As New Delhi prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit, India is positioning itself at the centre of a rapidly evolving global order. Under its current BRICS+ chairship, India is attempting to demonstrate that diversity need not mean division, and that a broad coalition of emerging economies can work together to shape a genuinely multipolar world.
BRICS has expanded dramatically from its original five members to 11 full members, with 10 partner countries and a growing list of nations eager to join. Countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East see BRICS not as an anti‑Western bloc but as a non‑Western platform that offers alternatives to traditional global institutions. India has been central in shaping this narrative, emphasising cooperation rather than confrontation.
The bloc’s rise has been driven by the Global South’s quest for solidarity, especially in the face of what many describe as unilateralism and outdated global governance structures. BRICS’ cross‑continental economic heft — representing nearly half the world’s population and a major share of global GDP — has increasingly challenged the dominance of G7 economies. The article notes that even US President Donald Trump has occasionally issued sharp warnings to BRICS countries, underscoring their growing influence.
India’s leadership is backed by an enormous institutional framework:
- 35 Ministerial and Heads‑of‑Agency tracks
- Around 100 Working Groups and Sub‑Groups
- A wide range of P2P and B2B mechanisms
Cooperation spans political, security, economic, financial, health, education, women’s affairs, science, agriculture, trade, energy, space, anti‑drugs, labour, environment, disaster management, startups, innovation, youth, culture, tourism, and more. Institutions like the BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women Business Alliance further deepen engagement.