BRICS and India

1. Introduction

BRICS is an influential grouping of emerging economies that aims to promote multipolarity, inclusive global governance, and South-South cooperation. Established initially as BRIC in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the grouping became BRICS after the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. In recent years, BRICS has expanded further, increasing its economic and geopolitical influence and emerging as an important platform for addressing global issues such as sustainable development, trade, climate change, and international financial reforms. BRICS and India has become increasingly important in this changing global order, while BRICS and India Relations have gained significance for India’s foreign policy and global engagement.

For India, BRICS is a key pillar of its foreign policy and strategic autonomy. It provides an important platform to strengthen cooperation with emerging economies, advocate reforms in global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank, promote the interests of the Global South, and advance its vision of a more equitable, representative, and multipolar international order. BRICS and India therefore has strategic, economic and diplomatic importance, while BRICS for India provides an important platform for advancing its interests in global governance. India in BRICS also reflects India’s broader objective of strengthening cooperation among emerging and developing economies.

2. Evolution and Expansion of BRICS

Formation of BRIC

The concept of BRIC was introduced in 2001 by economist Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs, who identified Brazil, Russia, India, and China as the world’s fastest-growing emerging economies with the potential to reshape the global economic order. Recognising their shared interests, the four countries formally established BRIC in 2006, and held their first summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, marking the beginning of institutional cooperation among major emerging economies. BRICS and India played an important role in this process, as India in BRICS became part of a grouping representing major emerging economies.

Inclusion of South Africa

In 2010, South Africa joined the grouping, transforming BRIC into BRICS. Its inclusion enhanced the geographical representation of the grouping by bringing the African continent into its framework. This expansion strengthened BRICS’ legitimacy as a platform representing the interests of developing countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, while reinforcing its commitment to South-South Cooperation. BRICS and India Relations also gained greater importance as the grouping expanded its geographical and political representation.

Expansion of BRICS

Recognising the growing demand for a more inclusive global order, BRICS undertook its first major expansion in 2024–25 by admitting new members, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Indonesia. The grouping also introduced the ‘BRICS Partner Country’ category to enhance cooperation with other developing nations. This expansion has significantly increased BRICS’ demographic, economic and geopolitical influence, making it one of the most important platforms representing the Global South. BRICS and India therefore assumes greater significance as the grouping expands and BRICS Significance for India increases.

Growing Global Significance

With its expanded membership, BRICS represents a substantial share of the world’s population, GDP, energy resources, and international trade, making it an increasingly influential voice in global governance. The grouping has emerged as a strong advocate for reforming international institutions, promoting multilateralism, strengthening development cooperation, and building a more balanced and multipolar world order. BRICS and India has consequently become more significant for India’s engagement with the Global South and global governance.

3. Objectives of BRICS

• Promote a Multipolar World Order: Reduce the dominance of any single power and strengthen a balanced international order based on sovereign equality. BRICS and India supports India’s vision of a multipolar world order.
• Reform Global Governance: Advocate reforms in institutions such as the UNSC, IMF, World Bank, and WTO to ensure greater representation of emerging and developing economies. This is an important aspect of BRICS for India.
• Strengthen Economic and Financial Cooperation: Enhance trade, investment, financial stability, and development through mechanisms such as the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
• Promote South-South Cooperation: Foster collaboration among developing countries in areas such as infrastructure, technology, healthcare, climate change, agriculture, and sustainable development. BRICS and India Relations are also strengthened through such cooperation.

4. Recent BRICS Summit (2025) and Key Outcomes

The 17th BRICS Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 6–7 July 2025 under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.“ The Summit reaffirmed BRICS’ commitment to promoting a multipolar world order, strengthening the voice of the Global South, and reforming global governance institutions. The leaders adopted the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, which outlined the group’s common vision on global peace, economic cooperation, sustainable development, artificial intelligence, and institutional reforms. BRICS and India gained further significance through these outcomes, particularly in the context of India’s role in global governance.

