In June 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Ministry of Communications (MoC), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India (GoI) showcased Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) of India as global benchmark for inclusive digital governance during the 11th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Communications Ministers’ Meeting, held in Brasilia, Brazil.
- He delivered India’s statement, aligning India’s priorities with the BRICS Presidency of Brazil under the overarching theme of “Universal and Meaningful Connectivity, Space Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and the Digital Ecosystem.”
Key Highlights:
i.MoS Dr. Pemmasani highlighted the pivotal role of flagship initiatives like Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in advancing universal and meaningful connectivity.
- He underscored, Aadhar has empowered over 950 million citizens with a secure digital identity, enabling seamless access to essential public and private services.
- He emphasized that UPI has revolutionized real-time digital payments and accounts for 46% of global digital transactions.
ii.He called upon BRICS nations to deepen collaboration in harnessing DPI to drive inclusive growth and build resilient digital economies.
- He underscored, India’s DPI model, built on open, interoperable platforms, serves as a catalyst for financial inclusion, good governance, and digital innovation.
iii.He emphasized the importance of robust digital skills initiatives, and progressive legislation such as the Telecommunications Act and the Data Protection Act for the trust and user safety in the startup ecosystem.
iv.He underscored about India’s Sanchar Saathi initiative, a key effort to combat telecom fraud and called for enhanced BRICS cooperation in cybersecurity, data protection, and digital trust to ensure the safety and integrity of interconnected digital societies.
v.He also showcased, Digital Bharat Nidhi programme initiative, funding landmark projects such as BharatNet, which connects over 218,000 village councils with optical fiber infrastructure.
- 95% of the population is covered with 4G and more than 80% with 5G.
vi.He mentioned the implementation of critical reforms such as streamlined SATCOM (Satellite Communications) regulations and the expansion of licensing frameworks to include mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) satellite services.
vii.He concluded his address by extending an invitation to all BRICS nations for the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting, to be held in India in 2026.
About BRICS Communications Minister Meet:
11th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting is part of the wider BRICS framework, which includes regular summits of leaders and ministerial gatherings. The meetings offer a platform to discuss and coordinate shared priorities across member nations.
About BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa):
i.BRICS was initially established as BRIC in September 2006, comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China.
ii.The group was renamed as BRICS in September 2010 after the joining of South Africa.
iii.In January 2025, Indonesia became the 10th member of BRICS, marking a significant step in the group’s expansion.
About Brazil:
President – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Capital – Brasilia
Currency – Brazilian Real, BRL
