Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend BRICS summit in New Delhi in September

The BRICS summit in New Delhi serves as a crucial platform for multipolar diplomacy, especially amid ongoing global geopolitical tensions involving Russia and the West. President Putin's attendance underscores Russia's strategic reliance on BRICS to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation following the Ukraine conflict. The planned bilateral meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping on the sidelines is particularly significant, as it reflects the deepening Sino-Russian strategic partnership, which has profound implications for global security dynamics and the balance of power. For India, hosting these leaders requires careful diplomatic maneuvering to balance its strong ties with the US and its historical partnership with Russia, a concept known as strategic autonomy. UPSC candidates should analyze how BRICS is evolving from an economic bloc into a geopolitical counterweight to Western-led institutions like the G7.

The economic significance of BRICS has grown substantially with its recent expansion, a process often referred to as BRICS Plus. Originally a coalition of five major emerging economies, the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025, has transformed the bloc. It now represents approximately 49.5% of the global population, 40% of the global GDP, and 26% of global trade. This expansion enhances the bloc's collective bargaining power in international economic forums and bolsters its efforts to promote alternatives to the US dollar in international trade, a process known as de-dollarization. The New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS, is increasingly positioned as an alternative to traditional Bretton Woods institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). UPSC Mains questions frequently explore the potential of expanded BRICS to reshape global economic governance and the challenges it faces, such as internal economic disparities among member states.

India's role as the chair of the BRICS summit highlights its position as a key player in South-South cooperation (collaboration among developing nations). By hosting the summit, India reinforces its commitment to advocating for the interests of the Global South, emphasizing issues such as equitable climate finance, technology transfer, and reform of multilateral institutions like the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, India must also manage the complex internal dynamics of BRICS, particularly the ongoing border tensions and strategic competition with China. Ensure you understand how India balances its participation in BRICS with its involvement in other groupings like the Quad, reflecting its strategy of multi-alignment. The summit's outcomes will be a test of India's diplomatic capacity to forge consensus among diverse and sometimes competing interests within the expanded bloc.