Science & Technology · Multilateral
International Science Cooperation
India held the BRICS Chairship in 2026. As Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh delivered the inaugural address at the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting, which India hosted. This page records that meeting, related multilateral engagements, and bilateral science meetings in 2026, as documented.
Chennai · 21 August 2026
14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting
The meeting was held in Chennai on 21 August 2026, under India's Chairship. The 16th BRICS STI Senior Officials Meeting took place on 19–20 August 2026. The theme was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration, the “Chennai Consensus”. According to the published text, it:
- records progress across 14 thematic working groups;
- welcomes progress in operationalising BRICS GRAIN, the Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network;
- notes a proposed BRICS Geospatial Cooperation Roadmap for 2027–30;
- welcomes a BRICS Youth Startup Platform and a draft BRICS Science and Research Repository;
- welcomes a Joint Statement of the Quantum Technologies Forum;
- endorses the BRICS STI Calendar for 2026–27.
China is to chair in 2027.
Full declaration text as published by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, South Africa · dsti.gov.zaA PIB release for this meeting had not been located when this page was verified. The declaration text above is from a BRICS member government's official publication.
Record
Engagements, 2025–2026
Only meetings documented in official releases are listed here.
- 30 Jul 2025PIB 2150367
NISAR: NASA–ISRO joint mission launched
The Minister congratulated ISRO and NASA, and called NISAR “India's scientific handshake with the world”.
- 5–6 Aug 2025PIB 2156508
India–France deep-ocean dives
Indian aquanauts dived to 5,002 m aboard the French submersible Nautile, in partnership with IFREMER.
- 18 Feb 2026PIB 2229687
New Zealand
Bilateral meeting with New Zealand's Science Minister, Dr. Shane Reti, in New Delhi.
- 20 Feb 2026PIB 2230801
United Kingdom
Bilateral meeting with UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit.
- 7 May 2026PIB 2258715
France
Video conference with French Minister Philippe Baptiste. The release refers to 2026 as the Indo-French Year of Innovation.
- 24 Jun 2026PIB 2277505
BRICS Heads of Space Agencies, Bengaluru
In the valedictory address, the Minister proposed a “BRICS Space Economy” and released an Indian Space Industry Brochure.
- 21 Aug 2026DSTI · DD India
14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting, Chennai
Held under India's BRICS Chairship; the Minister delivered the inaugural address. The meeting adopted the “Chennai Consensus” Joint Declaration.
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Scope of this page. This page records engagements, not diplomatic outcomes. Multilateral declarations are adopted by all participating governments collectively, and are not attributed to any individual minister.