Current Affairs · · Prelims · International Relations

New Delhi BRICS summit: consensus on reform, limits on unity

India hosted the 18th BRICS summit on 12–13 September 2026. The New Delhi Declaration called for reform of global institutions. An editorial argues that expansion has widened the grouping’s reach but deepened internal differences, limiting unity on strategic and economic questions.

Event date:

REq1
  1. Context1 / 6
    • India chaired the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
    • Leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration by consensus, covering global governance reform, trade, finance, energy, technology, health and agriculture.
    • An editorial asks whether an expanded BRICS can stay relevant when members disagree on major strategic and economic questions.
  2. Key highlights2 / 6
    • Global governance. The declaration called for a more representative multilateral system, including reform of the United Nations (UN).
    • Trade. It criticised unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures and backed a World Trade Organization (WTO)-centred trading system.
    • Payments. Cooperation on interoperable cross-border payments, local-currency settlement and more local-currency lending by the New Development Bank (NDB) was reported. A common currency was not reported as proposed.
    • Terrorism. Condemnation of the 2025 Pahalgam attack and a renewed commitment to “zero tolerance” for terrorism were reported.
    • Energy. The declaration recognised the continuing role of fossil fuels in emerging economies while supporting a just and inclusive energy transition.
    • West Asia. Concern over rising tensions and support for humanitarian access in Gaza were reported.
  3. Note3 / 6

    How BRICS has grown

    The table tracks summit and membership milestones.

    StageCountriesYear joined
    First BRIC summitBrazil, Russia, India, China2009
    AdditionSouth Africa2010 (first summit as member 2011)
    First expansionEgypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAEJanuary 2024
    Further additionIndonesiaJanuary 2025
    Status unclearSaudi ArabiaInvited 2023; has not publicly confirmed joining

    BRICS is reported to have ten partner countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Saudi Arabia’s membership status remains disputed in public accounts.

  4. Note4 / 6

    Why unity is hard

    An editorial argues that expansion has widened BRICS’s reach while making agreement harder.

    • Rivalries within. India-China tensions limit collective action.
    • Different conflicts. Members have differed over Ukraine, while Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have diverged over West Asia. A May 2026 foreign ministers’ meeting was reported to have ended without a joint communiqué.
    • Unequal economies. China’s economic weight raises concerns about one member’s dominance.
    • Different goals. Some members seek to challenge Western-led institutions; others, including India, seek reform from within.

    1. What does this mean for India?

    The editorial presents BRICS as a vehicle for strategic autonomy and multi-alignment: India works with Russia and China in BRICS and with the United States, Japan and Australia in the Quad. It argues that India’s chairship stressed consensus and reform rather than confrontation, without endorsing moves away from the United States dollar.

  5. Key concepts5 / 6

    1. What is the New Development Bank?

    A multilateral bank established by BRICS countries under a 2014 agreement, headquartered in Shanghai. It funds infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

    2. What is multipolarity?

    A world where power is spread across several major centres rather than one or two. BRICS presents itself as part of this shift.

    3. What are the Bretton Woods institutions?

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, created through the 1944 Bretton Woods conference. Developing countries seek greater voting power to reflect their larger share of the world economy.

  6. Note6 / 6
    mem
    Member countries of BRICS.

Sources

Syllabus

PaperSubjectSub-topic
PrelimsInternational RelationsBRICS membership; New Development Bank; Bretton Woods institutions
GS2International RelationsInternational institutions and groupings; effects of foreign policies on India’s interests
PSIRInternational RelationsPaper II: multipolarity; India in multilateral groupings; Global South

Topics

BankingExternal Sector of IndiaInternational Relations and Current Affairs

Related previous-year questions

Asked in earlier UPSC Prelims papers on this topic. Answer, then check.

  1. UPSC Prelims 2014 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The first Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009. 2. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: B. VERDICT: The answer is 2 only. South Africa was indeed the last to join, but the first BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg in Russia, not in Rio de Janeiro. ANALYSIS: Statement 1 is INCORRECT. The first BRIC summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in June 2009. Rio de Janeiro is a plausible sounding location precisely because Brazil is the B in the acronym, which is what the distractor exploits. Statement 2 is CORRECT. The group began as BRIC with Brazil, Russia, India and China, and South Africa joined in 2010, converting the acronym to BRICS. SOURCE: Current affairs coverage of BRICS. Source type EN. HOW TO CRACK IT: For any grouping, hold three facts: year of formation, venue of the first summit, and the order in which members joined. The expansion order is the most frequently asked of the three because it is the only one with an internal logic, the added letter at the end of the acronym. The news hook for this period is the Fortaleza summit and the New Development Bank, so summit venue and outcome should be logged together each year.

    Difficulty: medium · statement

    Open this question on its own page, with the full explanation →

  2. UPSC Prelims 2025 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS. III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. I and II
    2. II and III
    3. I and III
    4. I only
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Statement I – CORRECT: The 16th BRICS Summit, and the First Summit with expanded BRICS membership, took place in Kazan from October 22–24, 2024, with Russia as the chair. Hence Statement I is correct. Statement II – CORRECT: Indonesia has officially joined BRICS, becoming the first Southeast Asian member. This move was announced by Brazil, the 2025 BRICS presidency holder. Indonesia's entry was endorsed by BRICS leaders at the 2023 Johannesburg summit. Hence Statement II is correct. Statement III – INCORRECT: The actual theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.' The word was multilateralism, not multiculturalism. Hence Statement III is not correct. Statements I and II are correct → Option (a).

    Difficulty: medium · statement

    Open this question on its own page, with the full explanation →

Practice questions

  1. Which of the following countries joined BRICS as full members in January 2024? 1. Egypt 2. Ethiopia 3. Indonesia 4. United Arab Emirates Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. 1, 2 and 3 only
    2. 1, 2 and 4 only
    3. 2, 3 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joined in January 2024. Indonesia joined in January 2025, so statement 3 is excluded.

    Difficulty: easy · statement

  2. With reference to the New Development Bank, consider the following statements: 1. It was set up by BRICS countries. 2. It is headquartered in New Delhi. 3. It finances infrastructure and sustainable development projects. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 1 and 3 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect because the bank is headquartered in Shanghai.

    Difficulty: easy · statement

Mains practice

Answer-writing practice on this article. Attempt it first, then open the hints.

  1. GS2 · 250 words

    “Expansion has given BRICS wider reach but weaker cohesion.” Examine, and discuss how India can use the grouping to advance its interests.

    Show hints
    1. Explain how the 2024–2025 expansion widened the grouping’s reach.
    2. Use the New Delhi Declaration to illustrate agreement on institutional reform.
    3. Discuss internal rivalries, differing conflict positions and economic inequalities.
    4. Distinguish payments cooperation and local-currency settlement from a common currency.
    5. Assess how strategic autonomy and reform from within can serve India’s interests.