OUTCOMES OF BRICS CULTURAL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS

The 1st and 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) Meetings, held under India’s BRICS Presidency on 29‑30 April 2026 and 5‑6 June 2026, deliberated on the creative economy, people‑to‑people cooperation, copyright, ethical AI in the creative sector, and strategies for cultural heritage protection and the return of cultural property. Discussions emphasized safeguarding creators’ rights, fair remuneration, responsible AI use, and strengthening intellectual‑property frameworks among BRICS members. The meetings also highlighted cooperation to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property and the return of cultural assets in line with national legal frameworks. Recommendations from the 2nd CWG meeting in Varanasi were shared with all BRICS member states, as reported by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Rajya Sabha.