Why in the news
India began its tourism work as BRICS chair by hosting an online meeting that sets up a modern, digital and sustainable travel corridor among members.
Key facts
- Event: first Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting under India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship, held virtually.
- Participants: tourism ministers, officials and industry experts from members.
- Aim: unified travel frameworks, technology sharing and workforce skilling.
- Next steps: a second TWG meeting and the Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur, with a joint declaration.
Five TWG priorities
| Priority | Focus |
|---|
| AI integration | Visitor advisory, tourism-flow prediction, smart hospitality |
| Sustainable and responsible tourism | Low-carbon travel, less waste in heritage zones, benefits for indigenous communities |
| Skilling and capacity building | Joint certification networks, digital literacy, hospitality training |
| Seamless travel | Easier border checks, e-visas, visa-free models, exchanges |
| Jaipur Roadmap | Path to the second meeting and ministerial declaration |
Presidency pillars
| Pillar | Coverage |
|---|
| Resilience | Economic and supply-chain buffers; protection from sanctions, freight and energy shocks |
| Innovation | Exporting India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, fintech and open-source tools to the Global South |
| Cooperation | Reform of the UN Security Council, World Bank, IMF and trade platforms |
| Sustainability | Green finance, energy storage and carbon cuts balanced with national priorities |
About BRICS
- Began as BRIC in 2006 (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2010.
- Expansion from 2024 brought Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE and others, plus partner states.
- Seen as a counterweight to G7-led financial architecture.
- Institutions: New Development Bank (Shanghai) and Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
- The 2026 logo shows multi-coloured petals reflecting member flags around a central Namaste emblem.
- DPI means open, interoperable digital systems; India’s stack includes Aadhaar, UPI, Account Aggregator, DigiLocker, CoWIN, ONDC, Bhashini and ULI.
Exam angle
- Chair in 2026: India; tourism ministers’ meet: Jaipur.
- Theme initials: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability.
- NDB headquarters: Shanghai; South Africa joined: 2010.