Varanasi hosts second BRICS Culture Working Group meeting
Source:newsonair ↗
Why It Matters
UPPSC frequently tests candidates on major international summits hosted within Uttar Pradesh (e.g., G20, BRICS events), as well as regional cultural initiatives like the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme and GI-tagged crafts of Varanasi.
Summary
The holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is hosting the second BRICS Culture Working Group meeting, welcoming delegates from 11 countries including China, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The event features a unique exhibition of Kashi's Geographical Indication (GI) and One District One Product (ODOP) items, showcasing the region's rich artisanal heritage to a global audience.
Key Points
- Varanasi, one of the world's oldest living cities and the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is hosting the second meeting of the BRICS Culture Working Group.
- The two-day international event brings together senior diplomats, policymakers, and cultural experts from 11 participating nations, including China, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.
- A key feature of the meeting is a special cultural exhibition showcasing Varanasi's world-famous Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged and One District One Product (ODOP) items.
- Six selected local artisans are displaying six unique products representing Kashi's centuries-old craftsmanship, providing them with global market exposure.
- This event follows Varanasi's successful hosting of multiple G20-related meetings, cementing its position as a major venue for international cultural diplomacy.
Important Terms
BRICS
An influential intergovernmental group of major emerging economies initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It serves as a geopolitical counterweight to Western-led institutions and recently expanded to include several new member states.
UPSC context
GS Paper II (International Relations); tests multilateral groupings, global governance reforms, and India’s strategic diplomacy within the Global South.
BRICS Culture Working Group
A thematic multilateral forum under BRICS that promotes cooperation in safeguarding cultural heritage, returning cultural property, developing creative industries, and integrating culture with sustainable development and artificial intelligence ethics.
UPSC context
GS Paper II (International Relations & Multilateral Forums) and GS Paper I (Art & Culture); tests cultural diplomacy and soft power strategies.
One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme
A developmental initiative aimed at identifying, branding, and promoting one unique product from each district to foster local economic growth, preserve traditional skills, and generate regional employment. Originally launched by Uttar Pradesh, it has since been adopted nationally.
UPSC context
GS Paper II (Government Policies) and GS Paper III (Economic Development); tests grassroots industrialization, regional development, and export promotion.
Geographical Indication (GI) Tagging System
An intellectual property right granted to products originating from a specific geographical region, whose distinct quality, reputation, or characteristics are essentially attributable to that origin. In India, it is governed by the GI Act of 1999.
UPSC context
GS Paper III (Intellectual Property Rights) and GS Paper I (Art & Culture); tests legal frameworks, trade, and traditional craftsmanship protection.
Prelims Trap
Indonesia is only a prospective partner country and has not attained full BRICS membership status as of 2026.
Indonesia officially joined as a full member in January 2025, bringing the total BRICS membership to 11, alongside Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the core legal aspects of the Geographical Indications (GI) Act, 1999?
- Nodal Authority: Administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks under the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Validity and Renewal: GI registration is valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely for successive periods of 10 years to protect against commercial exploitation.
- TRIPS Compliance: Enacted to fulfill India's international obligations under Article 22 of the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
How does the organizational framework of BRICS function?
- No Secretariat: BRICS operates without a physical headquarters or treaty charter; coordination is managed entirely by the annually rotating host Chair presidency.
- Consensus Decisions: All resolutions, summit declarations, and membership expansions require absolute consensus, giving every member sovereign veto power.
- Sherpa System: Diplomatic Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas maintain continuity, negotiating ministerial joint communiqués and preparatory documents before final leaders' summits.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Cultural diplomacy and geopolitical hedging
Using heritage venues like Varanasi for BRICS and G20 events projects India's civilizational soft power, balancing strategic partnerships while challenging Western-dominated multilateral narratives.
GI protection and rural development
Integrating ODOP and GI tags with international forums directly links intellectual property protection to artisanal export growth, transforming local heritage into sustainable rural livelihoods.
BRICS expansion timeline (Indonesia's 2025 entry) and WTO TRIPS/GI Act linkages are high-probability targets for 2026 multi-statement questions.
Linked PYQs · 3
Linked PYQs · 3
- 2020UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which of the following cities of Uttar Pradesh is/are covered under the 'Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)' ? 1. Varanasi 2. Mathura 3. Prayagraj 4. Ayodhya Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
- 2025UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
As per the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme of Uttar Pradesh, Moonj products are associated with which of the following districts? 1. Amethi 2. Sultanpur 3. Sant Kabir Nagar Select the correct answer from the code given below:
- 2017UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
The host country of the 9th BRICS summit is:
