BRICS 2026: What India’s New Delhi Declaration Means for Global Trade, Technology and the Global South

India's 2026 BRICS chairship ended with an outcome that goes beyond a diplomatic family photograph.

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi concluded with member countries adopting the New Delhi Declaration, following intensive negotiations that continued until the early hours of Saturday.

The declaration is significant not simply because BRICS reached consensus despite differences among its members, but because India's chairship attempted to push the grouping towards a more practical, action-oriented agenda covering global governance, trade, technology, energy, supply-chain resilience, startups, MSMEs, food security and sustainable development.

The scale of the grouping makes these discussions increasingly consequential.

BRICS now consists of 11 member countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, and the UAE.

Collectively, these countries represent approximately:

• 49.5% of the world's population

• 40% of global GDP

• 26% of global trade

That gives BRICS considerable economic and geopolitical weight, even though it remains an informal grouping rather than a formal international organisation such as the United Nations, World Bank or WTO.

India’s BRICS 2026 chairship by the numbers

One of the clearest indicators of the scale of India's presidency is the amount of institutional activity conducted during the year.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India's chairship involved:

• 350+ meetings

• 30+ Indian cities

• 150+ practical outcomes

• 11 BRICS member countries

The meetings involved government officials, Sherpas, foreign ministers, business representatives and heads of government.

This matters because consensus at a BRICS summit is usually the result of negotiations conducted throughout the year rather than something produced during a single leaders' meeting.

India's approach therefore focused heavily on sustained consultation and building common ground among countries with very different economic structures and geopolitical interests.

The New Delhi Declaration: the central outcome

The adoption of the New Delhi Declaration was arguably India's most visible diplomatic achievement as BRICS chair.

The negotiations were not straightforward.

BRICS members have divergent positions on several geopolitical conflicts, trade policies, energy interests and international institutions.

Yet the grouping reached consensus on the declaration.

India's negotiators attributed this outcome to engagement at multiple levels, including the Sherpa, foreign-minister and leaders' levels.

The significance of the declaration therefore lies partly in what it demonstrates about BRICS itself.

The grouping can still produce a common position despite its increasingly diverse membership.

That becomes particularly important as BRICS expands its economic and geopolitical footprint.

1. Global governance reform moves higher up the agenda

One of India's most prominent priorities during the summit was reform of the international governance system.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi argued that institutions created for an earlier global order cannot adequately address the realities of today's world.

India has consistently advocated greater representation for developing countries in global decision-making institutions.

At the BRICS summit, Modi proposed developing a roadmap for global governance reforms, including a framework of 10 reforms to be pursued until the next summit. The issue is particularly relevant to the United Nations Security Council.

According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, both China and Russia, which are permanent members of the UNSC, reiterated support for India's and Brazil's aspirations for a greater role in the United Nations, including the Security Council.

For India, this represents an important diplomatic objective: converting its growing economic and demographic weight into greater representation in global institutions.

2. BRICS and the Global South

A recurring theme of India's chairship was the position of the Global South in global decision-making.

Modi argued that developing countries should not remain merely "rule takers" when decisions about future technologies, international trade and global governance are being made.

The argument has economic implications.

Many emerging economies are simultaneously dealing with:

• Rising technology dependence

• Unequal access to capital

• Supply-chain disruptions

• Energy insecurity

• Climate-related risks

• Changing trade policies

• Uneven access to advanced technologies

India's BRICS agenda attempted to position the grouping as a platform through which developing economies could have greater influence over these emerging systems.

3. Trade and supply-chain resilience

Global trade has become increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. Wars, sanctions, tariffs, shipping disruptions and energy-market volatility can affect supply chains far beyond the countries directly involved.

This was reflected in the New Delhi discussions.

BRICS members emphasised the importance of maintaining the smooth flow of:

Global trade + supply chains + energy supplies.

India also raised the importance of secure maritime routes.

At the BRICS Business Forum, Modi argued that global trade cannot function effectively unless sea lanes remain secure, supply routes stay open and seafarers are protected.

For businesses, this is more than a diplomatic statement.

