BRICS Culture Working Group Meetings: Creative Economy, Copyright, AI, Heritage
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Economy
Why in news
India, as BRICS Chair, hosted the first and second meetings of the BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) in April and June 2026. The meetings focused on creative economy cooperation, copyright and ethical AI in the digital age, cultural heritage preservation, and restitution of cultural property. The outcomes were shared in a Rajya Sabha reply by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism.
Background
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) has a Culture Working Group that facilitates cultural cooperation among member states. India assumed the BRICS chairmanship in 2026.
Key facts
First BRICS CWG meeting: 29-30 April 2026; Second meeting: 5-6 June 2026, held in Varanasi.
Discussions covered creative economy, people-to-people cooperation, copyright in creative economy, ethical AI, cultural heritage preservation, and strategies for return of cultural property.
Key focus: protecting rights and interests of creators, artists, and cultural workers in the changing digital environment.
Issues included copyright protection, fair remuneration, ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, and strengthening intellectual property frameworks among BRICS members.
Cultural heritage preservation and return of cultural property were identified as priority areas.
Emphasis on continuous dialogue, exchange of experiences and best practices, and coordinated efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property.
Member states supported continued cooperation on return and restitution of cultural property in accordance with national legal and institutional frameworks.
Suggestions from the second meeting were shared with all BRICS member countries.
Information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Prelims pointers
- BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG)
- India's BRICS Chairmanship 2026
- Creative economy
- Copyright and ethical AI
- Cultural heritage preservation
- Return of cultural property
- Illicit trafficking of cultural property
- Varanasi as venue for second CWG meeting
- Rajya Sabha reply by Minister of Culture and Tourism
Mains angles
- GS2: India's role in BRICS cultural diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
- GS2: Issues of cultural heritage protection and restitution of cultural property in international relations.
- GS3: Ethical AI and copyright in the creative economy – challenges and opportunities.
- GS1: Indian culture – preservation and promotion of heritage through international cooperation.