Delhi Schools To Remain Shut On September 11 Ahead Of BRICS Summit

The Delhi Directorate of Education has announced a holiday on Friday (September 11) for all its offices and schools across the national capital. The holiday will apply to government schools and recognised unaided private schools.

The decision has been taken in view of the BRICS Summit and the arrangements being made in the city ahead of the high-profile international event.

India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit from September 12 to September 13 as it assumes the grouping’s chairmanship. The Summit is significant as BRICS has emerged as an important platform for major emerging economies to discuss global economic and geopolitical issues, strengthen cooperation and push for greater representation of developing countries in international institutions.

The New Delhi gathering is expected to bring together leaders from BRICS member countries for discussions on issues including economic cooperation, trade, development, technology and global governance. It will also provide India with an opportunity to highlight its priorities and strengthen its engagement with emerging economies at a time of shifting global power dynamics.

What Is BRICS?

BRICS is a grouping of emerging and developing economies that coordinate on economic, political and diplomatic issues. It is not a military alliance, not a formal international organisation and not a treaty-based bloc. It has no permanent secretariat, constitutive treaty or independent budget. Decisions are generally taken through consensus, while the chairmanship rotates annually among members.

The central idea behind BRICS is to give countries of the Global South greater collective influence in global institutions and international decision-making.

The grouping seeks reforms in institutions such as the United Nations, IMF, World Bank and WTO, arguing that the post-World War II international system gives disproportionate influence to Western powers.

India’s 2026 Chairmanship

India’s 2026 chairmanship is especially significant because it comes at a time of major geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The Indian presidency is focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with an emphasis on practical outcomes.

BRICS is not yet an alternative world order, but it is one of the clearest signs that the countries of the Global South want a bigger say in shaping one.