The first BRICS Sherpa Meeting began in New Delhi on 10 February 2026

Current Context: India hosted the first BRICS Sherpa Meeting on 9–10 February 2026 in New Delhi, chaired by Sudhakar Dalela.

• This marked the start of India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship, laying the groundwork for the 18th Summit later this year.
• With the recent expansion, BRICS now has 11 members, making this the first test of “BRICS 2.0.”
• The theme adopted was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
• Discussions covered people‑centric ties, digital public infrastructure (UPI model), counter‑terrorism, ICT security, and institutional reforms with the NDB.
• India also showcased soft power diplomacy through cultural visits to the National Crafts Museum and Akshardham Temple, highlighting heritage alongside strategy.

Question:

Q.1 Who chaired the first BRICS Sherpa Meeting held in New Delhi in February 2026?
a) S. Jaishankar
b) Ajit Doval
c) Sudhakar Dalela
d) Amitabh Kant

Answer: c) Sudhakar Dalela served as India’s BRICS Sherpa and chaired the meeting.