Which Country Is the Most Powerful in BRICS, and Where Does India Rank?

Source: ABP News | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 06:14:05 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled for 12 and 13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• India assumed the BRICS chairmanship on 1 January 2026 and is hosting the summit for the fourth time, having previously held the role in 2012, 2016, and 2021.
• The summit theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
• BRICS now has 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
• The article also mentions partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
• By nominal GDP, China is described as the largest economy in BRICS and is considered the most powerful member in economic, military, and technological terms.
• India is described as the second-largest economy in BRICS by GDP, with IMF forecasts of 7.6% growth in 2025 and 6.5% in 2026, making it the fastest-growing major economy.