India Successfully Hosts 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction; BRICS Joint Statement Adopted to Advance Global Disaster Resilience

Key Highlights:

• India, under its BRICS Chairship 2026, hosted the 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in New Delhi on July 24, 2026.
• The meeting was chaired by Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs.
• The BRICS Joint Statement on Disaster Risk Reduction was unanimously adopted.
• Member countries reaffirmed commitment to accelerate the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Work Plan (2025–2028).
• India's Chairship theme was "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."

Detailed Insights:

• The meeting was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It marked a significant milestone in BRICS cooperation on disaster risk reduction, emphasizing enhanced cooperation and sustainable development.
• The evolution of BRICS DRR cooperation includes the Udaipur Declaration (2016), Kazan Declaration (2024), and the establishment of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Group (DRRG).
• India's people-centric approach to DRR is guided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's Ten-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• India's five strategic priorities for the Work Plan include science and technology, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and community resilience.
• A High-Level Policy Dialogue focused on "Advancing Climate-Smart and Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure Systems."
• Six flagship knowledge products were launched to support evidence-based policymaking and capacity building across BRICS nations.
• Future cooperation will involve regular technical exchanges, joint projects, and simulation exercises to promote knowledge sharing and innovation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Systematic efforts to analyze and reduce the causes of disasters, minimizing their impact.
• BRICS: An association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The apex body for disaster management in India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Prime Minister's Ten-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction: A comprehensive framework for DRR, emphasizing community resilience, early warning, and international cooperation.