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UPSC Notes

BRICS

PYQs

11

Articles

3

Momentum

33

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

UPSC frequently examines the role and significance of multilateral groupings like BRICS in shaping international relations, global governance, and India's foreign policy objectives, including its stance on global conflicts.

BRICS is an acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It was formed to promote cooperation and development among its members and to address global economic and political issues, aiming to reform global governance structures.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Member Countries

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa

Formation

Initially BRIC (2006), South Africa joined in 2010

Key Initiatives

New Development Bank (NDB), Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)

Objectives

Economic cooperation, political dialogue, addressing global challenges, reforming global governance

Original Members

Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC, 2006); South Africa joined in 2010.

Recent Expansion (Jan 2024)

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran joined as full members.

Core Objectives

Promote economic cooperation, sustainable development, and a more inclusive global governance structure.

Global Significance

Represents a significant portion of the world's population and GDP, amplifying the voice of developing countries.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaGeopolitics & International Conflicts
Conceptual areaInternational Relations

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
BRICSIntergovernmental organization
New Development BankFinancial arm
New Development Bank (NDB)Financial arm
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Quick revision

  • Comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
  • Aims for economic, political, and cultural cooperation.
  • Established New Development Bank (NDB) and Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
  • India plays an active role, hosting summits and working groups.
  • Seeks to reform global governance structures.

High-confidence PYQs

2025Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a ful...

International RelationsOpen question

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

International RelationsOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a ful...

International RelationsOpen question

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

International RelationsOpen question
2024Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following pairs : Country | Reason for being in the news| |- | -| |1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis| |2. Sudan | War between the country's ...

International RelationsOpen question
2024Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

International RelationsOpen question

Consider the following pairs : Country | Reason for being in the news| |- | -| |1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis| |2. Sudan | War between the country's ...

International RelationsOpen question
2022Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

International RelationsOpen question
2018Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ...

International RelationsOpen question
2016Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

International RelationsOpen question
2015Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

International RelationsOpen question
2015Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

International RelationsOpen question
2015Factual recall, Terminology-based question

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

International RelationsOpen question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

International RelationsOpen question

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

International RelationsOpen question
2014Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009....

International RelationsOpen question

Topic timeline

Geopolitics & International ConflictsInternational Relations
Prelims 2014· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009....

Open question
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

Open question
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

Open question
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Terminology-based question

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

Open question

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

Open question

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

Open question
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

Open question
Prelims 2018· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

Open question
Prelims 2024· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

Open question

Consider the following pairs : Country | Reason for being in the news| |- | -| |1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis| |2. Sudan | War between the country's ...

Open question
Prelims 2024· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

Open question

Consider the following pairs : Country | Reason for being in the news| |- | -| |1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis| |2. Sudan | War between the country's ...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a ful...

Open question

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a ful...

Open question

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

Open question

India to Host the Second BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting in Hyderabad under Its BRICS Presidency

03 Aug 2026 · BRICS is a major intergovernmental organization of five emerging economies focused on economic, political, and cultural cooperation, aiming to create a more equitable global order.

Read article

Turning economic cooperation into shared prosperity

10 Sep 2026 · BRICS is a major grouping of emerging economies focused on economic cooperation and a multipolar world order, recently expanded to include more Global South nations, with India playing a significant role.

Read article

At BRICS, India’s task is to keep the Ukraine peace process moving

10 Sep 2026 · BRICS is a major emerging economies bloc aiming for a multipolar world, economic cooperation, and global governance reform, with India playing a key role in its deliberations on international issues.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

BRICS

Often confused with

Official Statistics and Data Governance

Open notesOften confused with

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Open notesOften confused with

India's Multilateral Diplomacy and Eurasian Engagement

Open notesOften confused with

New Development Bank (NDB)

Open notesOften confused with

India-China Bilateral Cooperation on Climate Change

Open notesOften confused with

Geopolitics of South America

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 11 linked questions on BRICS in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on BRICS

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009....

2014·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a ful...

2025·International Relations
Solve

India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation. 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations. 3. East Asia Summit Select t...

2015·International Relations
Solve

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. Ch...

2015·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following: 1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 2. Missile Technology Control Regime 3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member ...

2022·International Relations
Solve

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

2025·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ...

2018·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its p...

2024·International Relations
Solve

Consider the following pairs : Country | Reason for being in the news| |- | -| |1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis| |2. Sudan | War between the country's ...

2024·International Relations
Solve

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

2016·International Relations
Solve

The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

2015·International Relations
Solve

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