Harnessing BRICS ‘POWER’ to empower the world

GS-II: International Relations | BRICS | Global South | Multipolarity | Multilateralism | India–China Relations

Context

• 18th BRICS Summit: The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026.
• China’s Support: China has expressed full support for India’s BRICS presidency and stated its readiness to work with all BRICS members and partners to develop a blueprint for the high-quality development of a greater BRICS.
• BRICS POWER: Greater BRICS cooperation has been presented through five themes represented by the word POWER — Principle, Openness, Win-Win, Engine and Responsibility.
• Global Transformation: The world is witnessing accelerated transformation, deepening multipolarity, economic globalisation and the collective rise of the Global South.
• Geopolitical Challenges: Hegemonism, power politics and lingering geopolitical conflicts are creating new crises and challenges.

P — Principle

• UN Charter: BRICS should uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
• Sovereign Equality: It should safeguard the principle of sovereign equality.
• Non-Interference: Respect for non-interference in internal affairs should remain a basic norm of international relations.
• Peaceful Settlement: BRICS should support the peaceful settlement of disputes.
• Opposition to Hegemonism: BRICS should prevent the international system from sliding towards a “law of the jungle” where the strong dominate the weak.
• Global Vision: The article highlights the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and initiatives including the Global Security Initiative and Global Governance Initiative.

O — Openness

• Global Economic Situation: The world economy is facing a sluggish recovery accompanied by growing protectionism.
• Trade Barriers: Tariff barriers, decoupling and supply-chain disruptions are undermining the international economic and trade order.
• Economic Globalisation: Economic globalisation is presented as an inevitable trend of history.
• WTO-Centred Multilateralism: BRICS should uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.
• Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment: BRICS should safeguard basic WTO principles such as Most-Favoured-Nation treatment.
• Supply-Chain Cooperation: Greater cooperation is required in energy and mineral resources, infrastructure, industrial and supply chains.
• Open Global Economy: Greater openness can facilitate the sharing of opportunities and common development.

W — Win-Win

• Openness and Inclusiveness: BRICS should follow the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation.
• Development-Centred Agenda: Development should remain at the centre of the BRICS agenda.
• Sustainable Development Goals: BRICS should accelerate implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Post-2030 Development Agenda: Members should strengthen dialogue and build consensus on the formulation of the post-2030 global development agenda.
• Global South: Global South countries should participate in international cooperation as equals and share the fruits of development.

Economic and Financial Cooperation

• Macroeconomic Coordination: Strengthen BRICS coordination on macroeconomic policies.
• Trade and Investment: Adopt greater measures for trade and investment facilitation.
• Local Currencies: Promote cooperation in local currencies and cross-border payments.
• Financial Safety Net: Improve the financial safety net to enhance the ability to withstand external risks.
• Energy Security: Strengthen cooperation to address global energy-security challenges.
• Food Security: Build a more resilient and sustainable agriculture and food system.

E — Engine

• Population: BRICS countries account for nearly half of the world’s population.
• Economic Output: They account for around 30% of global economic output.
• Global Trade: They account for around one-fifth of global trade.
• Resource and Manufacturing Base: BRICS countries possess major natural resources, key manufacturing capabilities and vast markets.
• Growth Potential: According to the article, greater BRICS growth is expected to be nearly three times faster than the G7 by 2028.
• Global Growth Engine: These factors strengthen BRICS’s potential role as an engine of world economic growth.

Technology and New Industrialisation

• Business and Finance: Deepen practical cooperation in business and finance.
• Science and Technology: Strengthen cooperation in science and technology.
• Digital Economy: Promote greater cooperation in the digital economy.
• Smart Manufacturing: Develop cooperation in smart manufacturing and new industrialisation.
• Artificial Intelligence: Promote integration of AI with science and technology, health, agriculture and education.
• Institutional Platforms: The article refers to the China-BRICS AI Development and Cooperation Center and the China-BRICS New Quality Productive Forces Research Center.

R — Responsibility

• Fairness and Justice: BRICS countries are presented as an important force for safeguarding fairness and justice.
• Unity and Cooperation: They are described as a backbone of unity and cooperation.
• World Peace: BRICS should shoulder responsibility for maintaining world peace.
• Global Development: It should contribute to global development.
• Developing Countries: Greater BRICS cooperation should help safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

India–China Dimension

• Successive Presidencies: India and China will take on the BRICS rotating presidency in succession.
• Bilateral Coordination: Sound coordination between India and China is presented as conducive to the steady and sustained progress of greater BRICS cooperation.
• Improvement in Relations: Since the beginning of the year, China–India relations have maintained a momentum of improvement and development.
• Dialogue: Both sides have strengthened dialogue at all levels.
• Resumed Flights: Five direct flight routes between the Chinese mainland and India have been resumed.
• Border Trade: Border trade has reopened after a six-year suspension.
• Future Cooperation: China has expressed willingness to work with India to translate the consensus reached by the two leaders into concrete actions and promote sustained, healthy and stable China–India relations.

Significance

• Multipolar World: BRICS can contribute to the emerging trend of deepening multipolarity.
• Global South: It can strengthen the collective voice and participation of Global South countries.
• Economic Cooperation: Greater cooperation can support trade, investment, financial cooperation and resilient supply chains.
• Global Governance: BRICS can promote greater participation of developing countries in international cooperation.
• Development: Cooperation can support sustainable development, energy security and food security.
• Technology: Greater collaboration in AI, digital economy and smart manufacturing can provide new impetus to economic growth.

Challenges

• Protectionism: Growing protectionism can weaken international economic cooperation.
• Geopolitical Conflicts: Lingering conflicts can generate new crises and challenges.
• Trade Disruptions: Tariff barriers and decoupling can disrupt global trade and supply chains.
• External Risks: Greater economic integration requires stronger financial safety mechanisms.
• Coordination: Sustained cooperation among BRICS members requires greater coordination and consensus.

Way Forward

• Uphold International Principles: Strengthen commitment to the UN Charter, sovereign equality, non-interference and peaceful settlement of disputes.
• Protect Multilateral Trading System: Uphold the WTO-centred multilateral trading system and resist protectionism.
• Deepen Economic Cooperation: Strengthen cooperation in energy, minerals, infrastructure, trade, investment and supply chains.
• Enhance Financial Cooperation: Promote local currencies, cross-border payments and financial safety mechanisms.
• Focus on Development: Keep development and SDGs at the centre of BRICS cooperation.
• Promote Food and Energy Security: Build resilient and sustainable systems for food and energy security.
• Leverage Technology: Expand cooperation in AI, digital economy, smart manufacturing and new industrialisation.
• Strengthen Global South Cooperation: Ensure developing countries participate in international cooperation as equals.
• India–China Coordination: Maintain sound coordination between India and China for the steady and sustained progress of BRICS cooperation.

Conclusion

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi provides an important platform for greater cooperation among emerging economies at a time of deepening multipolarity, economic challenges and the collective rise of the Global South.

The POWER framework — Principle, Openness, Win-Win, Engine and Responsibility — emphasises the need to uphold international principles, defend an open global economy, pursue inclusive development, leverage BRICS’s economic and technological potential, and shoulder greater responsibility for global peace and development.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “BRICS can play an increasingly important role in shaping a multipolar world order and strengthening the voice of the Global South.” Discuss the principles, opportunities and challenges of greater BRICS cooperation. (250 words, 15 marks)