Brazil: India took center stage at the 11th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming its global leadership in inclusive digital Public Infrastructure and proposing a collaborative roadmap for the future. Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar presented India’s national statement, powerfully articulating the country’s vision, achievements, and proposals under the overarching theme of the summit:
“Universal and Meaningful Connectivity, Space Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and the Digital Ecosystem.”
🇮🇳 India’s Digital Public Infrastructure: A Global Benchmark
Dr. Chandra Sekhar showcased India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—including Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and BharatNet—as an inspirational global model.
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Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric ID system, has empowered 950+ million Indians with secure digital identities.
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UPI now contributes 46% of global digital payment transactions, demonstrating India’s leadership in real-time digital finance.
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BharatNet, connecting 218,000+ village councils with optical fiber, underlines India’s commitment to rural and last-mile connectivity.
India’s DPI model is grounded in openness, interoperability, and scalability, designed to:
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Promote financial inclusion
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Ensure digital equity
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Enable good governance
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Guard against digital monopolies
🌏 Call for Deeper BRICS Cooperation
Dr. Sekhar urged BRICS nations to strengthen cooperation on:
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Cybersecurity
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Data protection
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Digital trust
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Space sustainability
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Environmental responsibility in ICT
He emphasized India’s readiness to share its digital journey and best practices to help other developing nations achieve inclusive digitalization.
🚀 Advocating Space Governance and Orbital Equity
Addressing the space sustainability agenda, Dr. Sekhar argued that:
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Space is a critical component of modern digital ecosystems.
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BRICS nations must jointly promote equitable access, spectrum governance, and space traffic management.
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India has reformed its SATCOM licensing, expanded regulatory frameworks, and emphasized IoT and mobile satellite services.
He urged BRICS to take a cooperative—not competitive—approach to space governance.
🌱 Commitment to Green and Sustainable Digital Growth
Highlighting the climate risks of digital expansion, Dr. Sekhar spotlighted:
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The risk of 82 billion kg of e-waste by 2030 (as per the Global E-Waste Monitor).
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India’s leadership in this space through the Green Development Pact (G20 Delhi) and Panchamrit climate commitments (COP-26 Glasgow).
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The need for circular economy models and adoption of green energy in ICT infrastructure.
He also endorsed frameworks like ITU’s Green Digital Action, encouraging BRICS to become champions of eco-digital sustainability.
🛡️ Digital Safety, Trust & Inclusion
India’s initiatives like Sanchar Saathi—aimed at curbing telecom fraud—were spotlighted as examples of using tech for citizen security and trust. India also discussed:
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The Telecommunications Act
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The Data Protection Act
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The Digital Bharat Nidhi Programme
These form the backbone of India’s regulatory and financial support for a trustworthy, safe, and accessible digital economy.
🧠 Digital Leadership & Global Outreach
Dr. Sekhar reaffirmed that:
“Digital inclusion is not just a national goal—it is a global imperative.”
He hailed India’s civilizational approach, combining technological innovation with ethical and inclusive governance. He stated:
“India’s model is transformational… built on the principles of equity, access, and innovation—not merely transactional exchanges.”
India has also emerged as the world’s most affordable data market, with data priced at just $0.12 per GB, making high-speed connectivity accessible to the masses.
🤝 Final Declaration and Future Engagement
The BRICS nations adopted a Final Declaration focused on:
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Cross-border digital innovation
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Environmental sustainability
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Space collaboration
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Shared frameworks for digital trust and interoperability
Dr. Sekhar lauded the spirit of consensus and Brazil’s leadership as the 2025 host.
📅 Invitation to India for BRICS 2026
In conclusion, Dr. Sekhar invited all BRICS partners to the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting, to be hosted by India in 2026. Invoking India’s ancient ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“The world is one family”—he affirmed:
“Our shared digital future must be based on the vision of One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
🏁 Summary: India’s Pillars at BRICS 2025
| Theme | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Digital Inclusion | Aadhaar, UPI, BharatNet, lowest data costs globally |
| Governance & Security | Data Protection Act, Telecom Act, Sanchar Saathi |
| Sustainability | Green Digital Action, G20 Green Pact, Panchamrit commitments |
| Space Cooperation | SATCOM reforms, orbital equity, spectrum governance |
| Global Leadership | DPI as a model, startup innovation, digital trust, capacity building |
