What key issues of the BRICS Summit to be held in New Delhi in September? | Explained

The BRICS Summit 2025 in New Delhi represents a watershed moment in India's diplomatic trajectory, marking the first summit of the expanded BRICS grouping under Indian chairmanship. To understand its significance, we must trace the evolution of BRICS from its inception as BRIC — a term coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 — to its formalization in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, followed by South Africa's entry in 2010. The 2024 Kazan Summit under Russian presidency was historic, admitting Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia as full members from January 1, 2025, effectively doubling the bloc's membership and transforming it into a 10-nation coalition representing nearly half the world's population and over 35% of global GDP (PPP). India's assumption of the BRICS chairmanship for 2025, culminating in the September summit in New Delhi, positions the country at the helm of this expanded platform. The theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' (BRICS) is not merely a clever acronym but a strategic framework addressing four critical pillars: economic resilience against supply chain disruptions and financial volatility; technological innovation through digital public infrastructure (DPI) sharing — where India's UPI, Aadhaar, and CoWIN models offer replicable templates; South-South cooperation amplifying Global South voices in forums like G20, UN, and WTO; and sustainability alignment with SDGs and climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Key stakeholders extend beyond the ten member states. The New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai with India's K.V. Kamath as its first president (2015-2020), plays a pivotal role in financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects without Western conditionalities. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), a $100 billion liquidity buffer, gains renewed relevance amid global financial tightening. For India, the summit advances multiple strategic objectives: deepening ties with Global South partners (especially African nations like Egypt and Ethiopia), balancing relations with Russia and China within a non-Western framework, showcasing digital public infrastructure as a development export, and championing reformed multilateralism — a consistent Indian demand since the 1990s for UN Security Council reform and greater representation in IMF/World Bank governance. Constitutionally, Article 51 of the Directive Principles of State Policy mandates the State to "promote international peace and security," "maintain just and honourable relations between nations," and "foster respect for international law and treaty obligations." India's BRICS leadership operationalizes this constitutional vision. The summit also aligns with India's 'Neighbourhood First,' 'Act East,' and 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policies. Economically, enhanced intra-BRICS trade in local currencies — reducing dollar dependence — supports the RBI's framework for internationalization of the rupee. Politically, hosting the summit projects India as a 'Vishwa Mitra' (friend of the world) and a bridge between competing power centers. Future implications are profound. The 2025 summit will likely institutionalize BRICS+ outreach mechanisms, expand NDB lending in local currencies, advance a BRICS payment system alternative to SWIFT, and coordinate positions ahead of COP30 (Brazil, 2025) and the UNGA. For aspirants, this summit encapsulates the dynamic interplay of multilateral diplomacy, economic statecraft, and India's quest for strategic autonomy in a multipolar world — a core theme across UPSC GS Paper II, Essay, and International Relations optional.