External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met visiting BRICS 2026 Sherpas and country representatives in New Delhi, reaffirming India’s commitment to steering the grouping toward a more inclusive, resilient, and development-focused agenda during its chairship.

During the interaction, Jaishankar welcomed inputs from various delegations and underscored the importance of collective decision-making as BRICS marks two decades of its existence. He described the bloc as a “valuable forum” for consultation, coordination, and cooperation on global challenges affecting the Global South.

“BRICS stands as a significant platform for international engagement, carrying forward a people-centric agenda that prioritizes development, equity, and shared prosperity,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

He further noted that suggestions from member states would help shape BRICS 2026 priorities centered on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability — themes aligned with India’s broader multilateral vision.

Last month, Jaishankar formally launched the official BRICS 2026 website, theme, and logo in New Delhi, marking the beginning of India’s year-long presidency. Union Ministers of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Kirti Vardhan Singh were also present at the unveiling.

The BRICS grouping now comprises 11 major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia — representing a significant share of the world’s population, energy resources, and economic growth.

India’s BRICS logo blends tradition with modernity: colorful petals symbolize unity among member states, while the central “Namaste” gesture reflects India’s ethos of respect, harmony, and partnership.

The visual identity also highlights BRICS’ three foundational pillars — Political and Security Cooperation, Economic and Financial Partnership, and People-to-People Exchanges — reinforcing the bloc’s commitment to dialogue, inclusivity, and sustainable development.

The newly launched website serves as a centralized hub for updates on BRICS initiatives, meetings, and major events planned under India’s presidency, including preparations for the 18th BRICS Summit.

India’s chairship theme — “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” — reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “humanity-first” approach articulated at the 2025 Rio Summit.

BRICS was originally formalized as BRIC in 2006 at the UN General Assembly in New York, with its first summit held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, transforming the bloc into BRICS. Further expansion followed in 2024–25 with new full and partner members.

As India leads BRICS in 2026, Tuesday’s engagement signals a collaborative and forward-looking agenda aimed at strengthening the Global South’s voice in global governance.