BRICS Urbanisation Forum 2026
GS Paper II – International Relations | GS Paper III – Urban
Development
Why in News?
The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum,
held under India’s BRICS Presidency (2026), concluded with the adoption of the
BRICS Ministerial Declaration on Urbanisation, reaffirming cooperation among
BRICS nations for sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development.
About BRICS Urbanisation Forum
The
BRICS Urbanisation Forum is a ministerial-level platform that promotes
collaboration among BRICS countries in:
i.
Sustainable urbanisation
ii.
Smart city development
iii.
Urban governance
iv.
Climate-resilient infrastructure
v.
Digital transformation of cities
vi.
Exchange of best practices and policy experiences
Key Highlights
i.
Adoption of the BRICS Ministerial Declaration.
ii.
Enhanced cooperation in:
·
Smart Cities
·
Affordable Housing
·
Green & Climate-resilient Infrastructure
·
Digital Governance
·
Sustainable Urban Mobility
·
Disaster Risk Reduction
iii.
Emphasis on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI),
GIS, IoT and Digital Public Infrastructure in urban planning.
iv.
Commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Why is it Important for India?
India
is one of the fastest urbanising countries in the world, with urban areas
contributing nearly two-thirds of the country’s GDP. Rapid urbanisation demands
better planning, efficient governance and sustainable infrastructure.
Major
Urban Challenges
i.
Affordable housing shortage
ii.
Traffic congestion
iii.
Air and water pollution
iv.
Waste management
v.
Urban flooding
vi.
Weak municipal finances
vii.
Climate change impacts
Government
Initiatives
i.
Smart Cities Mission – Technology-driven urban
development.
ii.
AMRUT – Water supply, sewerage and urban
infrastructure.
iii.
PMAY–Urban – Affordable housing for all.
iv.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) – Urban sanitation and
waste management.
v.
National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) – Digital
governance and citizen-centric services.
Significance
i.
Strengthens India’s leadership within BRICS.
ii.
Promotes knowledge sharing on sustainable urban
development.
iii.
Encourages climate-resilient and smart cities.
iv.
Supports digital governance and innovation.
v.
Enhances South–South cooperation.
Challenges
i.
Financing urban infrastructure
ii.
Weak urban local bodies
iii.
Rapid migration to cities
iv.
Environmental degradation
v.
Limited institutional capacity
Way Forward
i.
Strengthen Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
ii.
Promote climate-resilient infrastructure.
iii.
Improve municipal financing.
iv.
Encourage transit-oriented and inclusive urban
planning.
v.
Integrate AI and digital technologies into city
governance.
vi.
Foster greater citizen participation in urban
planning.