BRICS Civil Forum 2026 in New Delhi: Development Priorities Outlined

The BRICS Civil Forum 2026 has concluded in New Delhi under India's Chairship. The large-scale event brought together 350 delegates representing 80 organizations, as well as leading experts, civil society representatives from BRICS countries, and the Government of India. Two days of discussions, roundtables and plenary sessions resulted in clear and practical recommendations on key areas of development—from healthcare and education to climate resilience and digital transformation.

The first day of the Forum opened with a plenary session titled "Localizing Development for Resilience, Innovation and Sustainable Development." The central focus was on aligning global goals with the specific realities of BRICS countries. Participants agreed that effective solutions should be grounded in local contexts, active community engagement and well-designed technology transfer mechanisms.

The plenary session featured Dr. Victoria Panova (Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, Co-Chair of the Russian Chapter of the Civil BRICS Council), Dr. Ashwani Mahajan (Swadeshi Jagran Manch, India), Dr. Hadriani Uli Silalahi (Civil BRICS Society of Indonesia, Indonesia), Professor Rasigan Maharajh (Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa), Capt. Alok Bansal (India Foundation, Asian Eurasian Human Rights Forum, India), and Mr. Sergey Rybakov (Nature and People Foundation, Russia). The discussion was moderated by Professor Ram Singh (Delhi School of Economics, India).

The participants were welcomed by Aparna Ray, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India. She highlighted the diversity of development trajectories pursued by BRICS and Global South countries. According to Ms Ray, standardized solutions based on the experience of individual states should not be imposed: all initiatives must take national conditions into account and contribute to the creation of alternative development models. Ms Ray identified sustainability as the key criterion for evaluating such solutions. It can be achieved through localization that takes into account local and historical contexts, as well as through flexibility and the ability to adapt to the future needs of national economies and civil society institutions.

Victoria Panova emphasized the particular importance of civil society initiatives.

The thematic working groups summarized the preliminary results and outlined specific priorities:

• Healthcare. The main focus is on strengthening primary healthcare in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Proposed measures include mobile medical teams and clinics, the development of telemedicine, the effectiveness of health preservation should be ensured by conventional (scientific) medicine and supported by traditional medicine, as well as community monitoring and digital services to ensure equal access to healthcare.

• Education. The focus is on access to primary education in students’ native languages, the promotion of multilingualism, including through digital platforms, and adherence to strict standards when introducing new technologies.

• Environment. The key role of local communities in climate change adaptation, mitigation and biodiversity conservation was emphasized. Particular attention was paid to the links between environmental issues and food security, as well as the need for technology transfer across all stages of food systems.

• Culture. Culture is viewed as a tool for bringing countries closer together and building horizontal connections, particularly among young people and women. The Forum featured a rich cultural programme, with audiences enjoying classical and folk dances representing India’s diverse cultural heritage.

• Finance. Civil society intends to play a more active role in shaping the financial agenda, particularly in the work of the New Development Bank and the development of Digital Public Infrastructure. The latter is intended to improve access to services, increase transparency and strengthen inclusion.

• Cybersecurity and technology. Participants proposed using the Digital Sovereignty Index as a benchmark for sharing experience, while also focusing on the ethical use of artificial intelligence and reliable data exchange for scientific and research projects.

• Entrepreneurship and social well-being. To support social entrepreneurship and self-employment, participants proposed a "financing ladder"—including grants, incentives, loans and factoring — alongside assistance with market access, training and access to affordable services.

The second day of the Forum focused on human-centered development. During the plenary session "Dialogue on Human-Centered Development and Entrepreneurship," experts not only discussed the principles of inclusive growth but also examined the real managerial and systemic barriers preventing their implementation.

The complexity of transitioning to these principles and the need for a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach were highlighted by Alena Peryshkina, Co-Chair of the Russian Chapter of the Civil BRICS Council, Deputy Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, and Director of the Infosvyaz Foundation.

Two roundtables gave the discussions a strong practical focus. The session "Practical Pathways for Advancing Innovation, Creativity and Capacity Building" focused on how technology can reduce rather than deepen inequality. Particular attention was paid to digital solutions for financial inclusion and the use of AI in a way that takes public interests into account.

The roundtable "Community-Led Resilience to Climate Risks and Disaster Response" focused on local knowledge and the active participation of communities. Experts discussed climate change adaptation, sustainable food systems and people-centered emergency response. Examples were presented of practices where reliance on local experience had produced tangible results.

Following the BRICS Civil Forum 2026, the Civil BRICS Council developed a package of practical recommendations incorporating proposals from delegates, working groups and roundtable participants. The materials have been systematized and will be presented to the leaders of BRICS countries ahead of the upcoming summit. They are intended to serve as a basis for policy decisions and to establish civil society as a full-fledged partner in shaping the agenda of the association.