India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar officially launched its chairmanship of the BRICS for 2026, with a briefing given to representatives of the BRICS nations, business leaders, and others, in New Delhi on Jan. 13.
Jaishankar announced that India has chosen as the theme for its chairmanship, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” and wants a strong focus on putting “humanity first” and insisting on “a `people-centric’ approach.” India’s planning will shape the process, but in this period of revolutionary global upheaval, it would be foolish to predict what measures and steps the BRICS may end up adopting in response to this crisis in its efforts to ensure that humanity does indeed come first.
The year 2026 is the 20th anniversary of the founding of the BRICS, he noted, during which time “it has steadily evolved into a significant platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies.”
Jaishankar spoke of how, today, “the global environment presents complex and interlinked challenges,” and referenced “geopolitical uncertainties, complicated economic landscapes, climate-related risks, technological changes, and persistent development gaps continue to affect countries across regions.” Yet in this context, “BRICS remains an important forum that encourages dialogue and cooperation, and practical responses, taking into account national priorities and different stages of development....
“When the world is also navigating multiple complex challenges—the call for a reinvigorated, inclusive and effective multilateral order has never been more urgent,” he added. “BRICS must commit to a reformed multilateralism that reflects contemporary realities—one where institutions like the United Nations, the WTO, IMF, and World Bank are representative and inclusive.”
The agenda of BRICS meetings in 2026, and any public reports on decisions taken, will be available on the BRICS India 2026 website as the schedule is set.