Key Decisions and Outcomes

• Support for Global Governance Reforms: BRICS reiterated the need to reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), IMF and World Bank to make them more representative of developing and emerging economies. The declaration reaffirmed support for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations, including a reformed Security Council. BRICS and India therefore gained further importance in the context of India’s global governance objectives.
• Strengthening the New Development Bank (NDB): The Summit agreed to deepen the role of the New Development Bank in financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects. It also initiated work on a BRICS Multilateral Guarantees (BMG) mechanism to mobilise greater private investment for infrastructure in BRICS and other developing countries.
• Cooperation in AI and Digital Governance: Leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital economy and emerging technologies. India emphasized the need for responsible AI, a Science and Research Repository for the Global South, and resilient supply chains for critical minerals.
• Commitment to Climate Action and Sustainable Development: The Summit reaffirmed cooperation on climate finance, energy transition, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, while stressing the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR-RC) and the need for enhanced financial support to developing countries.
• Counter-terrorism and Global Security: BRICS strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for enhanced international cooperation against terrorism, terrorist financing and transnational organised crime. The declaration also addressed ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and the Middle East, while reiterating support for peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.
• India to Chair BRICS in 2026: The Summit welcomed India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, providing India an opportunity to shape the agenda on Global South cooperation, digital public infrastructure, development finance and global governance reforms. BRICS for India is particularly significant in this context, as the presidency provides India with an opportunity to strengthen its leadership role.

5. Significance of BRICS for India

Platform for Global South Leadership

• BRICS provides India with a prominent platform to represent the interests and aspirations of the Global South, comprising developing and least-developed countries seeking a more equitable international order. BRICS and India therefore provides an important avenue for India’s leadership among developing nations.
• India uses BRICS to advocate for inclusive development, equitable climate action, food and energy security, sustainable development financing, and easier access to technology for developing nations.
• Through BRICS, India promotes South-South Cooperation by encouraging collaboration in areas such as infrastructure development, healthcare, digital transformation, agriculture, education, and capacity building.
• During its G20 Presidency (2023), India highlighted the concerns of the Global South through the Voice of Global South Summit, a vision that continues to be advanced within BRICS.
• India supports the expansion of BRICS to enhance the representation of developing countries in global decision-making and strengthen the collective bargaining power of the Global South.
• By projecting itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations, India enhances its diplomatic influence and reinforces its image as a responsible leader committed to a more inclusive and balanced global governance system. BRICS Significance for India is therefore closely linked with India’s broader objective of strengthening its global leadership.

Reform of Global Governance

• BRICS provides India with a strong platform to advocate reforms in global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO), making them more representative of contemporary global realities.
• India consistently argues that the existing global governance architecture, largely designed after the Second World War, does not adequately reflect the growing political and economic influence of emerging economies.
• BRICS has repeatedly supported the need for increasing the voice and representation of developing and emerging economies in international decision-making, aligning with India’s long-standing demand for a reformed UNSC.
• India also uses BRICS to promote a rules-based, inclusive and multipolar international order, where global institutions are more transparent, democratic and responsive to the needs of the Global South. BRICS and India cooperation in global governance therefore remains an important part of India’s multilateral engagement.

Strategic and Geopolitical Significance

• BRICS strengthens India’s policy of strategic autonomy by enabling it to engage simultaneously with major powers such as Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa, while maintaining strong partnerships with the United States, Europe and the Quad. BRICS and India Relations therefore support India’s ability to pursue an independent and balanced foreign policy.
• The grouping supports India’s vision of a multipolar world order, reducing excessive dependence on any single power and promoting a more balanced global distribution of influence.
• BRICS provides India with an important diplomatic platform to engage with China and Russia on regional and global issues despite bilateral differences, thereby maintaining channels of dialogue.
• Through BRICS, India actively contributes to discussions on global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, energy security and regional conflicts, enhancing its role as a responsible and influential global stakeholder.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

