The two-day BRICS summit in New Delhi, set to kick-off Saturday, will focus on strengthening cooperation in food and energy security, health, disaster resilience and critical supply chains, as member countries seek to build greater resilience amid a fragmented geopolitical environment.The summit, hosted by India under its 2026 chairship, will also cover trade, investment, connectivity and technology, while leaders are expected to exchange views on major global and regional developments.
Agenda
Building resilienceUnder India’s resilience pillar, leaders will discuss cooperation in areas including health, agriculture, food and energy security, disaster-risk reduction and critical supply chains. The discussions come against the backdrop of disruptions caused by geopolitical conflicts and growing concerns over the resilience of global supply networks.Trade, investment and technologyStrengthening intra-BRICS trade and investment, improving connectivity and expanding cooperation in high technology will also be among the key economic priorities. India has placed these areas at the centre of its broader effort to deepen cooperation among emerging economies.Global governanceThe summit will also focus on strengthening multilateralism and making global governance more inclusive. The first closed-door session on Saturday is titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”Global and regional issuesLeaders will exchange views on global and regional developments and discuss areas of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.Sunday’s main sessionThe main open session on Sunday is titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.” The summit will culminate with the release of the New Delhi Declaration.
BRICS summit schedule
Saturday (September 12)2:35 pm: Closed-door session for BRICS member countries on “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism”.4:25 pm: Leaders will tour the Bharat Innovates Exhibition.5:05 pm: Leaders will assemble at Bharat Mandapam for the family photo, followed by a joint tree-planting ceremony.7:30 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a gala dinner for the leaders.Sunday (September 13)9:55 am: Leaders from BRICS member countries, partner nations and outreach invitees will begin arriving.10:35 am: Official group photo.10:50 am: Open session on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”.The summit will conclude with the release of the New Delhi Declaration.
Who is attending?
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are among the leaders expected to attend the summit, reported PTI.The summit comes against the backdrop of the global economy facing disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis, including concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, and the trade and tariff policies of the Trump administration.With the grouping operating on consensus, questions also remain over whether members will agree on a joint statement, particularly amid differences between Iran and the UAE over the West Asia crisis.BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The group expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, while Indonesia joined in 2025.Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries in 2025.The grouping now has 11 member countries, representing around 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade, according to the Indian government.India assumed its fourth BRICS chairship on January 1 this year having previously chaired the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
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India’s chairship is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with a stated focus on a people-centric approach rooted in the principle of “humanity first”.Under India’s chairship, more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements have been held across more than 25 cities, covering the grouping’s three broad pillars: political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
