Why the 2026 BRICS Summit Matters for India

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Source: Loksatta | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 01:34:00 UTC

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in 2026, with priorities including climate sustainability, economic resilience, Global South cooperation, and practical multilateral action.
BRICS now has 11 full members and represents more than 4 billion people, roughly 50% of the world's population, strengthening its potential influence in global decision-making.
The summit agenda includes strengthening logistics and supply-chain cooperation, green finance, energy transition, sustainable development, and cooperation in trade, technology, and energy security.
BRICS is expected to renew demands for greater Global South representation and reforms in institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank.
The article notes BRICS progress in alternative development finance through the New Development Bank, but says attempts to create a common currency or substantially reduce dollar dependence have not succeeded.
India's role in BRICS has grown as a bridge between emerging and developed economies, with bilateral trade with BRICS members reaching about USD 399 billion by 2024 and around USD 10 billion in NDB financing for infrastructure projects.