• BRICS offers India opportunities to expand trade, investment and market access with major emerging economies, thereby diversifying its economic partnerships and reducing excessive dependence on traditional markets. BRICS and India therefore provides opportunities for greater economic engagement with emerging economies.
• The grouping promotes cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digital economy, MSMEs and innovation, creating new avenues for economic growth.
• India benefits from BRICS initiatives aimed at strengthening intra-BRICS trade, resilient supply chains and investment cooperation, which contribute to long-term economic resilience.
• BRICS also encourages the use of local currencies and improved cross-border payment systems to facilitate trade and reduce transaction costs among member countries. BRICS Significance for India is also reflected in these opportunities for trade and financial cooperation.

Development Finance through the New Development Bank (NDB)

• The New Development Bank (NDB) provides India with an alternative source of financing for infrastructure and sustainable development projects, complementing funding from traditional multilateral institutions.
• Since its establishment in 2014, the NDB has financed several Indian projects in sectors such as transport, renewable energy, urban infrastructure and water management, supporting India’s development priorities.
• Unlike many traditional lending institutions, the NDB follows a member-driven approach with limited political conditionalities, making development financing more flexible and responsive.
• The NDB strengthens India’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth, climate resilience and infrastructure development, while enhancing financial cooperation among BRICS countries. BRICS for India therefore has an important role in supporting development finance and infrastructure priorities.

Energy, Food and Resource Security

• The expansion of BRICS has brought together major oil and gas producers such as Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), strengthening India’s energy security through diversified sources of energy imports.
• BRICS provides a platform for cooperation in renewable energy, critical minerals, food security and agricultural technology, helping India address long-term resource and sustainability challenges.
• The grouping promotes collaboration in ensuring stable global supply chains for essential commodities, thereby reducing vulnerabilities arising from geopolitical disruptions.
• Cooperation within BRICS also supports India’s transition towards clean energy, sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient development. BRICS and India cooperation in these areas can strengthen India’s long-term resource security.

Technology, Innovation and Digital Cooperation

• BRICS promotes cooperation in digital economy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), FinTech, biotechnology, space technology and scientific research, enabling India to strengthen its innovation ecosystem.
• India uses BRICS to showcase its successful Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including Aadhaar, UPI and Digital Public Goods, as models for inclusive digital development.
• Collaboration in emerging technologies enhances knowledge sharing, research partnerships and capacity building, contributing to India’s technological advancement.
• BRICS also facilitates cooperation on cybersecurity, digital governance and responsible use of emerging technologies, supporting India’s vision of a secure and inclusive digital economy. BRICS and India cooperation in technology and digital governance can further strengthen India’s technological capabilities.

Enhancing India’s Global Standing

• BRICS has enhanced India’s stature as a responsible emerging power by providing it with a prominent platform to shape discussions on global economic, political and developmental issues.
• India has played an active leadership role by hosting BRICS Summits in 2012 (New Delhi), 2016 (Goa) and 2021 (Virtual), and is set to host the 2026 BRICS Summit, reflecting the confidence of member countries in its leadership.
• Through BRICS, India has strengthened its diplomatic engagement with emerging economies across Asia, Africa and Latin America, expanding its global partnerships and influence.
• India’s constructive role in promoting multilateralism, sustainable development and Global South cooperation has reinforced its credentials as a key stakeholder in shaping the future global order. BRICS and India thus provides an important platform for enhancing India’s global standing.

6. Challenges for India in BRICS

China Factor

China remains the most significant challenge for India within BRICS due to their unresolved boundary dispute, strategic rivalry, and competing regional ambitions. As the largest economy in BRICS, China often exercises considerable influence over the grouping’s agenda and priorities. India’s concerns over issues such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region, and its close strategic partnership with Pakistan frequently create differences between the two countries. These geopolitical tensions often limit the scope of deeper cooperation within BRICS. BRICS Challenges for India are therefore closely linked to managing the China factor within the grouping.

