Source: PIB
Context:
India has officially kicked off its tourism agenda under its BRICS 2026 Chairship by hosting the first Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in virtual mode. The meeting brings together tourism ministers, officials, and industry experts from BRICS member countries to co-create unified travel frameworks, share technology best practices, and expand the tourism workforce’s skills. Under India’s leadership, the 2026 TWG is focused on building a modern, digital, and sustainable intra-BRICS travel corridor, helping tourism economies recover from lingering pandemic effects and global supply shocks through green transitions and digital public integration.
Key Highlights
- Event: First BRICS Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship.
- Mode: Virtual.
Five priority areas under the 2026 TWG:
| Priority | Focus |
|---|---|
| AI Integration | AI-driven visitor advisory, predictive tourism flow algorithms, smart hospitality |
| Sustainability & Responsible Tourism | Low-carbon travel footprints, waste reduction in heritage zones, revenue flowing to indigenous communities |
| Skilling & Capacity Building | Collaborative certification networks, digital literacy, hospitality training |
| Seamless Travel Facilitation | Easier border checks, e-visas, visa-free models, intra-BRICS exchanges |
| The Jaipur Roadmap | Path to the 2nd TWG Meeting and the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur, where a joint ministerial declaration will be finalised |
BRICS 2026 Presidency, theme and pillars:
- Theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
- Four pillars of India’s presidency:
| Pillar | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Resilience | Macroeconomic and supply-chain buffers; protection against unilateral sanctions, freight instability, and energy shocks |
| Innovation | Exporting India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), fintech, and open-source assets to the Global South |
| Cooperation | Reforms in UN Security Council, World Bank, IMF, and multilateral trade platforms |
| Sustainability | Green finance, alternative energy storage, carbon reduction balanced with national priorities |
BRICS 2026 Visual Identity:
- Radiating multi-coloured petals that reflect member country flags, symbolising diversity and unity.
- Central “Namaste” emblem, reflecting India’s civilisational values of warmth, mutual respect, and dialogue.
About BRICS itself:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | BRIC (2006) with Brazil, Russia, India, China |
| Expansion | South Africa added in 2010, making it BRICS |
| Recent expansion (BRICS+) | Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and others joined in 2024 onwards, with several more states in partner status |
| Function | Plurilateral economic and political alliance, counterweight to G7-led Western financial architecture |
| Key institutions | New Development Bank (NDB) based in Shanghai; Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) |
Background Concepts (Q&A)
What is BRICS?
BRICS is a plurilateral grouping of major emerging economies, originally Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC), formed as an informal forum in 2006. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS. From 2024 onwards, the group has been expanding into BRICS+ with new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, and additional partner states. The group aims to serve as a counterweight to G7-led Western financial architectures by promoting emerging-economy interests, reforming multilateral institutions, and strengthening South-South cooperation. Its key institutions include the New Development Bank (NDB) headquartered in Shanghai, and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) for liquidity support.
What is Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)?
Digital Public Infrastructure refers to open, interoperable digital systems that act as foundational layers for government services, private innovation, and citizen interactions. India’s DPI stack includes Aadhaar (identity), UPI (payments), Account Aggregator (data sharing), DigiLocker (documents), CoWIN (vaccine certification), ONDC (commerce), Bhashini (language), and Unified Lending Interface (ULI). India has emerged as a global thought leader on DPI, with G20 endorsement of the DPI approach, and active export of its stack to countries across the Global South. The BRICS 2026 “Innovation” pillar specifically positions DPI as a key Indian export to other BRICS members.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the recent BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting hosted by India, consider the following statements:
- The first TWG meeting under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship was held in virtual mode.
- The meeting identified five priority areas including AI integration, sustainability, skilling, seamless travel facilitation, and the Jaipur Roadmap.
- The second TWG meeting and BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting are planned to be held in Jaipur.
- A formal joint ministerial declaration is expected to be finalised at the Jaipur meeting.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about India’s BRICS 2026 Presidency:
- The central theme of the presidency is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
- Its four pillars are Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.
- The Innovation pillar specifically focuses on exporting India’s Digital Public Infrastructure to the Global South.
- The official BRICS 2026 logo features radiating multi-coloured petals and a central “Namaste” emblem.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. With reference to BRICS, consider the following statements:
- The group was originally conceived as BRIC in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
- South Africa joined the grouping in 2010, making it BRICS.
- The New Development Bank, established by BRICS, is headquartered in Shanghai.
- The Contingent Reserve Arrangement is a liquidity-support mechanism among BRICS members.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. With reference to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India, consider the following statements:
- DPI refers to open, interoperable digital systems that serve as foundational layers for public and private services.
- India’s DPI stack includes Aadhaar, UPI, Account Aggregator, DigiLocker, and ONDC.
- India has been actively exporting elements of its DPI to other countries in the Global South.
- India’s BRICS 2026 Presidency positions DPI as a key area of cooperation under the Innovation pillar.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (d), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
Exam Relevance
| PSC Prelims | GS Paper II on International Relations (BRICS, NDB, CRA); GS Paper III on Indian Economy (Tourism, Digital Public Infrastructure) |
| UPSC Mains | GS Paper II on India and the world, plurilateral groupings, BRICS, Global South |
| Essay | “India and the Global South”, “Tourism as soft power”, “Building a multipolar world” |
| BPSC and State PCS | International Affairs, Economy, Current Affairs |
| Banking (RBI Gr B, NABARD) | General Awareness, moderate to high importance |
| SSC, Insurance, Railway | Static and Current GK on BRICS, NDB, CRA, tourism |
