BRICS (Regional Groupings).
Syllabus: UPSC Mains GS2: India & neighbourhood, groupings, international institutions, diaspora
BRICS for UPSC: BRIC to BRICS, 2024-25 expansion and partner countries, NDB and CRA, local currency trade, Kazan and Rio summits, India's…
On 12 September 2026 the Prime Minister chaired the BRICS session on "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism" at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. He said the Global South must move from being a rule-taker to a rule-shaper, called for greater representation in bodies like the UN Security Council, and proposed a Seafarers Emergency Support Network.
UPSC angle: Mains: Relevance of BRICS for India amid expansion.
13 Sep 2026
The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September 2026 under India's chairship, adopted the New Delhi BRICS Leaders' Declaration. Its theme was "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". It calls for reform of the UN, including the Security Council, and of the IMF and World Bank, and backs a WTO-centred trading system.
UPSC angle: Prelims: summit theme and pillars.
12 Sep 2026
The 18th Meeting of Heads of Intellectual Property Offices of BRICS countries was held in New Delhi from 1 to 3 September 2026, hosted by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under DPIIT. It adopted Updated Operational Guidelines for IP BRICS cooperation and backed new projects on awareness, fintech, commercialisation and patent documentation.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CGPDTM.
2 Sep 2026
On 22 August 2026 the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, chaired by India, unanimously adopted the Chennai Declaration. It puts a people-centred, humanity-first approach at the heart of BRICS STI cooperation. It backs shared research infrastructure through BRICS GRAIN, a BRICS Science and Research Repository and a BRICS Youth Startup Platform.
UPSC angle: Prelims: BRICS 2026 chair.
22 Aug 2026
On 21 August 2026 the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur, under India's Chairship, adopted the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Communique 2026, called the Jaipur Declaration. Nine member states took part. It sets out cooperation on four themes: AI and tourism, sustainable tourism, tourism skilling, and tourism exchanges and travel facilitation.
UPSC angle: Prelims: BRICS meeting venues.
21 Aug 2026
India hosts the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 18 August 2026, after a Senior Officers' Meeting on 17 August. As BRICS Chair for 2026, India has set four priorities for the Environment Working Group: sustainable lifestyles, forests and fire, circular economy, and community-led adaptation.
UPSC angle: Prelims: BRICS tracks.
16 Aug 2026