INSA CONVENES BRICS SCIENCE ACADEMIES IN LANDMARK MEET ON AI FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1. At a Glance

• Indian National Science Academy (INSA), under India's BRICS Presidency 2026, convened the first meeting of the BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026 virtually on 9 June 2026 [1][2].
• Theme: "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development and Strengthening Global South Cooperation" — ten science academies converged to draft a shared declaration on responsible and equitable AI [1][2].
• Relevance: intersects GS-II (international groupings/BRICS), GS-III (Sci-Tech, AI) and India's emerging Global South diplomatic posture.

2. Why in the News

• INSA hosted the first virtual meeting of the BRICS Science Academies Forum on 9 June 2026, moderated by Prof. Debashis Mitra, Vice President (International), INSA [1][2].
• An in-person finalisation meeting of the declaration is scheduled at IIT Hyderabad on 22–23 July 2026 [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• BRICS STI cooperation institutionalised via the BRICS STI Work Plan and BRICS STI Steering Committee, with Science Academy linkages a more recent track [2].
• India assumed BRICS Chairship for 2026 with the theme "Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability" (BRICS) [1].
• This forum is a sectoral extension of the broader BRICS 2026 calendar, which also includes the BRICS Academic Mid-Term Conference (Dehradun, 29 May 2026) and BRICS Health Working Group meeting [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Convening body: Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi — under Ministry of Science & Technology [1].
• Format: Virtual; first meeting of the BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026 [1][2].
• Moderator: Prof. Debashis Mitra, VP (International), INSA [1][2].
• Participating academies — 10 nations: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Belarus, Nigeria, Vietnam [1][2]. (Note: India is convener; thus 10 partner academies excluding India.)
• Theme: "Harnessing AI for Sustainable Development & Strengthening Global South Cooperation" [1][2].
• Key consensus areas: shared computing infrastructure, open data ecosystems, technology sovereignty, energy-efficient data centres, HRD, multilingual AI resources, integration of humanities/social sciences, ethics & governance frameworks [2].
• Next step: Revised draft declaration → finalisation at IIT Hyderabad, 22–23 July 2026 [2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• Pushes for shared compute and open datasets across BRICS — addresses the "AI compute divide" between Global North and South [2].
• Emphasises multilingual AI (relevant to India's Bhashini/IndiaAI Mission) and energy-efficient data centres [2].

Geopolitical / Strategic

• Reinforces India's Global South leadership narrative, dovetailing with the Voice of Global South Summit track [1].
• Inclusion of Belarus, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Vietnam signals the expanded BRICS+ ("BRICS Plus") geometry post-2024 Kazan/Johannesburg accessions [1][2].

Ethical / Governance

• Stresses responsible & equitable AI, trustworthy AI, data-sharing standards — aligning with UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of AI (2021) and G20 New Delhi Declaration principles [2].

Economic

• Calls for technology sovereignty vis-à-vis Big Tech monopolies; promotes joint R&D pooling — economically significant for developing economies lacking foundation-model capacity [2].

Administrative

• INSA, as a non-governmental autonomous body (est. 1935), is being used as a Track-1.5 science-diplomacy instrument under MoS&T [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 9 June 2026 – First virtual meeting of BRICS Science Academies Forum convened by INSA [1][2].
• 29 May 2026 – BRICS Academic Mid-Term Conference, Dehradun [1].
• Feb 2026 – India-AI Impact Summit, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi [1].
• 2026 – India's BRICS Presidency theme: "Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability" [1].
• 22–23 July 2026 – Scheduled IIT Hyderabad in-person finalisation of the declaration [2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• INSA is headquartered at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi; founded 1935 [1].
• INSA falls under Ministry of Science & Technology [1].
• India's BRICS Presidency: 2026; theme acronym BRICS (Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability) [1].
• BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026 theme: "Harnessing AI for Sustainable Development and Strengthening Global South Cooperation" [1][2].
• Ten partner academies participated: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Belarus, Nigeria, Vietnam [1][2].
• Belarus, Nigeria, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia are BRICS partner countries (not full members as of 2026) [2].
• Forum moderator: Prof. Debashis Mitra, VP (International), INSA [1].
• Final declaration to be adopted at IIT Hyderabad on 22–23 July 2026 [2].
• Key technical pillars: shared compute, open data, multilingual AI, energy-efficient data centres, tech sovereignty [2].
• BRICS Academic Forum 2026 was held in Dehradun on 29 May 2026 [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Important International Institutions — BRICS expansion and India's role; Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings affecting India.
• GS-III: Science & Technology — Awareness in AI, indigenisation of technology; Issues relating to IPR & data.
• GS-IV: Ethics in AI — accountability, equitable access.

Plausible question stems:

1. "Examine how India is leveraging its BRICS 2026 Presidency to shape a Global South consensus on Artificial Intelligence governance." (GS-II, 15 marks)
2. "Discuss the role of national science academies in advancing science diplomacy, with reference to INSA's recent BRICS engagements." (GS-II/III)
3. "'Technology sovereignty' for the Global South is a precondition for equitable AI. Critically examine." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• IndiaAI Mission & India-AI Impact Summit 2026 — domestic counterpart to this multilateral push.
• BRICS Expansion / BRICS+ — full vs partner country distinction post-Kazan 2024.
• UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021) — normative parallel.
• G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration (2023) on AI — earlier Indian leadership precedent.
• Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) — India chaired; complementary track.
• National Strategy for AI, NITI Aayog (#AIforAll, 2018) — domestic policy anchor.
• Bhashini / Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — multilingual AI link.
• INSA + sister academies (IASc Bengaluru, NASI Allahabad) — Indian science-academy ecosystem.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• INSA is NOT the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc, Bengaluru, founded by C.V. Raman, 1934). INSA is in New Delhi, 1935 [1].
• The forum was convened by INSA, not by DST or MeitY, though it falls under MoS&T.
• Belarus, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Vietnam are BRICS partner countries (Jan 2025 onward), not full members; full members in 2026 are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia (Egypt/Ethiopia joined 2024) — aspirants often confuse the lists.
• Declaration will be finalised at IIT Hyderabad (22–23 July 2026), not at the June virtual meet.
• BRICS 2026 theme acronym is BRICS itself (Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability) — not a generic slogan.