India will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day summit will be attended by leaders of BRICS member nations, as well as representatives from partner and invited countries. Discussions at the meeting will focus on global and regional issues, as well as measures to strengthen cooperation within BRICS.
India assumed the BRICS presidency for the fourth time on January 1, 2026. The theme for this year’s presidency is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.” According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India has emphasized making cooperation people-centric and prioritizing the spirit of “Humanity First” during its presidency.
Under India’s presidency, more than 350 meetings and high-level events have been held across over 25 cities so far. The objective of these activities has been to strengthen the BRICS strategic partnership across three key pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people ties.
India is a founding member of BRICS and has previously held the group’s presidency in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The year 2026 is also significant for BRICS, as the organization marks the completion of 20 years since its inception.
BRICS currently comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Its partner countries include Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
The BRICS agenda includes issues related to combating terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, the global economic and financial system, telecommunications, agriculture, labor and employment, the international financial architecture, and the World Trade Organization (WTO). During India’s presidency, special emphasis has been placed on advancing coordination and practical cooperation among member countries in these areas.
