India is chairing BRICS for the fourth time in 2026 and will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." The expanded BRICS now comprises 11 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE, collectively representing 49.5% of the global population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade. Additionally, ten Partner Countries have joined the framework: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
BRICS originated from the 2001 Goldman Sachs Global Economics Paper "The World Needs Better Economic BRICs" and evolved from an economic concept to a formal political cooperation forum established in 2006. South Africa joined in 2011, transforming BRIC into BRICS, with the most recent expansion occurring in January 2024 (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE) and January 2025 (Indonesia). The grouping serves as a platform for coordinating economic policy among major emerging economies and advancing the interests of the Global South within multilateral institutions.
During India's 2026 chairship, more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements were held across 25 cities, generating numerous practical outcomes across key cooperation areas. Major initiatives established include: BRICS Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology coordinated by ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research; BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture coordinated by IIT Delhi; BRICS AGRIN (Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network) framework; BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle with a 2026-2029 Roadmap; BRICS Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine; and Mental Health coordination through NIMHANS India.
Additional significant outcomes include: BRICS CONNECT for Skilling platform with four components for social security, women's workforce participation, skills/employability, and digital public infrastructure; BRICS Guiding Principles on Energy Storage and Smart Grids with a Digital Centre of Excellence; BRICS Urban Mobility Hub and Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure Principles; BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal and Dialogue on MSME Finance; BRICS Incubator Network; BRICS Startup Innovation Fund for early and growth stage startups; BRICS Science and Research Repository; BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework; GVC Action Plan 2026-2030 for Global Value Chains; BRICS Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters; MoU on standardization cooperation; BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework 2026; and Sport Technology Working Group.
India's previous BRICS chairships in 2012, 2016, and 2021 established foundational institutions including the proposal for the New Development Bank, Master Agreement on Extending Credit Facility in Local Currency, Contingent Reserve Arrangement, BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, BRICS Digital Health Summit, BRICS Vaccine R&D Center, and BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation. The 2026 chairship builds on this institutional history while focusing on converting expanded membership into meaningful cooperation and tangible outcomes that reinforce BRICS as a constructive force for a more inclusive global order.