What is BRICS?
BRICS is a group of major emerging economies. The acronym originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, who formed the bloc in 2006. South Africa joined in 2010. In recent years, the group has expanded significantly, welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia,
Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia also became a member in 2025. Today, the 11-member bloc represents nearly half of the world's population and a significant portion of the global economy, giving it considerable collective influence. Its stated goals are to increase cooperation among members and to advocate for a more equitable and representative global order, including reforms of institutions like the UN Security Council, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.
An Engine for Economic Growth and Development
A primary reason BRICS is important for India is economics. The bloc provides a platform for boosting trade and investment with member nations. A key achievement is the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai. The NDB mobilises resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in member countries, offering a crucial alternative to Western-dominated financial institutions like the World Bank. For India, this has translated into tangible benefits, with the NDB funding projects in areas like renewable energy. The bloc is also exploring ways to use national currencies for trade settlements, which could help insulate economies like India's from US dollar volatility and the impact of unilateral sanctions.
A Platform for Strategic Autonomy
In a world of complex alliances, BRICS is a cornerstone of India's policy of 'strategic autonomy'. The platform allows New Delhi to engage with a diverse set of major powers, including both Russia and China, while simultaneously maintaining strong partnerships with the United States and Europe. This ability to be a member of BRICS and the Quad, for example, gives India flexibility and prevents it from being locked into any single camp. It amplifies India’s voice on the global stage, allowing it to champion the interests of the Global South and push for a multipolar world order, where power is more evenly distributed rather than being concentrated in the West.
Navigating the China Challenge
The relationship with China is one of the most complex aspects of India's BRICS membership. While the two nations are partners in the bloc, they are also strategic competitors with unresolved border disputes. This dynamic presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The BRICS forum provides a crucial institutional setting for regular dialogue between Indian and Chinese leadership, which can help manage tensions. However, India remains cautious of China's growing influence within the group and works to ensure the bloc's agenda is not dominated by Beijing's strategic priorities. New Delhi often seeks to build consensus with other members like Brazil and South Africa to balance China's weight and ensure decisions are made collectively.
A 'Non-Western' not 'Anti-Western' Stance
A key challenge for India is managing the bloc's identity. Some members, like Russia and China, often frame BRICS as a direct counterweight to the West. India, however, prefers to characterize the group as 'non-Western' rather than 'anti-Western'. With strong and growing strategic partnerships with the US, Europe, and Japan, India has little interest in turning BRICS into an explicitly anti-Western coalition. Instead, India's goal is to steer the group towards a constructive agenda focused on practical cooperation on development, energy security, and trade, acting as a bridge between geopolitical camps rather than deepening divisions.
