The 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026, has created an important new policy context for India's infrastructure, manufacturing, technology and transport sectors. Convened under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” the Summit brought together the expanded BRICS membership around an agenda encompassing economic cooperation, resilient supply chains, technology, sustainable development, connectivity, infrastructure and innovation.

For India's railway industry, the significance of the Summit extends well beyond diplomatic engagement. The New Delhi Declaration contains several outcomes that intersect directly with the future priorities of the Indian railway ecosystem: sustainable and resilient transport infrastructure, logistics and supply-chain cooperation, transport decarbonisation, urban mobility, technological cooperation, research, digitalisation, global value chains and infrastructure financing. Most importantly, the Declaration welcomed the establishment of the BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework and encouraged further discussion on the BRICS Railway Research Network proposal.

The Chamber of Railway Industries (Rail Chamber) views these developments as an opportunity to take India's railway story from a predominantly domestic infrastructure and manufacturing narrative towards a broader international cooperation, technology and export framework.

The opportunity, however, will not arise automatically. The Summit has created a framework; governments, railway institutions, industry and research organisations now have to convert that framework into programmes, partnerships, projects and commercial opportunities.

1. Why BRICS Matters to India's Railway Industry

Railways sit at the intersection of several areas that BRICS has identified as priorities: infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, technology, energy transition, urban development and connectivity.

A modern railway system is not a single industry. It represents an integrated industrial ecosystem comprising rolling stock, track, bridges, signalling, telecommunications, electrification, power electronics, stations, construction, software, cybersecurity, logistics, engineering services and asset management.

Consequently, cooperation in railways can generate benefits across a much wider industrial base.

The New Delhi Declaration calls for more resilient and reliable supply chains and broader participation of developing countries and emerging markets in higher-value-added segments of global manufacturing and production, including through trade and investment initiatives, technical cooperation, productive-capacity development and technology transfer, subject to national laws and policies.

This is closely aligned with India's objectives of strengthening domestic manufacturing, expanding exports, supporting MSMEs and increasing India's role in global value chains.

For the Indian railway industry, therefore, BRICS can potentially become a platform for three simultaneous objectives:

First, bringing international technology and investment into India.

Second, taking Indian railway technologies, products and engineering capabilities to BRICS markets.

Third, developing jointly engineered solutions for emerging markets.

The third opportunity may prove particularly important in the long term.

2. The BRICS Railway Research Network: A Potential Turning Point

Among the transport-related outcomes, the proposal for a BRICS Railway Research Network deserves particular attention.

The proposal did not emerge in isolation. Under India's BRICS Chairship, the 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting was held in Nagpur in July 2026, preceded by the Transport Working Group meeting. The resulting transport agenda covered sustainable infrastructure, circularity, transport decarbonisation, urban mobility, logistics supply chains and the Railway Research Network.

The New Delhi Declaration subsequently encouraged discussion on the Railway Research Network proposal.

This creates an important institutional opening.

Railway technology is evolving rapidly. Countries are simultaneously addressing common challenges involving:- 
  • artificial intelligence and machine learning;
  • predictive maintenance;
  • digital twins;
  • advanced signalling and train control;
  • railway cybersecurity;
  • autonomous and automated operations;
  • high-capacity freight;
  • energy-efficient traction;
  • alternative propulsion;
  • climate-resilient infrastructure;
  • advanced materials;
  • intelligent stations;
  • passenger information systems; and
  • integrated multimodal mobility.
Instead of each country independently solving every challenge, the BRICS Railway Research Network could provide a mechanism for sharing research, conducting collaborative studies, developing pilots and connecting universities, railway organisations and industry.

India should therefore consider moving beyond a purely institutional interpretation of the proposal.

A meaningful network should have working programmes, participating institutions, identified research themes, industry participation, pilot projects, technology demonstration and measurable outcomes.

RDSO, Indian Railways, IITs, railway universities, research laboratories, railway PSUs, technology companies, startups and industry bodies could collectively form India's participation architecture.

Rail Chamber believes that the industry component must be built into the research network from the beginning. Railway research becomes commercially and operationally meaningful when research institutions, users and manufacturers work together.