Divergent Strategic and Political Interests

BRICS comprises countries with diverse political systems, foreign policy priorities and strategic interests, making consensus-building a challenging process. Differences among members on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Middle East crisis, trade policies and regional security often delay collective decision-making. As BRICS functions on the principle of consensus, divergent national interests sometimes reduce the grouping’s ability to take timely and unified positions on important global issues, thereby affecting its overall effectiveness. BRICS Challenges for India also arise from these divergent strategic and political interests.

Economic Challenges

Despite being a major economic grouping, intra-BRICS trade and investment remain below their full potential due to varying economic priorities and trade barriers among member countries. For India, the large trade deficit with China continues to be a major concern, creating economic asymmetry within the grouping. Additionally, differences in industrial competitiveness and market access often limit the benefits of deeper economic integration for all members. BRICS and India therefore faces economic challenges that require greater cooperation and balanced trade relations.

Expansion of BRICS and Institutional Challenges

The recent expansion of BRICS has increased its global influence but has also made consensus-building more complex. The inclusion of countries with diverse political systems, economic interests and regional priorities may slow decision-making and reduce institutional cohesion. As the grouping grows larger, balancing the interests of all members while maintaining effectiveness will become an increasingly important challenge for BRICS and India as a whole.

Balancing BRICS with India’s Western Partnerships

India follows a policy of strategic autonomy and maintains strong partnerships with countries and groupings such as the United States, European Union, Quad and I2U2, while simultaneously deepening cooperation within BRICS. Therefore, India faces the challenge of ensuring that BRICS remains a platform for constructive cooperation and global governance reforms, rather than being perceived as an anti-Western alliance. Maintaining this diplomatic balance is essential to safeguard India’s broader strategic, economic and geopolitical interests. BRICS and India must therefore balance cooperation within BRICS with India’s wider international partnerships.

7. Way Forward

• Strengthen Economic Cooperation: Promote greater intra-BRICS trade, investment, resilient supply chains, and collaboration in emerging sectors such as digital economy, green technology, and manufacturing. BRICS and India should continue to focus on practical economic cooperation.
• Accelerate Global Governance Reforms: Continue collective efforts to reform the UNSC, IMF, World Bank, and WTO to ensure greater representation of emerging and developing economies.
• Promote Practical and Issue-based Cooperation: Focus on common priorities such as climate change, energy security, food security, public health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital governance, despite geopolitical differences.
• Enhance the Role of the New Development Bank (NDB): Expand financing for sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, climate resilience, and connectivity projects in developing countries.
• Strengthen India’s Leadership Role: India should leverage its 2026 BRICS Presidency to build consensus, promote Global South priorities, and advance a balanced, inclusive and rules-based multipolar world order. BRICS for India can therefore serve as an important platform for strengthening India’s leadership role.

8. Conclusion

BRICS has emerged as an important platform for promoting multipolarity, South-South cooperation, and reforms in global governance. For India, it serves as a valuable forum to advance its strategic, economic and diplomatic interests while strengthening its leadership among developing countries. Despite challenges arising from geopolitical differences and expanding membership, BRICS offers significant opportunities for India to shape a more inclusive, representative and balanced international order through constructive engagement and pragmatic cooperation. BRICS and India therefore remains important for India’s evolving role in global governance.

BPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. BRICS has emerged as an important pillar of India’s foreign policy. Discuss the significance of BRICS for India in promoting its strategic, economic and diplomatic interests.

2. Critically examine the major challenges faced by India within BRICS. Suggest suitable measures to strengthen India’s role and enhance the effectiveness of the grouping.

Learn More from the Official BRICS Website

Readers interested in BRICS and India, BRICS and India Relations, India’s role in BRICS, the BRICS Significance for India, BRICS initiatives, summit declarations, and India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency can visit the official BRICS website. The official BRICS portal provides authentic information on BRICS member countries, summit outcomes, declarations, cooperation mechanisms and major initiatives. The 2025 Rio de Janeiro Declaration also records full support for India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026.