India hosted the 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in New Delhi on 24 July 2026, under its BRICS Chairship for the year. The meeting, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, brought together Ministers and Heads of Delegation from all BRICS member countries to accelerate joint action on disaster resilience. It concluded with the unanimous adoption of the BRICS Joint Statement on Disaster Risk Reduction, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to the BRICS DRR Work Plan (2025-2028).
The BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Work Plan (2025-2028)
The BRICS DRR Work Plan (2025-2028) was adopted during Brazil’s BRICS Presidency in May 2025 at a ministerial meeting held in Brasilia. It was the first comprehensive action plan dedicated to disaster risk reduction adopted by the group after the elevation of the DRR track to the Ministerial level. The plan focuses on prevention, mitigation, and adaptation to climate-related disasters and identifies four priority areas: addressing inequality in disaster vulnerability, establishing effective early warning systems, developing resilient infrastructure, and incorporating the knowledge of local communities into disaster risk management.
The Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi featured a dedicated roundtable session on “Accelerating Implementation of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Work Plan (2025-2028)”. Member countries exchanged experiences and identified practical pathways for strengthening institutional cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to meet the targets set out in the plan.
India also outlined five strategic priorities under its Chairship to accelerate the implementation of the work plan. These priorities focus on strengthening cooperation in science and technology, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and community resilience. The overarching aim is to make disaster risk reduction an integral part of sustainable development across the BRICS bloc.
Six Flagship Knowledge Products Launched
As a key deliverable of India’s Chairship, six flagship knowledge products were launched during the Ministerial Meeting. These products are designed to support evidence-based policymaking, institutional strengthening, and capacity building for disaster risk reduction across BRICS member countries. While the specific titles were not detailed in official statements, they cover thematic areas including early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and community resilience.
These knowledge products are expected to serve as reference tools for member countries to design and implement their national DRR strategies in alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
India’s Leadership in Global Disaster Resilience
India’s approach to disaster risk reduction is guided by the Prime Minister’s Ten-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction, which was unveiled at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) in 2016. The agenda calls for integrating disaster risk management principles into all development sectors, expanding risk coverage to include poor households and small enterprises, and investing in resilient infrastructure.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which organized the meeting, is India’s apex body for disaster management. It was established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and is chaired by the Prime Minister. NDMA lays down policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs oversees the NDMA’s functioning.
At the meeting, Rai highlighted that India’s people-centric approach has shaped its BRICS Chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. This theme reflects the broader vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit.
The Evolution of BRICS Cooperation on DRR
BRICS cooperation on disaster management has evolved significantly over the past decade. The journey began with the Udaipur Declaration (2016), adopted during the 2nd Meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management in Udaipur, Rajasthan. That declaration established a Joint Task Force on Disaster Risk Management and set the foundation for institutional cooperation.
At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan (2024), leaders institutionalized the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Group (DRRG) and adopted the BRICS DRR Work Plan (2025-2028). This was a major step forward, moving the grouping from ad-hoc meetings to a structured work programme. Brazil’s Presidency in 2025 elevated the DRR Group to the Ministerial level, further strengthening the institutional framework.
Under India’s 2026 Chairship, the grouping adopted a practical and action-oriented approach. The year-long process involved intensive technical consultations, including the 1st Meeting of the BRICS DRR Working Group in April 2026 and the 2nd technical meeting in June 2026. These meetings helped build consensus and prepared the ground for the Ministerial-level outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- India hosted the 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi on 24 July 2026, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
- The meeting unanimously adopted the BRICS Joint Statement on Disaster Risk Reduction, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to the BRICS DRR Work Plan (2025-2028).
- The BRICS DRR Work Plan (2025-2028) was adopted during Brazil’s BRICS Presidency in May 2025 and covers four priority areas including early warning systems and resilient infrastructure.
- India launched six flagship knowledge products on DRR as part of its Chairship deliverables to support evidence-based policymaking.
- The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, organized the meeting under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- BRICS cooperation on DRR evolved from the Udaipur Declaration (2016) to the Kazan Declaration (2024), which established the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Group (DRRG).
