BRICS Indore Declaration

Source: Times of India

Context

India’s BRICS Presidency culminated in the adoption of the BRICS Indore Declaration during the Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in June 2026. The Declaration is a unanimous joint agricultural charter adopted by BRICS member countries, serving as a farmer-centric framework for strengthening cooperation on food security, sustainable agriculture, agricultural trade, innovation, and climate resilience. India will lead several major initiatives, including a Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems, a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture, a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, and BRICS AgriN (a network for agro inputs, genetic resources, and information).

The Declaration

• Name: BRICS Indore Declaration.
• Adopted at: BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting.
• Date and Venue: June 2026, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• Significance: Culmination of India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
• Nature: Unanimous joint agricultural charter.

Stated Aims

• Promote food security, sustainable agriculture, and farmer welfare.
• Strengthen innovation, digital agriculture, climate-resilient farming.
• Boost agricultural trade.
• Keep farmers at the centre of policy-making.

Key Features of the Declaration

1. BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture

• A collaborative platform for research, training, knowledge-sharing.
• Focuses on natural, organic, and regenerative farming.
• Promotes climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable resource management.

2. BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture

• Cooperation in AI, geospatial technologies, digital public infrastructure, data-driven farming.
• Aims to accelerate technology transfer and improve productivity.

3. Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems

• Focus on protecting indigenous seeds, traditional knowledge, farmers’ seed rights.
• Supports biodiversity conservation and food security.

4. BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network)

• Facilitates exchange of agricultural inputs, genetic resources, best seed varieties, technical expertise.
• Enhances capacity-building and cooperation in agricultural research and innovation.

What is BRICS?

• BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
• An intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies.
• First BRIC Summit: 2009 (without South Africa).
• South Africa joined: 2011 (making it BRICS).

Recent Expansion (BRICS Plus)

• At the 15th BRICS Summit (Johannesburg, August 2023), the group invited 6 new members to join from 1 January 2024:
  • Saudi Arabia (status pending; has not yet formally joined as of 2026).
  • Iran.
  • UAE.
  • Egypt.
  • Ethiopia.
  • Argentina (subsequently declined to join under President Milei).
• Indonesia joined the bloc in January 2025.

What is BRICS Presidency?

• A rotating annual presidency among BRICS members.
• The presidency country hosts BRICS Summits and ministerial meetings.
• Sets the agenda and drives key initiatives.
• India’s BRICS Presidency 2026 has focused on agriculture, food security, climate resilience.

Recent BRICS Presidencies

• 2023: South Africa.
• 2024: Russia (Kazan Summit in October 2024).
• 2025: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro Summit in July 2025).
• 2026: India.
• 2027: China (planned).

India’s BRICS Presidency 2026 Theme

• “BRICS for People, Planet and Prosperity” (related broader Indian framing for multilateral engagements).
• Indian focus areas:
  • Agriculture and food security.
  • Climate resilience.
  • Digital public infrastructure (DPI).
  • Reform of multilateral institutions (including the UN and IMF).

What is the New Development Bank (NDB)?

• A multilateral development bank established by BRICS in 2014 at the Fortaleza Summit (Brazil).
• Operational since 2015.
• Headquartered in Shanghai, China.
• Initial subscribed capital: USD 50 billion (expandable to USD 100 billion).
• First President: K.V. Kamath (India), 2015-2020.
• Current President: Dilma Rousseff (former Brazilian President), since 2023.
• Function: Infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies.

What is the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)?

• A financial safety net established by BRICS in 2014.
• Initial pool: USD 100 billion.
• Provides short-term liquidity support to BRICS members in balance of payments crises.
• Alternative to the IMF.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the BRICS Indore Declaration, consider the following statements:

1. The Declaration was adopted at the BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in June 2026.
2. It is a unanimous joint agricultural charter focused on farmer-centric cooperation.
3. The Declaration culminated India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
4. The Declaration was adopted unilaterally by India without consultation with other BRICS members.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the Declaration was unanimously adopted by all BRICS members, NOT unilaterally by India.)

Q2. With reference to the key features of the BRICS Indore Declaration, consider the following statements:

1. It establishes a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture.
2. It launches a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture for cooperation in AI, geospatial technologies, and DPI.
3. It creates a Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems.
4. It includes BRICS AgriN for exchange of agricultural inputs, genetic resources, and best seed varieties.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

Q3. With reference to BRICS, consider the following statements:

1. The first BRIC Summit was held in 2009, with South Africa joining in 2011 to make it BRICS.
2. BRICS represents about 45 per cent of the global population.
3. The 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in August 2023 invited 6 new members.
4. India is a non-member of BRICS, holding only observer status.

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

(Statement 4 is wrong; India is a founding member of BRICS, NOT an observer.)

Q4. With reference to the New Development Bank (NDB), consider the following statements:

1. NDB was established by BRICS in 2014 at the Fortaleza Summit.
2. NDB is headquartered in Shanghai, China.
3. The first NDB President was K.V. Kamath from India (2015-2020).
4. The current NDB President (since 2023) is Dilma Rousseff, former President of Brazil.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

Q5. With reference to India’s farmers’ seed rights framework, consider the following statements:

1. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act was enacted in 2001.
2. India is a signatory to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), 2001.
3. The PPV&FR Act recognises farmers’ rights to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds from their harvest.
4. India has no legal framework for protecting farmers’ seed rights.

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

(Statement 4 is wrong; India has a strong PPV&FR Act, 2001 for farmers’ seed rights.)

Answer Key

1. (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the Declaration was unanimously adopted.
2. (d), All four statements are correct.
3. (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because India is a founding member of BRICS.
4. (d), All four statements are correct.
5. (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because India has the PPV&FR Act, 2001.