New Delhi, Sep 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed leaders of BRICS member and partner countries at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the venue for the 18th BRICS Summit being hosted by India.
As India assumes the BRICS Chairship for 2026, Modi warmly received Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other participating leaders.
The two-day summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, with discussions focused on strengthening cooperation among BRICS members and addressing major global and regional issues of mutual interest.
India's BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the theme reflects Prime Minister Modi's vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the principle of "Humanity First."
During the summit, leaders are expected to deliberate on ways to enhance intra-BRICS cooperation across shared priorities while exchanging perspectives on important international and regional developments.
The BRICS grouping currently comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The grouping's partner countries include Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The summit's proceedings will begin with a closed-door session for BRICS member countries on the theme "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism." The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation and making global governance more representative and effective.
The leaders will also participate in several engagements showcasing India's innovation and development capabilities. Later in the day, BRICS leaders are scheduled to visit the "Bharat Innovates Exhibition," highlighting innovative initiatives and technological developments.
A family photograph of the participating leaders and a tree plantation programme are also scheduled as part of the summit activities.
In the evening, Prime Minister Modi will host a dinner for the visiting leaders, providing an opportunity for further informal diplomatic engagement.
India is a founding member of BRICS and has previously chaired the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The country assumed its fourth BRICS Chairship on January 1, 2026.
The year is particularly significant for the grouping as BRICS marks 20 years since its establishment. Over the past two decades, the platform has expanded its membership and agenda, emerging as an important forum for cooperation among major emerging economies.
India's 2026 Chairship seeks to place greater emphasis on resilience, innovation, sustainability and cooperation, while advancing a people-centric approach to global economic and diplomatic engagement.
