Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia made the call at the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune, urging member countries to ensure that AI and technological innovation remain secure, sustainable and people-centric.
The meeting, held under India's 2026 BRICS chairship, focused on strengthening cooperation in information and communication technologies, including cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, skills and emerging technologies.
The discussions formed part of a five-day BRICS ICT Track in Pune from August 17–21, bringing together communications ministers, government officials and technology experts from member countries.
The official programme identifies four broad priorities for BRICS cooperation: sustainable and resilient ICT ecosystems; cybersecurity and trustworthy ICT; digital skilling and capacity building; and innovation, startups and entrepreneurship. AI is included within the innovation and emerging-technology agenda.
The cooperation framework is built around eight pillars, including universal and meaningful connectivity, resilient public infrastructure, trusted and secure ecosystems, digital public infrastructure, AI and future network technologies, and innovation, startups and entrepreneurship.
Scindia noted that BRICS countries have an increasingly significant role in shaping global digital governance, pointing out that the grouping represents nearly half of the world's population and around two-fifths of the global economy.
The emphasis reflects a wider Indian position that AI should expand access to technology while reducing risks associated with its use, a stance Prime Minister Narendra Modi has similarly argued at international forums. At the G7 summit in June, Modi said India's approach to AI was based on a human-centric vision and that the technology should be anchored in inclusivity, security and public good.
