India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026. Notably, this marked India’s fourth Chairship of BRICS. Moreover, the summit ended with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. Clearly, it was a major diplomatic event for India this year.
Theme of BRICS Summit 2026
India’s Chairship followed the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. Interestingly, the first letters of these words spell BRICS. Also, the theme puts development, sustainability and innovation at the heart of the agenda. Furthermore, it highlights the hopes of the Global South.
BRICS Today: 11 Members
BRICS now has 11 members. They are Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE. Together, they represent 49.5 per cent of the world’s population. Similarly, they hold 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of global trade. Thus, the group carries huge demographic and economic weight.
Why BRICS Matters
BRICS has become a key platform for emerging economies. Above all, it lets members build common positions on global governance. Also, it pushes the interests of the Global South in multilateral bodies. Its agenda covers development, finance, technology, trade and people-to-people ties.
Outcomes of the New Delhi Summit
The New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed BRICS values like sovereign equality and consensus. In addition, leaders backed a fair, multipolar world order. They also called for more intra-BRICS trade and investment. Moreover, they supported infrastructure investment in Africa. Notably, India held over 400 meetings in 30 cities during its Chairship. Next, China will take over the Chairship in 2027.
BRICS: A Short History
- 2006: First meeting of BRIC foreign ministers
- 2009: First BRIC summit at Yekaterinburg, Russia
- 2010: South Africa joined, turning BRIC into BRICS
- 2014: Members agreed to set up the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai
- 2024–25: Later, the group expanded with new members, including Indonesia
Why BRICS Summit 2026 Matters for UPSC and UKPSC
Notably, BRICS is a core topic in international relations. So, remember the summit number, theme, venue and member list. Also, revise the NDB and the expansion timeline. For official updates, also visit the Ministry of External Affairs. Next, for a related story, read about India’s Guide to Grasslands launched at UNCCD COP17.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.