Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the participating nations on the second day of the BRICS Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Photo: YouTube/@NarendraModi via PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 13, 2026) warned against the “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals and also spoke about various BRICS initiatives agreed upon during the Summit in New Delhi to strengthen supply chains and increase resilience against supply-chain disruptions, pandemics, and climate disasters.Also read: BRICS summit 2026 LIVE updatesWhile delivering the opening remarks on the second and final day of the BRICS Summit 2026, the Prime Minister noted that the number of conflicts and tensions in the world is continuously increasing, and that this is having an increasingly negative and far-reaching impact on the lives of ordinary people.Later in the day, while delivering his closing remarks, the Prime Minister also said that, as BRICS enters its third decade, the world expects concrete results from them, not “merely ideas and commitments”.Crisis preparedness“The weaponisation of technology and critical minerals can hinder our shared progress,” Mr. Modi said. “Therefore, we have emphasised inclusivity in the adoption of technology. “Pandemics, climate disasters, and supply-chain disruptions have shown that in today’s interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region.” Therefore, he said, the BRICS nations had placed special emphasis on strengthening resilience, with a focus on identifying challenges in time, being prepared for them, and taking prompt action.“With this approach, we have agreed on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases,” Mr. Modi announced. “Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines have been prepared for disaster management. The BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework will help make our supply chains more reliable and resilient.”Focus on startups and techHe added that the BRICS Incubator Network will connect start-ups and incubators in various BRICS nations with one another and that a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund has been proposed to promote innovative and scalable solutions.“The BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture will create new opportunities for farmers,” Mr. Modi said. “Through this initiative, AI, geospatial technology, and Digital Public Infrastructure will be connected to the real needs of farmers.”The Prime Minister also talked about BRICS CONNECT, aimed at promoting skills, employability, women in the workforce, social security, and capacity building.“To connect small enterprises with knowledge, finance, and new markets, we have initiated the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal,” Mr. Modi added. “The BRICS Urban Mobility Hub has been established to facilitate the sharing of best practices among our cities.”Sustainability initiativesRegarding the sustainability pillar of India’s strategy for BRICS, he said that a BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence has been established for smart grids and energy storage. “This will help make our clean energy systems more reliable, efficient, and accessible,” Mr. Modi said. The Centres of Excellence for Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture will connect traditional knowledge with modern science. The principles developed for community-based climate adaptation will make indigenous knowledge an important foundation for climate action.”The Prime Minister also noted that, based on his personal experience, the Global South countries’ confidence in BRICS has grown because “their voices are heard, their experiences are respected, and solutions are developed not for them, but together with them”. Published - September 13, 2026 12:21 pm IST
