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There Is More BRICS in Daily Life Than Expected, India Today Analysis Finds

There is more BRICS in your lives than you think: Here's how.
Countries
BrazilChinaEgyptEthiopiaIndiaIndonesiaIranRussiaSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaUnited Arab Emirates
Cooperation areas
Economic GrowthInclusive MultilateralismInstitutional Development

Source: India Today | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 13:45:34 UTC

Key Points

  • India Today’s OSINT analysis says BRICS has a tangible footprint in India through New Development Bank-funded transport, road, bridge, metro, and water projects.
  • The New Development Bank has approved at least 35 projects in India worth nearly $10.5 billion, with about $6 billion already disbursed, making India its second-largest recipient.
  • India’s merchandise trade with analysed BRICS partners showed a $226.1 billion deficit in FY2025-26, led by China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and South Africa.
  • BRICS expansion to 11 members has increased economic weight but also introduced competing interests and geopolitical fault lines.
  • India has framed BRICS payment efforts around digital payment systems and central-bank digital currencies rather than replacing the US dollar or creating a common BRICS currency.
  • The United States remains India’s larger market for key exports such as electrical machinery and pharmaceuticals, while BRICS markets are important for gems, jewellery, and mineral fuels.
  • The article concludes that BRICS offers India diversification and options, but not a substitute for China’s manufacturing scale, US and European consumer markets, the dollar, or a unified geopolitical position.
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