3. From Railway Research to Railway Innovation

The next logical step is to connect research cooperation with innovation.

India's railway ecosystem contains a large and increasingly sophisticated startup and MSME base. Many smaller companies are developing solutions in areas such as sensors, IoT, AI, machine vision, asset monitoring, cybersecurity, energy efficiency and digital platforms.

The BRICS framework can potentially give these enterprises access to international partners and markets.

The challenge is that a small technology company may possess a strong product but lack:
  • international market access;
  • foreign regulatory knowledge;
  • testing opportunities;
  • international certifications;
  • investment;
  • working capital;
  • local partners;
  • intellectual-property support; or
  • access to major railway customers.
A structured BRICS Railway Innovation and Startup Platform could help bridge this gap.

The wider BRICS innovation agenda is already moving towards greater cooperation among startups and incubators, including proposals discussed during India's Chairship. The Prime Minister also highlighted the BRICS Incubator Network and proposed a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund in his Summit remarks.

For the railway sector, this could translate into international challenge programmes, joint innovation competitions, pilot projects and technology demonstrations.

The objective should be simple:

A railway innovation developed in India should have a pathway to testing, validation and market access beyond India.

4. BRICS Logistics Framework and the Future of Freight Rail

The establishment of the BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework is another development with direct relevance to railways.

Global supply chains are increasingly being redesigned around resilience, diversification, predictability and multimodal connectivity.

Railways can play a central role in this transition.

India's Dedicated Freight Corridors, multimodal logistics parks, port connectivity projects and industrial corridors are strengthening the country's ability to move goods efficiently across long distances.

The BRICS framework provides an opportunity to place Indian railway freight capabilities within a broader international logistics conversation.

Areas for cooperation could include:

Freight corridors: development and optimisation of high-capacity rail freight networks.

Rolling stock: modern wagons, specialised freight equipment and locomotives.

Rail-linked logistics terminals: integration of rail with ports, manufacturing clusters and logistics parks.

Digital logistics: real-time tracking, digital documentation, cargo visibility and predictive logistics.

Multimodal connectivity: integration of rail with road, ports and inland waterways.

Supply-chain resilience: contingency planning and alternative transportation routes.

India can potentially position its railway freight ecosystem as an important component of BRICS supply-chain cooperation.

5. From “Make in India” to “Make in India for the World”

The BRICS emphasis on higher-value manufacturing and resilient global value chains has a direct bearing on India's railway manufacturing ambitions.

India has developed significant capabilities in locomotives, coaches, wagons, metro rolling stock, electrification, signalling, track systems, railway components, engineering services and digital technologies.

The next challenge is to identify where Indian capabilities can become internationally competitive.

The railway export opportunity should not be limited to complete trainsets.

It can encompass:
  • propulsion systems;
  • traction converters;
  • signalling equipment;
  • telecommunications;
  • railway electrification;
  • track components;
  • railway cables;
  • braking systems;
  • bearings;
  • railway software;
  • AI-based inspection;
  • asset-monitoring systems;
  • maintenance technology;
  • engineering consultancy;
  • project management;
  • testing and certification services.

This is particularly important for MSMEs.

An Indian railway component manufacturer may not independently build a complete railway system overseas, but it can become part of an international supply chain.

The objective should therefore be to build Indian railway value chains that are internationally connected.

6. The New Development Bank: Financing the Railway Opportunity

Infrastructure cooperation ultimately depends on finance.

The New Development Bank (NDB) is therefore an important part of the BRICS architecture from a railway perspective.

The NDB's transport-infrastructure portfolio covers urban and rural transport, including railways, metro and rapid-transit systems, roads, ports, airports and logistics infrastructure. According to the NDB BRICS Knowledge Portal, transport infrastructure was the Bank's largest sectoral exposure at the end of 2025, accounting for 37.9% of its active portfolio, with approximately USD 13.5 billion in financing.

The New Delhi Declaration also recognises the NDB's growing role in supporting sustainable development in emerging markets and developing countries.

This creates an important opportunity for Indian railway stakeholders.

Future projects can potentially be developed around:
  • urban rail;
  • regional rail;
  • freight infrastructure;
  • logistics connectivity;
  • green railway infrastructure;
  • climate-resilient railway assets;
  • railway electrification;
  • digital railway systems;
  • sustainable mobility.

