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India Hosts 18th BRICS Summit
The 18th BRICS Summit comprises India as the host country. India’s BRICS Chairship comprises the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
BRICS membership expansion in 2024 and 2025 comprises the current update linked to the grouping.
BRICS (Grouping):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Chairship Theme (India) | India’s BRICS Chairship comprises the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. |
| Global Share | BRICS represents 49.5% population, ~40% GDP, and 26% of global trade. |
| First Leaders’ Meeting (Timeline) | In 2006, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) leaders meet for the first time on the margins of the G8 Outreach Summit. |
| South Africa (Timeline) | In 2010, South Africa joins BRICS. |
| Full Members Added (2024) | In 2024, 5 new full members have joined: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. |
| Membership Update (2025) | In 2025, Indonesia has joined as the 11th full member, and 10 countries have become Partner Countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. |
| New Development Bank (NDB) | NDB provides for additional funding for infrastructure and sustainable development. |
| Global Governance Reform | BRICS provides for a platform to seek greater representation in UN and financial institutions. |
| Digital Cooperation (India-related) | BRICS provides for India to promote Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), especially UPI-based digital and payment cooperation. |
| Critical Minerals and Supply Chains | BRICS provides for cooperation to secure critical minerals and diversify supply chains. |
| Challenge: Divergent Interests | BRICS comprises divergent interests, with India and Brazil providing for a reform-oriented economic bloc, while China and Russia providing for BRICS as a counterweight to the West. |
| Challenge: China’s Dominance | BRICS comprises China’s high economic weight that provides for greater influence over the BRICS agenda. |
| Challenge: India–China Rivalry | BRICS comprises India–China strategic and border tensions that constrain cooperation. |