Guwahati: India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with leaders from member countries, partner nations and other invited states expected to attend.
The summit comes as the BRIC grouping marks two decades since its formation, having been formalised as a foreign ministers’ grouping in 2006. The grouping, which began as an economic platform, has evolved into a major forum for cooperation among emerging economies, representing more than 45 per cent of the global population and nearly 40 per cent of the world’s GDP.
India took over the BRICS chairmanship from Brazil on January 1 and has placed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” at the centre of its presidency. The agenda is also being guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on “Humanity First”.
Since assuming the chair, India has hosted more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements across over 25 cities. The discussions have largely focused on political and security cooperation, economic and financial issues, and cultural and people-to-people ties.
The 2026 summit will also be the first major BRICS gathering since the bloc’s recent expansion. Its membership now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates,Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, while additional partner countries are expected to participate in the summit.
For New Delhi, the summit comes against a complicated geopolitical backdrop. Conflicts and tensions in West Asia, shifting global trade dynamics and differences within BRICS over the bloc’s future are expected to shape discussions.
India has consistently sought to position BRICS as a “non-Western” rather than an “anti-Western” platform. The approach reflects New Delhi’s effort to deepen cooperation among developing countries while maintaining its strategic partnerships with the United States, Europe and other Western nations.
Economic issues are also likely to feature prominently. While some BRICS members have pushed for reducing dependence on the US dollar, India has favoured greater use of local currencies for trade rather than the creation of a common BRICS currency.
New Delhi is also expected to showcase its experience in digital public infrastructure, including digital payments and technology-led public services, as part of its broader development agenda.
Reforming global institutions will be another key priority. India has been pushing for greater representation for developing countries in bodies such as the United Nations Security Council and the International Monetary Fund, as well as reforms to the wider global financial architecture.
Security cooperation, including counter-terrorism and the protection of critical maritime trade routes, is also expected to figure in the summit-level discussions.
With BRICS becoming larger and more politically diverse, the summit will test India’s ability to build consensus among members with often competing interests.
For New Delhi, the September summit is therefore more than a diplomatic gathering. It offers India an opportunity to push its priorities on development, technology, economic cooperation and global governance while strengthening its position as an influential voice of the Global South.