A disruption in a major shipping corridor can affect:

• Freight costs

• Delivery timelines

• Commodity prices

• Manufacturing inputs

• Energy imports

• Inventory management

• Consumer prices

Supply-chain resilience is therefore becoming a core component of economic security.

4. BRICS looks towards MSMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises are central to employment and economic activity across emerging markets.

One of the practical outcomes highlighted during India's chairship was cooperation around a BRICS MSME portal.

The objective is to improve opportunities for businesses across member economies to connect, exchange information and potentially participate in cross-border value chains.

This could become increasingly important as BRICS economies look beyond traditional government-to-government cooperation.

If implemented effectively, stronger MSME linkages could create opportunities in areas such as:

• Manufacturing

• Technology

• Services

• Logistics

• Export markets

• Supply-chain partnerships

• Entrepreneurship

For emerging economies, improving access to international markets for smaller businesses can have a meaningful impact on broader economic participation.

5. Startups and innovation become part of the BRICS agenda

India also pushed for greater cooperation on startups. This reflects the changing nature of economic growth.

BRICS is no longer discussing only commodities, manufacturing and traditional trade.

Technology-driven businesses are increasingly important to the economies represented within the grouping.

India's startup ecosystem, in particular, has become an important component of the country's economic strategy.

Cooperation among BRICS startup ecosystems could potentially facilitate:

• Cross-border investment

• Market access

• Technology partnerships

• Founder networks

• Research collaboration

• Innovation exchange

The broader objective is to make BRICS cooperation relevant to the next generation of businesses rather than restricting it to established industries.

6. Digital Public Infrastructure

Another notable area of cooperation was Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

India has developed significant expertise in building population-scale digital systems, and DPI has increasingly become part of its international development and technology diplomacy.

The BRICS discussions included cooperation around DPI as well as the creation of a science and research repository.

The larger strategic question is whether emerging economies can collaborate on digital systems that are:

• Scalable

• Interoperable

• Affordable

• Accessible

• Secure

For developing countries, this could potentially reduce dependence on expensive proprietary systems while enabling faster expansion of digital services.

7. Science and research cooperation

BRICS also highlighted cooperation in science and research.

A proposed science and research repository could help create stronger links among researchers and institutions across member countries.

This becomes particularly relevant in areas where individual countries face similar challenges, including:

• Climate change

• Agriculture

• Public health

• Energy

• Food security

• Artificial intelligence

• Emerging technologies

Scientific collaboration can also become an economic asset when research moves from laboratories into commercial applications.

8. Energy security remains central

Energy was another major issue running through the summit.

BRICS contains several of the world's major energy producers, consumers and emerging markets. That makes energy security both an economic and geopolitical issue.

The New Delhi discussions emphasised maintaining reliable energy supplies despite geopolitical uncertainty. The importance of this agenda has increased as conflicts and disruptions in major energy-producing regions affect global prices and transportation networks.

For emerging economies, stable energy supplies are essential for:

• Industrial production

• Transportation

• Manufacturing

• Electricity generation

• Food production

• Economic growth

Energy cooperation within BRICS could therefore become one of the grouping's most economically consequential areas.

9. Food and health security

India's BRICS chairship placed resilience among its core priorities.

Food and health security were important components of that agenda. The summit highlighted cooperation in technical agriculture and food security, alongside broader health cooperation.

This is particularly important for developing economies exposed to climate variability, supply-chain disruptions and commodity-price volatility.

Agricultural resilience can affect not only food availability but also inflation, rural incomes and social stability.

10. Maritime security and global commerce

India also placed maritime security prominently on the BRICS agenda. The logic is straightforward: Global trade depends on functioning maritime routes.

A significant share of international merchandise trade moves by sea.

When shipping routes are disrupted, businesses can experience higher freight rates, longer delivery times and shortages of critical inputs.

India therefore emphasised freedom of navigation, the security of commerce and the safety of seafarers. This is particularly relevant amid continuing geopolitical instability in major maritime corridors.

11. India-China engagement

Perhaps the most closely watched bilateral development surrounding the summit was the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi's visit to India was his first since 2019.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of years of India-China tensions following the 2020 border crisis.

According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders discussed the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.

