Ethical use of AI in cultural space to be a key focus area at BRICS culture meetings

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BRICS Culture Working Group 2026 — Ethical Use of AI in Cultural Space

UPSC Prelims + Mains Study Note

1. At a Glance

• BRICS Culture Track 2026 is India's flagship multilateral cultural diplomacy initiative under its BRICS Presidency, focusing on AI ethics, creative economy, and heritage protection. [S1]
• Ethical AI in the cultural/creative space is an emerging global governance challenge — touching copyright law, cultural attribution, generative AI misuse, and intangible heritage preservation.
• Directly relevant to GS-II (International Groupings), GS-III (Technology & Governance), and GS-IV (Ethics & Technology).
• India is using BRICS culture meetings to position itself as a norm-setter on responsible AI adoption within non-Western multilateral frameworks.

2. Why in the News

• India's 2026 BRICS Presidency: India chaired the 1st BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting virtually on April 29–30, 2026. [S2]
• The 2nd CWG Meeting was held in Varanasi on June 4–5, 2026, with in-person delegates from Brazil, China, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, UAE and virtual participation by Ethiopia, Egypt, and Russia. [S1][S2]
• Union Culture Secretary Vivek Agrawal unveiled the comprehensive 2026 BRICS Culture Track road map on June 2, 2026, flagging ethical use of AI in the cultural space as a key focus area. [S1]
• Meeting announced in The Hindu, June 2, 2026, triggering wide editorial attention. [S3]

3. Background & Evolution

• BRICS (originally Brazil–Russia–India–China–South Africa) was founded at the Yekaterinburg Summit, 2009; expanded to 11 members in January 2024 (adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE).
• A Culture Track within BRICS has existed to facilitate people-to-people cooperation, but received renewed attention under India's chairmanship in 2021 and again in 2026.
• 2021 BRICS India Presidency: Culture was included in the People-to-People pillar; a BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting was held.
• UNESCO's 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions provides the global normative baseline for AI-culture governance discussions. [S4]
• The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021) — adopted by 193 member states — is the first global standard on AI ethics and directly informs BRICS deliberations on copyright and cultural attribution. [S4]
• India's National AI Strategy (NITI Aayog, 2018) and IndiaAI Mission (2024) form the domestic policy backdrop for India's advocacy of "AI for All" and responsible AI in multilateral forums.

4. Core Static Facts

Five Thematic Panels (Varanasi CWG): 1. Creative Economy and People-to-People Cooperation 2. Copyright and Ethical AI in the Creative Economy ← primary focus 3. Cultural Heritage Protection and Return of Cultural Property 4. Collaborative Approaches to Safeguarding Shared Heritage 5. Culture as a Driver of Sustainable Development [S1][S2][S3]

Other deliberation areas: - Creative economy & cultural and creative industries (CCIs) - Culture–climate nexus and sustainable development - Repatriation / return of cultural property

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic

• India uses cultural diplomacy within BRICS to counter Western dominance in AI standard-setting (OECD AI Principles, EU AI Act). [S1]
• Varanasi — a UNESCO Creative City of Music — was strategically chosen to project India's civilisational soft power. [S2]
• BRICS nations together represent ~40% of global population and diverse cultural heritage traditions; a collective AI-culture norm from this bloc could rival OECD frameworks.
• Return of cultural property agenda (directed partly at colonial-era looting) reinforces India's longstanding position at UNESCO on repatriation.

Scientific / Technological

• Generative AI (LLMs, image/music generators) can replicate, remix, or appropriate traditional cultural expressions without attribution or compensation — the core technical problem being addressed. [S4]
• Discussion on copyright and ethical AI targets the gap in international IP law where AI-generated outputs may not be covered by existing copyright frameworks.
• UNESCO's AI ethics recommendation (2021) calls for cultural diversity impact assessments before deploying AI systems — directly relevant to the panel agenda. [S4]
• Deepfake technologies pose specific risks to intangible cultural heritage (oral traditions, classical performing arts).

Legal / Constitutional

• Indian Copyright Act, 1957 (amended 2012) does not explicitly address AI-generated works — a legislative gap India is debating domestically.
• UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) and 2005 Convention on Cultural Diversity form the treaty backbone for protecting traditional knowledge from AI appropriation. [S4]
• WIPO's ongoing Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore is the parallel IP governance track. [S4]
• Return of cultural property is governed by UNIDROIT Convention (1995) and UNESCO 1970 Convention on Illicit Traffic — key legal instruments raised at the CWG.

Ethical / Governance

• Core ethical tension: AI enables democratisation of creative tools vs. risk of cultural homogenisation and erasure of minority traditions.
• Attribution, consent, and benefit-sharing for communities whose cultural expressions train AI models remain unresolved governance questions. [S4]
• India is advocating "responsible AI" principles within BRICS, aligned with the IndiaAI Mission's ethical AI framework (2024).
• Risk of AI-generated disinformation weaponising cultural symbols — a governance concern raised alongside traditional heritage protection.

Economic

• Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) contribute ~3% of global GDP; AI disruption of CCIs affects livelihoods of artists, craftspersons, and performers in all 11 BRICS nations.
• Creative economy is a key growth sector in India's services exports; ethical AI frameworks can protect Indian classical arts and handicraft IP from misappropriation.
• Unregulated AI in the cultural sector risks concentrating economic rents with large tech platforms at the expense of artisans and content creators in the Global South.

