BRICS Nations in Order Urbanization Knowledge Sharing Network Designed by India

BRICS member states have accepted India’s proposal to set up a knowledge-sharing forum on urbanization, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said in New Delhi on Friday.

At the conclusion of BRICS Urbanization Forum 2026, Manohar Lal said that this network – BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network – will be an institutionally linked knowledge mechanism under the leadership of the Chair for Research and Cooperation among Member States.

The 13th forum was held under India’s BRICS chairmanship and a knowledge sharing network was one of the key outcomes of the summit highlighted in the Urban Ministers’ Declaration, according to a statement from the Ministry of Housing.

The declaration highlighted the priorities of member countries and reaffirmed their commitment to people-centred urban development, highlighted the creation of resilient cities with equitable access, recognized the need for further digital innovation in improving governance and created a network for knowledge sharing.

“There will be one nodal organization from each member country under this network,” the Union minister said.

The two-day forum in New Delhi concluded with member states recognizing the need for stronger local authorities, the rise of digital innovation in urban governance and the importance of sustainable, climate-resilient urban development, the ministry said in a statement.

Officials said two plenary sessions were held with member states to highlight best practices in each country on urbanization to make cities fairer and more resilient.

Other initiatives

Among other initiatives, India’s ‘Swatchh Bharat’ initiative was introduced during the discussion, the Union minister said.

The summit was attended by delegations from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, along with India as the host, the statement added.

Member States discussed several common issues such as affordable and adequate housing, access to basic amenities, climate and disaster resilience, and municipal finances.

This comes as the country plans to strengthen its urban local bodies in the coming years, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing incentives for urban local bodies using debt markets to finance infrastructure in her FY27 budget speech in February this year.