They also discussed:

• Bilateral trade

• Trade imbalance

• Supply-chain issues

• Market access

• Business ties

• People-to-people relations

• Cultural exchanges

• Mobility

The two sides agreed that differences should not become disputes. The economic dimension is particularly important. China remains a major trading partner for India, while India is simultaneously seeking to strengthen domestic manufacturing, diversify supply chains and attract investment.

A more stable bilateral relationship could therefore have implications well beyond diplomacy.

12. Russia and India's economic relationship

Russia also remained an important component of the summit. Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed cooperation across:

• Trade

• Energy

• Defence

• Infrastructure

• Space

• Technology

The two sides also reviewed the Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030. The leaders' discussions demonstrate how India continues to balance relationships across multiple geopolitical blocs while pursuing its own economic interests.

13. UAE and India: another major economic signal

The summit also produced an important India-UAE investment development. The UAE's International Holding Company announced plans for an $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha.

If implemented as outlined, the project would represent one of the largest integrated aluminium investments in India. It also highlights the growing importance of the India-UAE economic relationship in areas such as:

• Manufacturing

• Infrastructure

• Energy

• Strategic investment

• Technology

The development illustrates how diplomatic summits can create channels for commercial and investment activity beyond formal declarations.

14. BRICS' position on unilateral tariffs and environmental measures

BRICS members also reiterated concerns around unilateral tariff measures and environmental measures that they consider inconsistent with international or WTO rules.

This reflects a broader concern among emerging economies about the increasing use of trade policy as a geopolitical instrument.

For businesses, tariff uncertainty can directly affect:

• Export competitiveness

• Production costs

• Sourcing decisions

• Investment plans

• Market access

As BRICS economies account for a significant share of global production and consumption, their collective position on trade rules could become increasingly important.

15. The geopolitical challenge: consensus among very different countries

The biggest challenge for BRICS may also be its greatest defining feature. The grouping is increasingly diverse. Its members have different:

• Political systems

• Economic models

• Foreign-policy priorities

• Energy interests

• Trade relationships

• Security concerns

They also do not agree on every major geopolitical issue.

Yet BRICS operates primarily through consensus. That means its effectiveness depends less on complete political alignment and more on whether members can identify areas of practical common interest.

India's 2026 chairship appears to have leaned heavily into that model.

Instead of attempting to eliminate differences, the emphasis was on finding areas where cooperation remains possible.

From declarations to execution

The most important question following the New Delhi Summit is therefore not whether BRICS can issue another declaration.

It is whether the grouping can execute the ideas contained within it.

India's chairship produced more than 150 practical outcomes, ranging from MSME cooperation and startup collaboration to digital infrastructure, scientific research, agriculture, health and global governance. But implementation will determine whether these initiatives become lasting institutions or remain summit-level commitments.

That is why Modi's emphasis on bridging the gap between decisions and outcomes may ultimately prove more important than any individual announcement.

What the 2026 summit means for India

For India, the BRICS presidency offered three simultaneous opportunities.

1. Diplomatic opportunity

India strengthened its position as a convening power among major emerging economies.

2. Economic opportunity

The summit created additional channels for trade, investment, technology partnerships, startup cooperation and supply-chain integration.

3. Strategic opportunity

India was able to advocate for a larger role for developing countries in global governance while maintaining relationships with countries that have very different geopolitical orientations.

This balancing act is becoming increasingly important as the international system becomes more multipolar.

The bigger picture

BRICS began in 2009 as a relatively small grouping of emerging economies.

Its evolution since then has been substantial.

The expanded grouping now represents almost half of the world's population and around 40% of global GDP.

That does not automatically make BRICS a unified geopolitical bloc. But it does make the grouping increasingly difficult to ignore. Its future influence will depend on whether its members can convert their combined economic weight into practical cooperation.

India's 2026 chairship attempted to move in exactly that direction.

The New Delhi Declaration provides the political framework. The next challenge is execution.

For BRICS, the question is no longer simply how large the grouping can become.

It is whether that scale can translate into measurable economic, technological and institutional outcomes.

And for India, the 2026 summit may be remembered as an important step in positioning itself not merely as a participant in the emerging multipolar order, but as one of the countries helping shape it.