The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi is expected to put India's priorities for a more representative, technology-driven and development-focused global order at the centre of discussions as leaders of the expanded grouping meet on September 12 and 13.

India, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, is seeking to use the summit to advance cooperation on trade, technology, sustainable development and the interests of the Global South. However, the final outcomes will depend on negotiations among an increasingly diverse membership, with differences emerging over geopolitical issues and the direction of the bloc.

A common Delhi Declaration

One of the most important expected outcomes is a joint leaders' declaration reflecting consensus among BRICS members.

Preparatory negotiations have already focused on resolving differences over sensitive geopolitical issues, including references to conflicts in West Asia. BRICS Sherpas have been working to reconcile differing positions, including between Iran and the UAE, before the summit. 

A consensus declaration would demonstrate that the expanded BRICS can maintain a common platform despite differences among its members.

Greater focus on Global South

India is expected to push the bloc towards a stronger focus on the concerns of developing and emerging economies.

Issues such as development finance, food and energy security, climate action, resilient supply chains and greater representation in global institutions are likely to feature prominently.

India's approach has been to position BRICS as a platform for practical cooperation rather than simply as a counterweight to Western institutions. Analysts have highlighted the need for the grouping to pursue economic and developmental objectives while managing its internal differences.

Technology and artificial intelligence

Technology cooperation is expected to emerge as another major area of the summit.

India has been advocating greater collaboration among BRICS countries in artificial intelligence, advanced computing, quantum technologies and semiconductor-related research. The objective is to build stronger technological capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities in critical technology supply chains. 

Digital public infrastructure, startups, scientific research and innovation are also gaining importance within India's BRICS agenda.

The technology push could result in proposals for deeper research partnerships, innovation networks and greater cooperation between governments, businesses and research institutions.

Trade and economic cooperation

Economic cooperation is likely to remain at the heart of India's BRICS presidency.

Earlier ministerial meetings under India's chairship have already produced initiatives aimed at strengthening trade, supporting MSMEs and improving access to finance. BRICS trade ministers also advanced work on the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030 and discussed more resilient and diversified global value chains. 

India could seek further progress on reducing trade barriers, increasing trade in services and strengthening supply-chain resilience among member economies.

Financial crime cooperation

Another potentially significant Indian initiative is greater cooperation against economic offenders.

India is reportedly preparing to propose a framework for faster tracking of economic fugitives across BRICS countries by improving the exchange of financial and investigative information. Such cooperation could strengthen efforts to prevent offenders from using international borders to evade investigation or prosecution. 

If adopted, the initiative could become a practical law-enforcement outcome of the summit.

Reform of global institutions

India is also expected to continue advocating reforms in institutions such as the United Nations and international financial architecture.

New Delhi has consistently argued that emerging economies and developing countries should have a greater voice in global decision-making. BRICS provides India with a platform to push this argument collectively while maintaining its broader policy of strategic autonomy.

The challenge will be converting broad political support into specific institutional proposals acceptable to the expanded grouping.

Managing differences within BRICS

The summit will also test whether the enlarged BRICS can remain cohesive.

The grouping now brings together countries with different economic models, foreign-policy priorities and relationships with the United States and other major powers. Analysts have identified the expansion of the bloc and the need to preserve institutional coherence as major challenges for India's presidency. 

Differences over geopolitical conflicts could therefore prove as important as areas of agreement.

What India will seek to demonstrate

For India, the summit represents an opportunity to demonstrate that BRICS can function as a practical platform for cooperation among emerging economies rather than becoming defined primarily by geopolitical confrontation.

The expected focus on technology, trade, development, innovation and Global South representation fits India's stated presidency theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” 

The ultimate measure of the summit, however, will be whether declarations translate into implementable initiatives. A consensus declaration, stronger economic cooperation, technology partnerships and concrete mechanisms for development and financial cooperation would give India's BRICS presidency tangible outcomes.

With the summit only days away, negotiations over the final declaration remain crucial. The New Delhi meeting is therefore likely to be as much a test of BRICS' ability to manage internal differences as it is an opportunity for India to shape the bloc's future direction.