The industry should also become more familiar with the requirements for preparing bankable infrastructure projects.

A commercially promising railway technology or infrastructure proposal is not sufficient by itself. International financing requires credible project structures, financial models, risk allocation, procurement frameworks and implementation capacity.

This is an area where industry chambers, financial institutions and government agencies can play a useful facilitative role.

7. Sustainable Railways and the Decarbonisation Agenda

Sustainability was one of the four defining elements of India's BRICS Chairship theme.

The New Delhi Declaration welcomes the BRICS Framework of Cooperation for Exchange of Knowledge on Transport Decarbonisation and recognises the importance of circular-economy principles in transport infrastructure.

For railways, this agenda goes beyond electrification.

The next generation of sustainable railway systems will need to consider the complete asset lifecycle.

This includes:
  • energy-efficient traction;
  • regenerative braking;
  • renewable-energy integration;
  • battery and alternative propulsion technologies;
  • energy-efficient stations;
  • low-carbon construction;
  • recycling and reuse of railway materials;
  • efficient maintenance;
  • sustainable procurement;
  • lifecycle carbon assessment.
India's railway sector can become an important laboratory for such technologies.

The opportunity is also commercial. Companies that develop affordable and scalable green railway solutions for India could potentially find markets across other emerging economies facing similar sustainability challenges.

8. Urban Mobility: Expanding the Railway Opportunity Beyond Indian Railways

Railway-sector cooperation should not be restricted to conventional mainline railways.

The BRICS Declaration welcomes the establishment of the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub for knowledge exchange and cooperation in accessible, affordable, inclusive and smart urban transport solutions.

This is particularly relevant to India's rapidly expanding metro, suburban and regional rail ecosystem.

India's expertise in urban rail can potentially contribute to international cooperation in:metro systems;
Regional Rapid Transit Systems;
  • suburban rail;
  • multimodal integration;
  • intelligent transport systems;
  • automated fare collection;
  • integrated ticketing;
  • smart stations;
  • passenger information;
  • transit-oriented development.

The NDB's transport portfolio also demonstrates the importance of urban rail in the wider BRICS financing architecture.

For Indian companies, urban mobility therefore represents another potential internationalisation pathway.

9. AI, Digital Rail and Cybersecurity

The future railway will increasingly be a digital infrastructure system.

AI, IoT, cloud computing, advanced telecommunications and data analytics are transforming railway operations and maintenance.

Potential BRICS cooperation could include:

Predictive maintenance – anticipating equipment failures.

Computer vision – automated inspection of tracks, rolling stock and infrastructure.

Digital twins – simulation and lifecycle management of railway assets.

Traffic optimisation – improving capacity and operational efficiency.

Passenger analytics – demand forecasting and crowd management.

Freight optimisation – improving wagon utilisation and logistics planning.

Cybersecurity – protecting increasingly interconnected railway systems.

The New Delhi Declaration emphasises cooperation on digital ecosystems, resilient and interoperable digital public infrastructure and ICT security, while also stressing research and cooperation on cybersecurity.

For railways, cybersecurity should increasingly be treated as part of operational safety and infrastructure resilience, not merely as an IT issue.

India's growing capabilities in digital public infrastructure and technology provide a strong foundation for international cooperation, provided that railway-specific standards, safety requirements and data-governance considerations are addressed.

10. Standards, Certification and Interoperability

A major challenge to international railway cooperation will be technical compatibility.

Different countries have different:
  • railway standards;
  • signalling systems;
  • safety regimes;
  • certification processes;
  • procurement rules;
  • operating conditions;
  • electrification systems.

Therefore, BRICS cooperation should not necessarily aim immediately at creating one common railway standard.

A more practical approach would be to promote technical dialogue, mutual learning, interoperability and greater understanding of certification requirements.

India's railway industry can benefit from a structured BRICS dialogue on:
  • testing;
  • certification;
  • technical standards;
  • safety;
  • signalling;
  • rolling stock;
  • digital systems;
  • cybersecurity;
  • environmental standards.

Such cooperation can reduce the information barrier faced by Indian companies seeking international markets.

