Context:

• The idea of BRIC was proposed by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in 2001.
• Brazil, Russia, India and China began high-level ministerial consultations in 2006 and held their first summit in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, giving rise to BRICS.
• Over time, BRICS has evolved from an economic grouping into a broader platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).
• Its expansion reflects the growing demand for a more representative and multipolar global order.

BRICS+ - Growing Global Weight:

• BRICS+ currently comprises 11 members — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia — along with 10 partner countries.
• Its growing significance stems from its demographic and economic weight -
  • BRICS and BRICS+ represent roughly 45% and 55% of the global population, respectively.
  • BRICS+ economies account for around 35–45% of global GDP in PPP terms and collectively exceed $30 trillion in nominal GDP.
  • The grouping is expected to record significantly faster growth than the G7 in the coming years.
  • Countries such as Argentina, Algeria and Türkiye have also shown interest in joining.
• Thus, BRICS+ is increasingly becoming an important forum for South-South cooperation, economic coordination and reform of global governance.
• Core significance: Its strength lies not merely in economic size but in its ability to provide a platform for countries seeking greater representation in institutions shaped largely by the post-World War II order.

India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency - Four Priorities:

• With the 2026 BRICS Summit scheduled in New Delhi, India has an opportunity to shape the group's future agenda.
• India's priorities are centred on four themes -
  • Resilience: Strengthening supply chains, energy security, food security and institutional capacity against global disruptions.
  • Innovation: Promoting technological cooperation, digital transformation, emerging technologies and inclusive innovation.
  • Cooperation: Deepening coordination among developing countries on economic, financial, political and developmental challenges.
  • Sustainability: Addressing climate change, sustainable development, green transition and resource security while ensuring that development remains people-centric.
• These priorities can be advanced through BRICS' three broad pillars - political and security cooperation, economic and financial partnership, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges
• For India, this agenda can also reinforce its traditional emphasis on strategic autonomy, Global South leadership, reform of multilateral institutions and inclusive development.

China-India Cooperation - The Central Variable:

• The future effectiveness of BRICS will be significantly influenced by India-China relations.
• China has expressed support for India's role in the 2026 summit, highlighting the potential for cooperation between the two largest BRICS economies.
• India and China are among the world's largest economies in PPP terms; home to approximately 35% of humanity; and major markets and engines of global economic growth.
• Their economic complementarities create considerable scope for cooperation.
• The recent resumption of direct flights and increasing exchanges among universities, businesses and cities indicate efforts to rebuild people-to-people and economic
• However, cooperation should not be equated with the absence of strategic differences.

Panchsheel and a Multipolar Order:

• The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchsheel), jointly articulated by India and China, as principles supporting peaceful international relations.
• Greater India-China cooperation within BRICS could contribute to -
  • Rebalancing global governance;
  • Greater voice for the Global South;
  • Reform of institutions such as the UN, IMF and World Bank;
  • Strengthening South-South cooperation;
  • Promoting a rules-based and more inclusive international order.
• India should ensure that BRICS complements, rather than replaces, other platforms such as the G20, SCO, Quad and Indo-Pacific mechanisms, thereby preserving its multi-alignment and strategic autonomy.

Way Forward:

• BRICS+ must avoid becoming merely an anti-Western or anti-G7 bloc. Its long-term relevance will depend on whether it can deliver practical economic and developmental outcomes.
• India should focus on -
  • Reforming global financial and governance institutions;
  • Expanding local-currency and alternative payment mechanisms;
  • Building resilient and diversified supply chains;
  • Promoting digital public infrastructure and technological cooperation;
  • Enhancing climate and energy cooperation;
  • Strengthening developmental finance;
  • Expanding youth, educational and cultural exchanges.
• India-China relations: As they continue to involve concerns like border disputes, strategic competition, etc., India's approach needs to combine engagement with strategic caution, rather than either confrontation or excessive dependence.

Conclusion:

• The expansion of BRICS reflects the diffusion of economic and political power away from a predominantly Western-centred order.
• For India, the 2026 New Delhi Summit is an opportunity to shape this transition around resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
• India-China engagement will remain crucial. While strategic differences cannot be ignored, sustained dialogue and issue-based cooperation can help ensure that BRICS+ becomes a vehicle for -
  • Inclusive growth,
  • Global South solidarity and
  • A more representative multipolar world order.