Source: TH
Context:
Brazil has officially transferred the 18th BRICS presidency to India for the year 2026, a transition taking place amid intensifying global trade frictions and geopolitical uncertainty.
About India’s BRICS Presidency 2026
India will serve as the rotating Chair of BRICS in 2026, responsible for:
- Setting annual priorities and themes
- Convening ministerial and working-group meetings
- Hosting the Leaders’ Summit
- Guiding institutional initiatives
BRICS – Formation & Evolution
- Origins (BRIC): Began with BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in 2006 on the sidelines of UNGA.
- First Summit: 2009, Yekaterinburg (Russia).
- BRICS created: South Africa joined in 2011.
- Expansion: Over recent summits, new members were added.
Current Membership
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia
Rotational System of BRICS Presidency
- Not decided by election — based on rotation, traditionally alphabetical.
- Tenure: 1 January to 31 December every year.
- Presiding country leads agenda-setting, coordination and summit organisation.
Institutional Setup
- BRICS has no permanent headquarters, functioning as an informal cooperation platform.
- New Development Bank (NDB) HQ: Shanghai, China.