11. The Role of MSMEs Must Be Central

Large railway companies will naturally have greater capacity to participate in international projects. But the real depth of India's railway manufacturing ecosystem lies in its extensive MSME and component-supplier network.

The New Delhi Declaration supports greater participation of emerging markets and developing economies in global value chains and recognises the importance of productive capacity, technology cooperation and trade facilitation.

India should therefore develop a BRICS Railway MSME Connect.

Such a platform could provide:
  • B2B meetings;
  • supplier discovery;
  • technology showcases;
  • certification guidance;
  • export-readiness programmes;
  • financing information;
  • international procurement awareness;
  • joint-venture facilitation.

This would help ensure that BRICS cooperation does not remain concentrated among a limited number of large corporations.

12. A Five-Point Rail Chamber Action Agenda

The Chamber of Railway Industries proposes five practical priorities for converting the Summit outcomes into railway-sector opportunities.

I. Institutionalise the BRICS Railway Research Network

India should work towards a defined institutional structure with participation from Indian Railways, RDSO, research institutions, universities, industry and international partners.

II. Create a BRICS Railway Industry & Investment Forum

An annual platform could bring together railway authorities, manufacturers, technology providers, infrastructure companies, investors and financial institutions.

III. Establish a BRICS Railway MSME & Startup Connect

The initiative should specifically facilitate market access and technology partnerships for smaller Indian companies.

IV. Develop a BRICS Railway Technology Demonstration Programme

Pilot projects should focus on AI, predictive maintenance, digital twins, green traction, cybersecurity, smart stations and multimodal logistics.

V. Create a BRICS Railway Export & Project Intelligence Platform

India needs a systematic mechanism to identify overseas railway opportunities, technical requirements, financing sources, local partners and potential Indian suppliers.

13. What Rail Chamber Can Contribute

The Chamber of Railway Industries, as an industry forum representing the railway and rail-supply ecosystem, can play a facilitating role between government institutions, railway organisations, industry and international partners.

Rail Chamber can contribute through:
  • policy dialogue;
  • international railway business delegations;
  • B2B and B2G meetings;
  • technology showcases;
  • research-industry interaction;
  • MSME internationalisation;
  • railway export promotion;
  • standards and certification discussions;
  • investment and financing dialogues;
  • knowledge-sharing programmes.
The Chamber also sees considerable merit in developing structured interactions between Indian railway industry representatives and corresponding organisations in BRICS countries.

The objective should not simply be to increase the number of MoUs.

The objective should be to create measurable industrial outcomes—research projects, technology pilots, supplier relationships, investment, exports, joint manufacturing and infrastructure projects.

Conclusion

The 18th BRICS Summit has created a potentially significant new framework for India's railway industry.

The BRICS Railway Research Network proposal, Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework, Urban Mobility Hub, Transport Decarbonisation Framework, broader cooperation on technology and digitalisation, the focus on resilient global value chains and the role of the New Development Bank together create a policy environment in which railway cooperation can move into a more structured international phase.

Yet the significance of the Summit should be assessed realistically.

The New Delhi Declaration establishes areas of cooperation; it does not itself create guaranteed contracts, exports or investment opportunities. Individual railway projects will continue to depend upon national policies, technical standards, procurement procedures, commercial viability, financing, regulatory approvals and bilateral or multilateral arrangements.

The real opportunity therefore lies in implementation.

India has spent decades developing its railway capabilities. It now has an opportunity to connect those capabilities with a wider network of emerging-market economies.

The next phase should be about moving from domestic capability to international collaboration; from technology acquisition to technology partnership; from manufacturing for India to manufacturing for global markets; and from individual projects to integrated railway value chains.

Railways can become one of the most practical bridges between India's industrial ambitions and the wider BRICS agenda of resilience, innovation, sustainability and connectivity.

The Chamber of Railway Industries believes that India's railway ecosystem should approach this opportunity with a clear implementation-oriented strategy: Research together. Innovate together. Manufacture together. Finance together. And build railway solutions that can serve emerging economies across the BRICS and beyond.

The 18th BRICS Summit has provided the policy platform. The next task belongs to the railway ecosystem—to convert that platform into projects, partnerships and measurable industrial outcomes.