India’s BRICS 2026 Chairmanship: Shaping a Resilient and Inclusive Global Order
- MGMMTeam
- Jan 14
- 4 min read
As India prepares to assume the chairmanship of BRICS in 2026, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has articulated a forward-looking vision that reflects both the evolving global order and the aspirations of the Global South. Speaking at the unveiling of the official BRICS 2026 logo, theme, and website in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized that India’s leadership comes at a moment marked by geopolitical uncertainty, economic stress, and growing demands for reform in international governance structures. India’s approach, he noted, will focus on delivering practical outcomes while strengthening multilateral cooperation among emerging economies.
The Symbolism and Theme of BRICS 2026
The BRICS 2026 logo and theme encapsulate India’s civilizational ethos and diplomatic priorities. Inspired by the lotus, the emblem represents resilience, growth, and harmony, while incorporating the national colours of BRICS member states to symbolize unity amid diversity. The theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflects India’s intent to guide the grouping toward solutions that are durable, inclusive, and people-centric. Together, the logo and theme signal continuity with BRICS’ founding principles while adapting them to contemporary global challenges.
Resilience as a Foundation for Collective Strength
A central pillar of India’s BRICS agenda is resilience, particularly in the face of global shocks that have exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains, health systems, and energy security. India has underscored the need for stronger institutional capacities across critical sectors such as agriculture, public health, disaster management, and energy. By fostering cooperation in these areas, BRICS aims to enhance the collective ability of member nations to respond to crises while safeguarding long-term development goals.
Innovation Driving Inclusive Growth
Innovation forms another key dimension of India’s chairmanship, with a focus on leveraging technology for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. India has highlighted the importance of collaboration in emerging technologies, digital public infrastructure, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Special emphasis has been placed on startups and micro, small, and medium enterprises, which are seen as engines of employment and grassroots economic transformation across BRICS countries. Through knowledge-sharing and joint initiatives, India seeks to ensure that technological progress benefits societies broadly rather than deepening global inequalities.
Strengthening Cooperation Across Sectors
India’s vision for BRICS 2026 places strong emphasis on deepening cooperation beyond economics to include political coordination, cultural engagement, and people-to-people exchanges. Jaishankar has stressed that BRICS must function as a platform where diverse perspectives converge to find common ground on global and regional issues. Enhanced cooperation is expected to strengthen trust among member states while reinforcing BRICS as a stabilizing force in an increasingly fragmented international environment.
Sustainability and Climate Responsibility
Sustainability remains integral to India’s agenda, particularly as climate change poses disproportionate risks to developing nations. India has called for coordinated climate action, accelerated clean energy transitions, and sustainable development pathways that respect national priorities. By integrating sustainability into economic planning and financial cooperation, BRICS seeks to align growth ambitions with environmental responsibility, ensuring long-term prosperity for future generations.
Advocating Reform in Global Governance
A recurring theme in India’s articulation of its BRICS priorities is the urgent need for reform in global institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. India has argued that these bodies must become more representative and responsive to present-day realities, particularly the voices of emerging economies. Under India’s chairmanship, BRICS is expected to amplify calls for a more balanced and equitable multilateral order that reflects the shifting distribution of global power.
The Role of the New Development Bank
India has also reiterated the importance of the New Development Bank as a critical instrument for financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other developing countries. Strengthening the bank’s operational efficiency and expanding its impact are seen as essential to supporting resilience, green growth, and economic transformation across the Global South.
The MGMM Outlook
India’s assumption of the BRICS 2026 chairmanship marks a significant moment as global politics and economics undergo rapid shifts. The vision articulated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reflects an intent to position BRICS as a practical and outcome-oriented platform for emerging economies, especially the Global South. The emphasis on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability highlights India’s attempt to address real vulnerabilities exposed by recent global crises, including supply chain disruptions, health emergencies, and energy insecurity. By aligning the BRICS agenda with people-centric development, institutional strengthening, and inclusive growth, India seeks to ensure that the grouping remains relevant amid increasing geopolitical fragmentation.
Equally important is India’s focus on reforming global governance and strengthening mechanisms like the New Development Bank to better serve developing nations. The push for innovation-led growth, digital public infrastructure, climate responsibility, and deeper cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres underscores a broader ambition to make BRICS a stabilizing and constructive force in international affairs. Through this approach, BRICS is being positioned not merely as an economic bloc, but as a collective voice advocating fairness, representation, and sustainable development in a global order that increasingly demands balance and equity.
(Sources: Hindustan Times, Financial Express, New Indian Express)