BRICS Grouping and India's Role
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Essential for understanding India's multilateral foreign policy, its engagement with emerging economies, and its strategy to navigate a changing global power dynamic. India's chairship signifies its leadership role within the grouping and its efforts to shape global narratives.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, formed to promote cooperation among its member states and influence global governance. It represents a significant portion of the world's population and economic output, aiming to create a more multipolar world order.
Facts & tables
- Formation
- Initially formed as BRIC in 2009; South Africa joined in 2010.
- Key Initiatives
- Includes the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
- Objectives
- Focuses on economic cooperation, trade, investment, and political dialogue.
- India's Chairship
- India will hold the BRICS Chairship in 2026, highlighting its leadership role.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| New Development Bank (NDB) | Financial arm |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
- Aims for economic cooperation, global governance reform.
- New Development Bank (NDB) is a key institution.
- India to hold Chairship in 2026.
- Represents emerging economies' collective voice.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2016 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2014 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2016
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prime Minister shares an article on India seeking to place the Global South at the centre of global energy future
BRICS is a major grouping of emerging economies, with India playing a crucial role in its objectives of economic cooperation and global governance reform, highlighted by its upcoming chairship in 2026.
See also
Past papers
2014–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Prime Minister shares an article on India seeking to place the Global South at the centre of global energy future
BRICS is a major grouping of emerging economies, with India playing a crucial role in its objectives of economic cooperation and global governance reform, highlighted by its upcoming chairship in 2026.
Try these PYQs
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.
2. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: The first BRIC Summit (before South Africa joined) was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009 — not in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The grouping originally included Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC). Statement 2 is correct: South Africa joined the group in 2011, turning BRIC into BRICS. It was indeed the last country to join the grouping, representing the African continent.
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 full member of BRICS.
III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
*The 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024 under Russia’s chairship. Russia held the rotating presidency in 2024, and the summit took place from October 22-24 in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*Indonesia became a full member of BRICS in January 2025, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation and the 10th member of the bloc.* ❌ Statement III: Incorrect
*The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit is "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." The statement used "Multiculturalism" instead of "Multilateralism," making it incorrect for this question.* Therefore, only statements I and II are correct.
Consider the following:
1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India is a member of which of the above?
India is a member of all the Organizations mentioned. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: SCO has 10 full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (founding members), India, Pakistan (joined 2017), Iran (joined 2023), and Belarus (joined 2024). Missile Technology Control Regime: India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on June 27, 2016, becoming the 35th partner country and strengthening international efforts to prevent the spread of missile technology. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: India joined the AIIB as a founding member in 2015, signing the Articles of Agreement on June 29, 2015, in Beijing, becoming one of the 50 initial signatories to establish the multilateral development bank. India is the second-largest shareholder in the AIIB after China.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
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 the correct answer using the code given below.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): India is not a member of APEC. Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN): India is not a member of ASEAN, but it is a part of ASEAN6. East Asia Summit: India is a member of the East Asia Summit. Therefore, out of the given options, India is only a member of the East Asia Summit.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, originally (and still colloquially) known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iran. Its member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution. Hence, option A is the correct answer.
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.