India assumed the presidency of BRICS on January 1, 2026 at a time of intense global turmoil. The international system is under pressure from political fragmentation, climate disruption, and growing inequality in access to critical resources. For the Global South in particular, these pressures are not trivial—they manifest themselves every day in water stress, food and energy insecurity, and climate-induced displacement.
BRICS, which started as a four-nation conference in 2009 and was expanded to include South Africa in 2010, continues to be a central platform for developing countries that want a voice and a bigger sector in the management of the world economy. With the latest expansion, the BRICS now has ten members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia—together accounting for 45% of the world’s population, nearly a third of the world’s GDP in purchasing power parity, and about 35% of the world’s land area. This scale gives BRICS not only economic weight, but also the responsibility to deliver development-related results.
India’s announced theme for its BRICS presidency in 2026—Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability (RICS)—captures this expectation. It shows a willingness to move beyond multilateral commitments to practical, people-centered solutions that address shared challenges across different regions. Among such challenges, none is more universal or more urgent than that of water.
Water pressure is undermining the BRICS councils in various ways. Brazil is facing the consequences of deforestation and environmental degradation in the Amazon region. South Africa continues to face recurring droughts and urban water problems. India and China are seeing alarming rates of groundwater depletion driven by agriculture, industry and rapid urbanization. Russia, despite its abundant gifts of fresh water, struggles with aging infrastructure and seasonal access across its vast territory.
The new BRICS members face equally intense pressures. Ethiopia’s development outlook has been hampered by transboundary water disputes in the Nile region. Iran and Egypt are experiencing a decrease in the availability of clean water due to over-exploitation, climate change and population pressure. The UAE remains one of the most water-scarce countries in the world despite technological advances. Indonesia is facing rising sea levels that threaten fresh coastal water resources.
These challenges vary by context, but they share a common thread: climate change exacerbates water insecurity, while traditional, centralized water solutions still seem inadequate. Large reservoirs, long pipelines, and facilities that rely on groundwater are expensive, slow to operate, and sometimes harmful to the environment. A new paradigm is needed that prioritizes shared, flexible, and intelligent climate technologies that can deliver immediate impact. This is where India has an opportunity to lead.
India’s development experience has traditionally emphasized lean innovation – scalable, low-cost, and resource-constrained solutions. Digital public infrastructure, renewable energy supply, and affordable healthcare innovations have become part of India’s global development agenda. Water innovation should be the next frontier.
One such solution is the Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) technology developed in India. AWGs extract moisture from the surrounding air and turn it into clean, mineral-rich drinking water. Importantly, they require no groundwater extraction, no surface water source, and no piped supply. They can run on grid power or solar power, making them suitable for urban and remote settings. In a world where climate change is changing rainfall patterns and stressing aquifers, producing potable water from air is already being actively used.
AWG technology is closely aligned with the four main pillars and India’s BRICS 2026 vision.
- Resilience: Decentralized water supply enhances resilience by reducing dependence on vulnerable water supplies. AWGs can operate during droughts, floods and disasters, providing reliable drinking water in emergencies. They are especially suitable for rural health centers, relief camps, border areas, and peacekeeping areas—situations where water can be a matter of life and death.
- Innovation: Developed and manufactured in India, AWGs exemplify indigenous technologies with global relevance. The technology has been implemented in many countries, demonstrated at international climate forums such as UNFCCC COP28, and adopted by global education initiatives focused on sustainable development. Certification by international and Indian quality organizations confirms its reliability. A variety of solar technologies make them zero-emission water sources—ideal for remote or environmentally sensitive areas and off-grid communities.
- Cooperation: Water has long been a source of cooperation and conflict. By positioning AWGs as part of its development cooperation tools, India can provide non-confrontational, humanitarian solutions that complement broader climate adaptation efforts. Such systems have already been properly evaluated by international humanitarian organizations and are thought to be applicable in United Nations peacekeeping settings. Under the BRICS framework, joint pilot projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America—perhaps supported by the New Development Bank—could demonstrate how South-South cooperation can bring concrete benefits.
- Sustainability: AWGs do not pollute rivers or aquifers. Combined with renewable energy, they are environmentally friendly. In environmental terms, they represent a transition from using fresh water to adapting to new conditions.
India’s presidency of BRICS provides an opportunity to develop tangible, measurable, and people-centered solutions. AWG technology cannot replace large water systems, nor should it. However, as a complementary solution—especially for drinking water in stressed or remote areas—it can make an immediate difference. Its value also lies in its shared social empowerment.
Making water innovation a focus under BRICS will send a strong signal: that the Global South is able to develop its own solutions to the world’s challenges, which are adapted to its reality. As climate vulnerability increases and water insecurity deepens, the question is not whether innovation is needed, but whether it can be used at scale and speed. India’s BRICS president gives platform; Airborne water technology provides one such tool. If vision is matched by execution, BRICS 2026 may also be remembered for showing how cooperation, innovation and resilience can come together to meet a basic human need: access to clean, safe water where it is most needed.
This article was written by SK Sarkar, senior advisor, TERI and former secretary, water resources, Ajai Malhotra, senior advisor, TERI and former ambassador to Russia and KK Sharma, knowledge partner, TERI and EVP, Maithri Aquatech.
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