At the 11th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, highlighted India’s rapid transformation in digital infrastructure, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready digital growth.
From Bridging the Digital Divide to Global Digital Leadership
Dr. Sekhar showcased India’s digital evolution, describing the journey from a country grappling with a digital divide to one now recognized as a global digital leader. Central to this transformation is the Digital Bharat Nidhi programme, which supports key initiatives like BharatNet—a project that has already connected over 218,000 village panchayats with high-speed optical fiber.
“India’s homegrown 4G and 5G technologies have enabled near-universal connectivity, now covering over 95% of the population with 4G and over 80% with 5G,” he said. “We also lead the world in affordable internet, offering data at just 12 cents per GB—the lowest globally.”
Digital Public Infrastructure as a Global Model
Delivering India’s national statement, the Minister presented Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a benchmark for inclusive governance. He spotlighted programs like
- Aadhaar, which has empowered 950+ million people with secure digital identities
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which now accounts for 46% of global digital transactions, revolutionizing real-time payments
These systems, he noted, represent India’s vision of digital equity, combining innovation with mass-scale impact.
Fighting Telecom Fraud and Boosting Cybersecurity
The Minister also introduced Sanchar Saathi, India’s initiative to combat telecom fraud. He urged BRICS cooperation on cybersecurity, data protection, and digital trust, stressing the need for resilient, secure digital ecosystems in today’s interconnected world.
Sustainability and the Growing Challenge of E-Waste
Addressing the environmental impacts of digital growth, Dr. Sekhar flagged the urgent issue of e-waste, citing projections from the Global E-Waste Monitor that estimate a surge to 82 billion kilograms by 2030.
“India’s model is not transactional, but transformational,” he said. “It draws from civilizational values and tech innovation, and is rooted in equity, access, and inclusion.”
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Dr. Sekhar concluded by inviting BRICS counterparts to the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting, to be held in India in 2026, underscoring India’s growing role in shaping the global digital future.
