India Hosts 18th BRICS Summit Under Fourth Chairship
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. India's chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting the country's focus on strengthening existing achievements and institutional effectiveness while placing development, sustainability and innovation at the heart of the agenda.
BRICS Expansion and Current Composition
BRICS has expanded significantly and now comprises 11 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE. Collectively, these members represent 49.5% of the global population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade. The expansion began in January 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE becoming full members, followed by Indonesia joining as the eleventh full member in January 2025. Additionally, a Partner Country category was created with ten countries joining during 2025: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
Historical Context and India's Previous Leadership
BRICS originated from the acronym 'BRIC' coined by Goldman Sachs in 2001, which projected that Brazil, Russia, India and China would be among the world's largest economies. The grouping was formally established in 2006, with South Africa joining in 2010 to form BRICS. India has previously chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The 2012 Delhi Summit proposed exploring a new Development Bank and laid the foundation for the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. The 2016 Goa Summit operationalized the New Development Bank with renewable energy projects and established various cooperation forums. The 2021 virtual summit adopted a unified BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan and launched a BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center.
2026 Ministerial Meeting Outcomes and Initiatives
During India's 2026 chairship, more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements were held across 25 cities, generating numerous practical outcomes. Key initiatives include the establishment of BRICS Centers of Excellence on Agro-Ecology coordinated by ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, and a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture coordinated by IIT Delhi. The BRICS AGRIN (Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network) was agreed upon as a farmer-centric cooperation framework.
In healthcare, the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle was launched with a Roadmap for 2026-2029, along with a BRICS Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Mental health initiatives include a BRICS Training Hub Network with NIMHANS India as the coordinating center.
Energy and infrastructure outcomes include the adoption of BRICS Guiding Principles on Energy Storage and Smart Grids and the launch of a BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage. Urban infrastructure was strengthened through the establishment of a BRICS Urban Mobility Hub and adoption of BRICS Voluntary Principles for Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure.
Economic cooperation measures include the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, BRICS Incubator Network, and BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to catalyze financing for early and growth stage startups. The BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework was established as a voluntary framework to strengthen transport logistics resilience. Members confirmed in-principle approval for the BRICS Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters to support faster trade and lower transaction costs.
Additional cooperation areas include an MoU signed by BRICS National Standards Body Heads for standardization collaboration, adoption of the BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework 2026, and institutionalization of Sport Technology Cooperation through a new Working Group.
Strategic Significance and Future Direction
India's 2026 BRICS chairship occurs during a period of global transformation marked by economic fragmentation, technological disruption, and geopolitical uncertainty. BRICS provides an important avenue for addressing these challenges through dialogue and coordinated action, with its expanded membership bringing diverse perspectives from major emerging economies. India aims to convert greater representation into meaningful cooperation and tangible outcomes while building consensus across diverse members and strengthening existing mechanisms.