India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship is set to reach its most important stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting the expanded 11-member BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

The summit at Bharat Mandapam comes as the grouping seeks to define its role after expansion and as India pushes a more practical agenda focused on economic cooperation, technology, security, sustainable development and a stronger voice for the Global South. The summit is expected to bring discussions on trade, finance, energy security and reform of global institutions to the forefront. 

India’s BRICS chairship enters crucial phase

India assumed the BRICS chairship at the beginning of 2026 and has sought to use the presidency to promote practical cooperation among member countries.

The government has framed the chairship around “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with a people-centric approach. The agenda has been reflected in a series of ministerial and sectoral meetings held across India during the year. 

The New Delhi summit will provide the political-level platform for bringing together the priorities developed through those engagements.

Expanded 11-member BRICS

The Delhi meeting will be the first BRICS leaders’ summit hosted by India since the grouping expanded to 11 members.

The enlarged grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, along with Saudi Arabia's position within the expanded BRICS framework being subject to differing descriptions in international reporting.

The expansion has increased BRICS' economic and geopolitical weight but has also made consensus more complicated because members have different foreign-policy priorities and relationships with major global powers.

For India, managing these differences while maintaining a workable agenda will be one of the central tests of its chairmanship.

Trade and economic cooperation on agenda

Economic cooperation is expected to remain a major pillar of the summit.

India has already secured progress during its chairship on the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030 and initiatives aimed at strengthening trade, services and resilient global value chains.

At the BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur in August, members also agreed on guiding principles aimed at improving MSME access to credit and addressing trade-finance gaps. 

The summit could build on these discussions and seek stronger cooperation among member economies at a time of changing global supply chains and continuing trade tensions.

Technology and innovation gain importance

Technology is another area where India is seeking deeper BRICS cooperation.

New Delhi has emphasised collaboration in emerging technologies, digital infrastructure and innovation while also highlighting the need to address common challenges such as cybersecurity.

During a June meeting with BRICS national security advisers and senior security officials, PM Modi said the grouping had an important role in cooperation on terrorism, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. 

These priorities are expected to feed into the broader leaders’ discussions.

Global South and global governance

India is also expected to use the summit to strengthen the BRICS platform as a voice for developing and emerging economies.

New Delhi has consistently advocated greater representation for developing countries in international institutions and a more inclusive global governance structure.

The challenge for India will be to turn broad agreement on reform into practical proposals acceptable to an expanded grouping whose members do not always share the same geopolitical priorities.

Security cooperation remains significant

Security is another important component of India's BRICS agenda.

The country has sought greater cooperation against terrorism, cyber threats and other emerging security challenges. The June meeting of BRICS national security advisers was part of this broader effort to strengthen institutional cooperation among member countries. 

However, geopolitical differences within the expanded group could make consensus on sensitive security and international issues more difficult.

India builds BRICS cooperation beyond diplomacy

India's chairmanship has extended beyond traditional political and economic discussions.

The BRICS Urbanisation Forum held in New Delhi in June focused on inclusive and resilient urban development, while the Youth and Sports meetings in Visakhapatnam addressed cooperation in youth development, sports technology and manufacturing. 

The BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Bhopal also concluded with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration, creating a framework for deeper cultural cooperation among member and partner countries. 

These sectoral initiatives form part of India's attempt to make BRICS cooperation broader and more directly connected to development priorities.

Delhi summit will test India's diplomatic strategy

The September summit will ultimately test whether India can turn its chairmanship theme into concrete outcomes while holding together an increasingly diverse grouping.

The expanded BRICS has greater economic and diplomatic reach, but its members differ significantly on global conflicts, trade policy and relations with Western powers. India has therefore sought to position the grouping around practical cooperation rather than allowing it to become defined solely by geopolitical rivalry.

With PM Modi hosting leaders in New Delhi, India's central task will be to demonstrate that an expanded BRICS can still produce consensus and implementable initiatives.

The summit is consequently important not only for India's year-long chairmanship but also for determining how the enlarged BRICS positions itself in the evolving global economic and diplomatic order.