Relevance: GS Paper II (International Relations) & GS Paper III (Science & Technology) | Source: The Hindu / Observer Research Foundation

When we hear “BRICS,” we usually think of trade and economy. However, BRICS countries are now heavily focusing on Science, Technology, and Innovation. The main goal is simple: to stop depending on Western countries for modern technology.

How the Science Partnership Grew

From Theory to Real World: Starting officially around 2015, the focus shifted from basic science to practical things like business startups, technology sharing, and vaccine research.

India’s Leaders: In India, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Department of Biotechnology are the main agencies handling this BRICS teamwork.

Main Areas of Teamwork

Everyday Needs: Working together on water, environment, and health (like sharing vaccine research during COVID-19).

Future Tech: Joint research in Supercomputers, space technology, and Artificial Intelligence (which was made a top priority in the 2025 BRICS meeting).

India’s 2026 Leadership: When India leads BRICS in 2026, its main theme will be using technology to fight climate change and bridge the digital gap for poorer nations.

The Big Roadblocks (Challenges)

The “China Gap”: China is miles ahead of other BRICS members in science and research. Because of this huge gap, it does not feel like an equal partnership.

Too Many Differences: With new members joining (like Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE), there is a massive difference in wealth and scientific capacity among the group.

No Permanent Office: BRICS changes its president every year. Because there is no fixed, permanent office (Secretariat), planning long-term mega-science projects becomes very difficult.

Low Funds: The actual money given for joint research is still very small compared to what Western groups (like the European Union) spend.

UPSC Value Box

Aspect	Details
Why this matters for international relations	Science is the new soft power. By sharing technology instead of just buying it from the West, India can cement its leadership role among developing nations (the Global South).
Reform	The biggest hurdle is the lack of continuous planning due to rotating presidencies. The best reform is to create a Permanent BRICS Science Secretariat to manage joint funds and execute long-term projects.

Understanding the BRICS Alliance

Core Goal: Founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to reform global finance and challenge Western economic dominance.

Global Impact: The group represents over 40 percent of the world’s population and roughly 30 percent of the global economy.

Recent Expansion: The alliance recently added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, transforming it into a powerful bloc with major control over global energy and trade.

One Line Wrap

To truly challenge Western dominance, developing nations must build and share their own scientific technology.

Q. “Science and Technology diplomacy is becoming just as important as economic ties for the BRICS grouping.” Discuss the progress and challenges of BRICS in this area. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Mains Answer hint:

Intro: Mention how BRICS is using technology sharing to reduce dependence on the West.

Body: List key progress areas (Vaccines, Artificial Intelligence, Supercomputers). Mention India’s nodal agencies (CSIR). Then, list the challenges: the massive “China Gap” in research, low funding, and the lack of a permanent office.

Conclusion: Suggest that creating a Permanent Secretariat for long-term mega-projects is essential to make BRICS a true global tech-power.