The Ministry of External Affairs has outlined how India is leading the BRICS bloc this year as its chair for the fourth time. BRICS is a grouping of 11 major emerging economies spanning Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026.
What BRICS comprises and its scale
BRICS now includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE. Together, these nations account for 49.5 per cent of the world’s population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of global trade.
The grouping began in 2001 as an economic concept. It became a formal cooperation platform in 2006 with four founding members: Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2010. A major expansion occurred starting in January 2024, when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE became full members. Indonesia joined in January 2025. Ten additional countries joined as BRICS Partners in 2025: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
India’s theme for its 2026 Chairship is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The grouping’s work covers development, finance, technology, trade, terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, health, telecommunications and labour issues.
During India’s current Chairship, more than 350 meetings and engagements have been held across 25 cities. Ministerial meetings have produced outcomes including a BRICS Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology for joint research on sustainable farming, and a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture to scale AI and data-driven farming tools.
What this means for you
India’s leadership of BRICS reflects its role in pushing for a more balanced global order where developing nations have greater say in international institutions. The grouping’s focus on practical cooperation in areas like agriculture, health, renewable energy and technology affects trade, investment and development partnerships that may influence India’s economic policies and regional engagement over the year ahead.