As BRICS marks over two decades since the acronym was coined in 2001, symbolizing the rise of emerging economies, the grouping stands at a pivotal juncture. What began as an economic forum among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa has evolved into a platform representing nearly half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP. Now expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and others, BRICS embodies the aspirations of the Global South.
In 2026, with India assuming the rotating presidency, this moment offers a transformative opportunity to elevate the voices of developing nations and deepen South-South cooperation. Drawing from its successful G20 presidency in 2023, India is poised to redefine BRICS under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability’—a people-centric vision that prioritises humanity-first approaches to global challenges.
India’s leadership comes amid a fragmented world order, in which Western-dominated institutions such as the UN Security Council and the World Trade Organization fail to reflect 21st-century realities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised reforming these bodies to grant greater representation to the Global South, echoing calls for a multipolar world free from hegemonic influences. This presidency will amplify marginalized voices by focusing on inclusive multilateralism, ensuring that issues like climate finance, debt relief, and equitable trade are not sidelined.
For instance, India plans to advance the Rio Declaration, adopted at Brazil’s 2025 summit, which strengthened Global South cooperation for sustainable governance. By hosting ministerial meetings across 28 Indian states and nine union territories, culminating in a Delhi summit, New Delhi aims to foster grassroots dialogue and make BRICS more accessible and representative.
Central to India’s agenda is transforming South-South cooperation, which has often been hampered by fragmented efforts and external pressures. BRICS, under Indian stewardship, will prioritise practical collaborations in health, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, energy, and supply chains—areas where developing countries face acute vulnerabilities.
Drawing from its own experiences with pandemics and climate disasters, India will push for resilient systems, such as shared vaccine manufacturing and agricultural tech transfers. This builds on the New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS in 2015, which India intends to bolster for funding sustainable infrastructure projects in the Global South.
By emphasizing intra-BRICS trade—currently valued at around $300bn—India aims to reduce its dependence on Western markets, promoting local currencies for settlement to counter dollar dominance without provoking escalations.
Innovation forms another cornerstone, with a focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI governance. India’s UPI model, which revolutionized digital payments domestically, could be exported to BRICS partners, enabling seamless cross-border transactions and financial inclusion for millions in Africa and Latin America. This digital push will enhance South-South ties by creating interconnected ecosystems, from e-health platforms to smart agriculture tools, fostering knowledge exchange among nations often overlooked in global tech discourses. Climate change, an existential threat to the Global South, will see India advocating for capacity-building and green tech sharing, aligning with the 2025 Framework Declaration on Climate Finance.
These agendas add immense value to the BRICS countries’ relations by bridging internal divides. The recent expansion has introduced tensions—such as geopolitical frictions between Iran and the UAE or Russia's isolation amid the Ukraine conflict—but India’s neutral stance positions it as a mediator. By prioritising economic consolidation over divisive geopolitics, New Delhi can strengthen trust, as seen in its avoidance of anti-dollar initiatives like the proposed UNIT currency.
Forums like the BRICS Business Council and civil society engagements will deepen people-to-people bonds, from joint research in quantum computing to cultural exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding among diverse members.
Moreover, India’s presidency navigates external challenges, including US tariff threats over Iran trade and broader uncertainties under a second Trump administration. By balancing its US alliances with BRICS commitments, India exemplifies pragmatic diplomacy, ensuring the grouping remains a force for stability rather than confrontation. This approach adds relational value by positioning BRICS as a complementary alternative to Western-led orders rather than a rival.
In conclusion, India’s 2026 BRICS presidency is more than a rotational duty—it’s a catalyst for empowering the Global South. After two decades, BRICS has matured from an economic club to a voice for equity. Through focused agendas on resilience and innovation, India will fortify South-South cooperation, yielding tangible benefits like enhanced trade, shared technologies, and reformed global institutions. As the world grapples with division, this presidency could herald a more inclusive era in which the Global South not only speaks but also leads.
The author is a Special Advisor for South Asia at the Parley Policy Initiative. Views expressed are personal
