BRICS

This PIB backgrounder details the evolution, cooperation framework, and India's leadership of BRICS, highlighting its transformation from a four-country economic dialogue initiated in 2001 to an 11-member geopolitical and economic bloc representing significant global population, GDP, and trade shares. The document outlines the history of BRICS summits, including India's previous chairships in 2012, 2016, and 2021, and its ongoing 2026 chairship. Under its 2026 presidency theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,' India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi and oversees numerous ministerial meetings leading to practical outcomes across agriculture, health, traditional medicine, MSME cooperation, digital public infrastructure, logistics, and global value chains.