The expanded BRICS grouping will turn its attention to technology, economic resilience and sustainable growth on Sunday as leaders begin the second and final day of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The talks come a day after the 11-member grouping unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the outcome as a reflection of a BRICS that is “wider in reach and stronger in purpose”.
The main open session on Sunday will bring leaders together at Bharat Mandapam to discuss the four priorities India has placed at the centre of its 2026 chairship — resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Titled ‘Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth’, the session is expected to examine areas of common interest and ways to deepen cooperation among BRICS members.
AI, fintech and digital infrastructure on BRICS agenda
Technology forms a key part of the innovation pillar of India’s BRICS presidency.
The agenda covers emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and fintech. It also envisages greater knowledge-sharing and technological cooperation among member countries.
Economic, social, and institutional resilience forms another part of the agenda. The focus includes preparing countries to deal with global uncertainties, supply-chain disruptions, health crises and climate-related risks.
Cooperation among members is centred on policy coordination, development finance, trade facilitation and engagement on reforms to multilateral governance.
Climate mitigation, green finance, energy transition, and sustainable development form the fourth pillar. The framework also seeks to account for the individual development priorities of member countries.
India PM Modi hails New Delhi Declaration
The second day’s deliberations follow Saturday’s adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
Modi said in posts on X that the declaration focuses on innovation, sustainability and people-to-people ties. The objective, he said, is to make cooperation “more practical, development-oriented and responsive to the aspirations of the BRICS nations”.
“I thank all the fellow BRICS nations and their leaders for its adoption,” the Indian Prime Minister said.
India assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1 under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’.
Expanded BRICS now has 11 members
BRICS now comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The grouping also has 10 partner countries — Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The 11 full members account for about 49.5 per cent of the world’s population, 40 per cent of global GDP, and 26 per cent of global trade.
Sunday’s discussions will bring the summit to a close after two days of deliberations under India’s chairship.
