India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” With BRICS now expanded to 11 members, India used its chairship to push the grouping towards more practical economic and technological cooperation.
Trade: Making BRICS More Connected
Trade emerged as one of India’s key priorities. India pushed for stronger intra-BRICS trade, resilient supply chains and fewer commercial barriers, particularly at a time when global trade is facing tariff pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
The broader objective is to make BRICS economies more interconnected while giving developing countries greater influence in global economic institutions. Discussions also focused on increasing the use of local currencies in trade, potentially reducing dependence on traditional cross-border financial channels.
Energy Security: Beyond Oil and Gas
Energy security was another major focus. BRICS members discussed cooperation around energy transitions, clean energy and critical minerals needed for technologies such as batteries, renewable power and electric mobility.
India also highlighted the risks of concentrating critical mineral supply chains. BRICS leaders called for reliable, diversified and resilient critical-mineral supply chains to support the global clean-energy transition.
This signals a broader shift in the energy agenda—from simply securing conventional energy supplies to securing the raw materials and technologies required for the energy systems of the future.
AI: Building Technology for the Global South
Artificial intelligence was placed at the centre of technology agenda. India pushed for responsible, inclusive and accessible AI, with an emphasis on ensuring that developing countries are not left behind in the global AI race.
The focus is not just on AI development but also on AI infrastructure, knowledge sharing, digital innovation and applications in areas such as agriculture and public services.
China also proposed a BRICS AI Open Source Zone, reflecting the growing importance of open and collaborative AI development within the expanded bloc.
Payments: Building Alternative Financial Connectivity
Cross-border payments were another important pillar. BRICS countries are exploring ways to make international settlements faster, cheaper and less dependent on existing financial systems, including through greater use of national currencies and interconnected payment infrastructure.
The objective is not simply to create an alternative to the dollar overnight, but to build more payment options and greater financial resilience for trade among economies.
What India’s BRICS 2026 Agenda Means
India’s approach shows that is moving beyond being primarily a geopolitical grouping. The focus is increasingly on practical economic cooperation—from trade corridors and energy security to AI, digital infrastructure, critical minerals and financial connectivity.
The real test, however, will be implementation. With 11 members having different economic interests and geopolitical priorities, converting summit-level commitments into working systems, investments and measurable outcomes will determine how influential BRICS becomes in the coming years.
