Current Context: India will host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on 12–13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the summit, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs under India’s BRICS presidency.
- The theme, Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, reflects India’s plan to make BRICS more practical and development-focused. Leaders will discuss global economic uncertainty, trade barriers, conflicts, climate change and reforms in institutions such as the UN, IMF and World Bank.
- India assumed the BRICS chairship from Brazil on 1 January 2026.
- India wants BRICS countries to cooperate in trade, investment, digital payments, artificial intelligence, healthcare, agriculture and energy security.
- Proposed initiatives include a BRICS digital public infrastructure repository and stronger cooperation among start-ups and MSMEs.
- India will push for resilient supply chains and easier access to development finance.
- The New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai, finances infrastructure and sustainable-development projects in member countries.
- India will seek stronger representation for the Global South in international decision-making institutions.
- The summit will bring together leaders from BRICS member countries and representatives of partner countries.
- Brazil hosted the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
Question:
Q1. Who will chair the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September 2026?a) President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
b) Chinese President Xi Jinping
c) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
d) New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff
Answer: c) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit because India holds the rotating BRICS presidency for 2026.
