PM Modi Announces Bold BRICS Agenda: Health Safeguards, Startup Boosts, and Resilient Supply Chains

New Delhi, 13 September 2026 – As the 18th BRICS Summit drew to a close at the bustling Bharat Mandapam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the podium to spell out what India hopes to achieve during its three‑year chairmanship.

He said the theme of the presidency would be built around four pillars – resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability – and that the group needed to turn lofty ideas into “win‑win” actions that touch everyday lives.

One of the first things Modi highlighted was the need for better health security. He announced that BRICS members had agreed on an Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, complete with a set of data‑integration guidelines for disaster management. “When a virus erupts in one corner, it doesn’t stay there,” he warned, urging rapid identification and swift, coordinated response.

Supply‑chain fragility, exposed by recent global shocks, was another focus. The Prime Minister introduced the BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework, a roadmap designed to make the movement of goods across borders more reliable and less prone to sudden disruptions.

Innovation got a spotlight, too. Modi unveiled the BRICS Incubator Network – a virtual hub that will link startups and incubators across the six nations. Alongside that, he floated the idea of a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, aimed at nurturing scalable solutions and deepening entrepreneurial ties beyond traditional diplomatic channels.

In the realm of agriculture, the new BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture was presented as a bridge between cutting‑edge tech – artificial intelligence, geospatial tools and digital public infrastructure – and the real‑world needs of farmers. “Technology must serve the soil, not the other way around,” he said, cautioning against the weaponisation of tech and critical minerals.

Beyond policies and programmes, Modi stressed inclusivity. He called for entrepreneurs, researchers, women, youth and ordinary citizens to join the conversation, ensuring that BRICS cooperation isn’t just a government‑to‑government affair.

With these initiatives, India hopes to steer the bloc toward a future where crises are anticipated, supply chains stay robust, startups thrive, and farmers reap the benefits of digital advances.