai Declaration', announced by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh. The declaration, also called the Chennai Consensus, puts a people-centred, humanity-first approach at the heart of BRICS STI cooperation, with focus on the Global South, young innovators and collaborative research. It records progress towards operationalising the BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network (BRICS GRAIN) and welcomes a BRICS Science and Research Repository for knowledge sharing. BRICS STI cooperation now runs through 14 thematic working groups, 11 editions of the BRICS Young Scientist Forum and nine editions of the Young Innovators Prize.
Key facts
- Meeting
- 14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting, chaired by India
- Outcome
- Chennai Declaration (Chennai Consensus), adopted unanimously
- Announced by
- Dr Jitendra Singh
- India's Chairship theme
- Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
- New network
- BRICS GRAIN: Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network
- Working groups
- 14 thematic BRICS STI working groups
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which declaration was unanimously adopted at the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting chaired by India in August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Chennai Declaration
The meeting closed on 22 August 2026 with the unanimous adoption of the Chennai Declaration, also called the Chennai Consensus.
In the context of BRICS science cooperation, what does 'BRICS GRAIN' stand for?
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Correct answer: C — Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network
BRICS GRAIN is the BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network; the Chennai Declaration records progress towards operationalising it.
Consider the following statements about the BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting of August 2026: 1. It was the 10th such BRICS science ministerial meeting. 2. BRICS STI cooperation runs through 20 thematic working groups. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong. It was the 14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting, and cooperation runs through 14 thematic working groups.