18th BRICS Summit 2026 and the New Delhi Declaration

#GS-2 #GS-3 #International Relations #Global Governance #Economy #Terrorism #BRICS

Key takeaways

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026 in New Delhi, adopting the 140-point New Delhi Declaration focused on reformed multilateralism.
The expanded 11-member BRICS bloc represents 49.5% of global population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade.
Member nations agreed to launch the BRICS Grain Exchange by 2027 and establish a BRICS Risk Lab at GIFT City, Gujarat.
The declaration called for urgent reforms in the UN Security Council and IMF, while urging adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit (2026) in New Delhi under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
The summit marked the 20th anniversary of BRICS and concluded with the unanimous adoption of the 140-point New Delhi Declaration.
Under India's Chairship, over 400 meetings took place across 30 Indian cities to drive progress across political, economic, and cultural pillars.
The declaration focused on converting the expanded membership into practical outcomes including local currency payments, digital public infrastructure, and resilient supply chains.

The summit mandated the BRICS Payment Task Force (BPTF) to enhance interoperability of payment systems for settlements using local currencies.
BRICS leaders endorsed India's proposal to establish a BRICS Risk Lab at GIFT City, Gujarat to build a self-reliant reinsurance ecosystem.
Member nations welcomed the Jaipur Consensus to explore an Invoice Discounting Mechanism for helping MSMEs access working capital.
The bloc approved treaty amendments for the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and initiated its 9th Test Run to provide liquidity support independent of the IMF.
BRICS launched the BRICS Tax Cross-Learning Lab and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Action Plan 2026 to fight illicit financial flows.
The BRICS-NDB Knowledge Portal was launched to de-risk infrastructure projects and attract private institutional capital.
Leaders proposed the creation of the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to finance early-stage business ventures.

The bloc expanded the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation and drafted terms for establishing the BRICS Space Council.
BRICS approved a BRICS DPI Repository to share open-source digital public goods such as digital identity and payment systems.
Member states adopted an Action Plan for the Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network (GRAIN) to pool resources for megascience projects.
The summit ordered a feasibility study for a direct high-speed submarine communication network to ensure secure data connectivity.
BRICS established the Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and launched the BRICS Incubator Network to support innovation.

BRICS aims to officially launch the BRICS Grain Exchange by 2027 to reduce price volatility and facilitate intra-bloc trade.
Member countries created BRICS AGRIN as a collaborative framework to share seeds, germplasm, and agricultural inputs.
India showcased local produce by serving Himalayan Gucchi mushrooms and Koraput coffee from Odisha during summit events.
The declaration supported the Global Forum on Farmers Rights in Seed Systems to protect traditional agricultural knowledge.
Leaders established a network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture to promote sustainable farming.
The BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture was formed to spread technological solutions across farming, fisheries, and forestry.

The summit endorsed the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle along with a Joint Roadmap running from 2026 to 2029.
BRICS established a Training Hub Network led by NIMHANS in India to improve mental health and well-being.
The BRICS BioDesign Centre, spearheaded by the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ), was launched to foster healthcare innovation.

BRICS nations agreed on the BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework to strengthen transport logistics resilience.
The bloc adopted the GVC Action Plan 2026-2030 to diversify global value chains and increase market openness.
Member states launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Forum and created the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub.
Leaders adopted greening principles and wildfire preparedness plans to tackle desertification and protect carbon sinks.

The declaration strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, mentioning the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and the April 22, 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
BRICS urged the immediate adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
Anti-drug agencies adopted the Guwahati Declaration to improve counter-narcotics coordination among member states.
The bloc established a repository for tracing fugitive offenders to deny safe havens to economic criminals.
Leaders welcomed BRICS CONNECT to protect gig workers and promote cross-border social security portability.

BRICS supported the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration to give African countries permanent representation in the UN Security Council.
Permanent members China and Russia reiterated support for the aspirations of India and Brazil in the UN system.
The declaration noted that no woman has served as UN Secretary-General and called for fair geographical representation in global bodies.
BRICS urged IMF quota revisions under the 17th General Review of Quotas based on the Diriyah Guiding Principles.
The bloc demanded the restoration of the two-tier WTO dispute settlement mechanism and opposed unilateral trade measures like CBAM.
BRICS supported the WTO accession bids of Ethiopia and Iran, while confirming China as host for the 19th BRICS Summit in 2027.
India proposed a 10-point roadmap for global governance reform based on the 3Rs framework: Representation, Responsiveness, and Rule-making.

BRICS expressed severe concern over Gaza, reaffirming commitment to an independent State of Palestine within 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital.
The declaration opposed forced Palestinian displacement and demanded unhindered humanitarian access for UNRWA.
Leaders welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, called for strict compliance with UNSC Resolution 1701, and condemned attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers.
BRICS condemned attacks on peaceful civilian nuclear facilities operating under IAEA safeguards.
The bloc backed African Union peace efforts in Sudan, urged foreign force withdrawal from Syria, and called for an end to the blockade against Cuba.

During the 2012 Summit, India proposed creating the New Development Bank (NDB) and laid the groundwork for the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
At the 2016 Goa Summit, India operationalized the NDB and hosted the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit to strengthen regional integration.
In the 2021 Virtual Summit, India led the adoption of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan and launched the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center.

The term BRIC was created by Goldman Sachs in 2001, formalized as a group in 2006, and became BRICS when South Africa joined in 2010.
The expanded 11 full members represent 49.5% of the global population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade.
In 2025, the bloc added 10 Partner Countries including Belarus, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam to expand South-South cooperation.
The presidency rotates annually on January 1st, and member states are currently discussing a new rotation formula following recent expansion.