Social

• AI appropriation of folk art, tribal music, oral traditions risks erasing community identity without economic benefit to source communities.
• Gender dimension: women artisans and performers are disproportionately represented in informal creative economies — most exposed to AI-driven displacement.

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• January 2024: BRICS expanded from 5 to 11 members; cultural cooperation scope correspondingly widened. [S1]
• 2024 UNESCO Global Forum on AI and Culture (Paris): UNESCO released supplementary guidelines on AI and cultural diversity — directly referenced in BRICS CWG agenda documents.
• February 2024: India launches IndiaAI Mission (₹10,372 crore outlay) — includes responsible AI as a pillar; feeds India's multilateral AI ethics advocacy. [S1]
• April 29–30, 2026: 1st BRICS CWG Meeting held virtually under India's Presidency. [S2]
• June 2, 2026: Culture Secretary Vivek Agrawal unveils 2026 BRICS Culture Track roadmap at press conference, New Delhi. [S3]
• June 4–5, 2026: 2nd CWG Meeting, Varanasi — five thematic panels, delegates from all 11 member nations. [S1][S2]
• Delegates visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Ganga Aarti — soft power optics reinforcing India's civilisational narrative. [S2]
• Panel on "Copyright and Ethical AI in the Creative Economy: Advancing Best Practices" held as a dedicated session — first time BRICS has formally tabled AI ethics in culture as a standalone agenda item.

7. Prelims Hooks

1. The 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting (2026) was held in Varanasi on June 4–5, 2026. [S1]
2. The 1st CWG Meeting under India's 2026 Presidency was held virtually on April 29–30, 2026. [S2]
3. India holds the BRICS Presidency in 2026; the nodal ministry for the Culture Track is the Ministry of Culture. [S1]
4. BRICS currently has 11 member nations (expanded from 5 in January 2024). [S1]
5. The Varanasi meeting featured five thematic panel discussions aimed at shaping the final Outcome Document. [S1][S3]
6. Copyright and Ethical AI in the Creative Economy was one of the five panels — the first standalone BRICS session on this theme.
7. Culture Secretary Vivek Agrawal chaired the inaugural session of the 2nd CWG. [S1]
8. UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021) — adopted by 193 member states — is the first global normative instrument on AI ethics. [S4]
9. The UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity (2005) and Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention (2003) form the treaty baseline for AI-culture deliberations. [S4]
10. Varanasi is designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music. [S2]
11. Other thematic areas of the BRICS Culture Track 2026 include creative economy, culture-climate nexus, cultural heritage protection, and return of cultural property. [S1][S3]
12. India's domestic AI policy backbone is the IndiaAI Mission (2024) with an outlay of ₹10,372 crore.
13. The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Traditional Knowledge and Folklore is the parallel IP governance track to BRICS cultural AI discussions. [S4]

8. Mains Relevance

GS Papers: - GS-II: International Groupings (BRICS); India's Foreign Policy; International Institutions - GS-III: Role of Technology in Society; IPR; Creative Economy - GS-IV: Ethics and Technology; Responsible AI; Cultural Rights

Syllabus Headings: - "Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests" (GS-II) - "Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology" (GS-III) - "Contributions of moral thinkers / ethics in human actions" — AI ethics dimension (GS-IV)

Plausible Mains Question Stems:

1. "The ethical use of AI in the cultural space presents both an opportunity and a threat for Global South nations. Critically examine India's position in BRICS deliberations on this issue." (GS-II / GS-III, 250 words)

2. "How does generative AI challenge existing international frameworks on cultural heritage protection and intellectual property? What reforms are needed?" (GS-III, 250 words)

3. "Culture is increasingly a domain of geopolitical contestation. Analyse how India is leveraging the BRICS Culture Track under its 2026 Presidency to advance its strategic interests." (GS-II, 150 words)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. BRICS membership count: Many aspirants still cite 5 members. Since January 2024, BRICS has 11 members (Saudi Arabia joined but participation status varies — note that Saudi Arabia has not yet formally ratified full membership as of mid-2026; check for updates).
2. Confusing BRICS Culture Track with BRICS Academic Forum or BRICS Business Council — each is a separate pillar; the Culture Working Group reports to Culture Ministers, not Trade or Finance tracks.
3. UNESCO AI Recommendation (2021) ≠ a binding treaty — it is a soft-law instrument (recommendation), not a convention; frequently confused with binding UNESCO conventions.
4. Ministry confusion: The nodal ministry is Ministry of Culture (not MEA, not MeitY) even though MEA coordinates BRICS summitry overall.
5. Varanasi's UNESCO tag: It is a UNESCO Creative City of Music — not a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Varanasi's ghats and temple are NOT on the WHS list; Bodh Gaya and Agra are nearby WHS sites — a classic trap).

11. Sources

• [S1] India to Host Second BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting in Varanasi on June 4–5, 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2267631 — (Tier 1: pib.gov.in)
• [S2] Ministry of Culture Chairs the 1st BRICS India Culture Working Group Meeting (Virtually) Under Its 2026 Presidency — https://culture.gov.in/events/ministry-culture-chairs-1st-brics-india-culture-working-group-meeting-virtually-under-its — (Tier 1: culture.gov.in / Government of India)
• [S3] "Ethical use of AI in cultural space to be a key focus area at BRICS culture meetings" — The Hindu, June 2, 2026 — https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-06-02/th_international/articleG89G2CCO9-14798329.ece — (Tier 4: thehindu.com; also article excerpt provided by user)
• [S4] UNESCO — Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021); Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005); Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) — https://www.unesco.org — (Tier 2: unesco.org)