BRICS Indore Declaration – Key Highlights
On 15 June 2026, agriculture ministers of the BRICS gathered in Indore and unanimously adopted the Indore Declaration. The declaration places the farmer at the centre of all policy actions and outlines four priority areas – farmers, food security, climate and technology. A parallel outcome was the acceptance of India’s proposal to set up a BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network during the BRICS Urbanisation Forum in Delhi.
Key Developments (Bullet Points)
- Adoption of the Indore Declaration with four thematic pillars: farmer welfare, food security, climate‑resilient agriculture and digital agriculture.
- Launch of four institutional initiatives:
- Centre of Excellence on Agro‑Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture, with India’s Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram as a lead centre.
- Digital Agriculture network coordinated by IIT Delhi.
- Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems to safeguard indigenous seed varieties and traditional knowledge.
- BRICS AgriN for exchange of best‑variety information and genetic resources.
- Agreement by all BRICS members to create the BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network, a chair‑ship led, virtual platform for city‑level knowledge sharing.
Important Facts
The BRICS countries together account for nearly 50 % of the world’s population, hold about 42 % of global agricultural land, and contribute roughly 42 % of world food‑grain production. The declaration therefore influences a substantial share of global food security.
Exam Relevance
The NDB and earlier Indore Declaration are frequent topics in UPSC prelims and mains. Questions have previously appeared on the Fortaleza Declaration and the role of BRICS in global governance. Understanding the new agricultural and urban initiatives helps answer GS‑3 (Economy) questions on food security, climate change, and international cooperation, as well as GS‑2 (Polity) queries on multilateral institutions.
Way Forward
Implementation will rely on the four institutional mechanisms. Member countries are expected to share research through the Centre of Excellence, adopt AI‑driven tools via the Digital Agriculture network, and protect seed sovereignty through the Global Forum. The Urban Research and Knowledge Network will rotate chairmanship annually, ensuring continuity and low‑cost knowledge exchange. For UPSC aspirants, tracking the progress of these initiatives will be crucial for answering future questions on sustainable agriculture and urban development.