New Delhi, Sep 9: BRICS can strengthen its long-term partnership by giving greater importance to culture and people-to-people connections along with economic and political cooperation. With member countries representing different traditions, languages and histories, cultural exchange can help create a better understanding among societies.
Cultural cooperation can bring people closer through art, films, music, literature, education, tourism and traditional knowledge. Such exchanges can give young people, artists, students and creative professionals more opportunities to interact and learn from one another.
For India, stronger cultural engagement within BRICS can also create opportunities for its creative industries. Indian cinema, handicrafts, yoga, traditional knowledge, food and tourism can reach wider international audiences while encouraging new collaborations with other member countries.
India has already placed culture among the areas of cooperation during its 2026 BRICS presidency. A BRICS Culture Working Group has been working on areas including heritage, the creative economy and the use of technology in the cultural sector.
Cultural links can also support economic relationships. Greater familiarity between people and communities can create a stronger foundation for cooperation in tourism, education, creative businesses and other sectors. This can make BRICS cooperation more connected to the lives of ordinary people.
As India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, the cultural dimension can add a more people-centred approach to the grouping’s wider agenda.
A stronger cultural partnership can help BRICS move beyond government-to-government engagement and build relationships between communities. By encouraging dialogue, creativity and mutual respect, culture can become an important part of building lasting ties among BRICS nations.