BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026

BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026 aims towards a more representative global order. Read here to learn more.

The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026 under India’s chairship, adopted the New Delhi Declaration with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The Declaration comes at a time of geopolitical fragmentation, protectionism, climate stress, technological disruption and growing demands for reform of global institutions.

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026 therefore seeks to position BRICS not merely as an economic grouping, but as a platform for Global South representation, institutional reform, economic resilience, technological cooperation and sustainable development.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration

The 2026 Declaration marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS and reiterates its commitment to a more just, representative, accountable and effective multilateral system.

It emphasises multilateralism, multipolarity, sovereign equality and international law, while retaining the UN as the central pillar of international cooperation.

It also calls for:

• Greater participation of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) and Least Developed Countries in global decision-making.
• Greater geographical representation in international organisations.
• Increased participation of women in leadership positions.
• Greater representation of developing countries in the UN Security Council.
• Reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions, particularly the IMF and World Bank.

The Declaration also notes the continuing under-representation of developing regions and women in the highest levels of the UN system.

Significance for India

This aligns closely with India’s long-standing emphasis on:

• Reformed Multilateralism
• Greater Global South Voice
• Multipolarity
• Representative Institutions

The Declaration specifically records support from China and Russia for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council.

Reforming Global Economic Governance

BRICS has increasingly sought to influence the architecture of global finance rather than create a parallel system completely detached from existing institutions.

• The Declaration calls for reforms to the IMF and World Bank so that their governance reflects the contemporary global economy and provides greater voice to EMDCs.
• It supports quota realignment in the IMF and greater representation of developing countries while protecting the interests of poorer members.
• It also supports reform of the WTO to restore a predictable, transparent and rules-based trading system, including restoration of an effective two-tier dispute-settlement mechanism.

The central contradiction is that the rising economic weight of the Global South is not proportionate to its institutional voice.

Hence, BRICS seeks to bridge this representational deficit through institutional reform.

BRICS and International Peace & Security

The Declaration expresses concern over growing polarisation, geopolitical tensions and military expenditure. It advocates:

• Dialogue and diplomacy
• Conflict prevention
• Preventive diplomacy and mediation
• Peaceful settlement of disputes
• Strengthening UN peacekeeping
• Greater regional participation in conflict resolution

It also raises concerns regarding nuclear risks, calling for stronger disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation mechanisms.

The Declaration addresses conflicts in West Asia, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Syria, consistently stressing civilian protection, humanitarian access, sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.

Terrorism and transnational crime

BRICS reiterates zero tolerance towards terrorism and calls for cooperation against:

• Cross-border terrorism
• Terror financing
• Safe havens
• Extremism and radicalisation
• Organised crime

It also supports expediting the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the UN framework.

The Declaration further identifies illicit financial flows, money laundering, virtual-asset misuse, financial fraud and organised scam networks as transnational challenges requiring cooperation among financial intelligence, customs, tax, law-enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Economic and Technological Resilience

1. Cross-border payments

• BRICS continues to explore efficient cross-border payment mechanisms, including interoperability of payment and messaging systems and greater use of local currencies.
• The objective is not presented as a one-size-fits-all alternative currency, but as practical payment solutions that are fast, low-cost, accessible, efficient, transparent, safe.
• This has significance for India because resilient payment infrastructure can reduce transaction costs and strengthen economic autonomy while complementing India’s digital-payment capabilities.

2. MSMEs and Global Value Chains

The Declaration recognises that affordable finance remains a major constraint for MSMEs, limiting their participation in international trade and Global Value Chains.

It supports:

• Data-based credit assessment
• Digital trade finance
• Invoice discounting
• MSME internationalisation
• Technology transfer
• Capacity building

The Jaipur Consensus proposes studying an invoice-discounting mechanism for BRICS members to help MSMEs unlock working capital.

3. Industry 4.0 and Start-up Ecosystem

BRICS seeks deeper cooperation in:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Robotics
• Smart manufacturing
• Digitalisation
• Industry 4.0
• Start-ups and SMEs

The Declaration welcomes the BRICS Incubator Network and consideration of a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund. It also supports the BRICS Startup Knowledge Hub and Startup Forum.

The establishment of the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies further strengthens India’s role in technology-enabled industrialisation.

Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence

BRICS recognises digital ecosystems as foundations for:

• Economic development
• Social inclusion
• Public-service delivery
• Resilience
• Innovation

The Declaration proposes a BRICS digital public infrastructure repository and pilot projects for digital transformation.

On AI, BRICS supports international cooperation for accessible AI, safety, security, inclusiveness, reliability, energy efficiency, and trustworthy AI

It also stresses the need to mitigate risks associated with emerging technologies.

Climate Change, Disaster Resilience and Sustainability

BRICS recognises the disproportionate vulnerability of developing countries to climate change and supports implementation of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, including mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage and means of implementation.

It reiterates the principles of:

• Equity
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
• Climate justice
• Technology transfer
• Climate finance

BRICS also opposes unilateral punitive and discriminatory protectionist measures, including concerns over carbon border adjustment mechanisms, arguing that such measures can adversely affect developing countries.

Disaster resilience

• The Declaration supports Early Warning Systems, Risk-informed Planning, Anticipatory Action, Resilient Infrastructure, and Reduced Disaster Losses
• It welcomes BRICS Guidelines for Disaster Management Early Warning Data Integration and principles for climate-resilient urban infrastructure.
• This complements India’s role through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Biodiversity, Forests and Ecosystem Restoration

The Declaration links biodiversity conservation with:

• Sustainable use of genetic resources
• Benefit sharing
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Climate resilience
• Forest conservation

It specifically welcomes India’s initiative for an International Big Cats Alliance, encouraging BRICS cooperation for big-cat conservation.

The Declaration also emphasises forests as Carbon sinks, Biodiversity reservoirs, Water regulators, Soil protectors, and livelihood sources

It welcomes BRICS principles for integrated, landscape-based greening, land restoration, and wildfire preparedness.

Food and Energy Security

Food security

BRICS countries are described as major players in global food production. The Declaration proposes deeper cooperation on:

• Food availability and affordability
• Fertiliser supply
• Climate-resilient seeds
• National food reserves
• Agricultural value chains
• Sustainable agriculture

It also supports further development of the proposed BRICS Grain Exchange.

The BRICS AGRIN network seeks farmer-centric cooperation on agro-inputs, genetic resources and information.

Energy security

BRICS advocates diversified and resilient energy systems while recognising different national circumstances.

The Declaration supports cooperation on:

• Renewable energy
• Nuclear energy
• Hydropower
• Hydrogen
• Energy storage
• Low-carbon technologies
• Critical minerals

It also calls for interoperable standards and certification frameworks for low-emission hydrogen.

Health Security

The Declaration views health security as a transnational issue, particularly in the context of:

• Pandemics
• Zoonotic disease
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Public-health emergencies

It supports resilient surveillance, early-warning systems and rapid response mechanisms, including a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for Mass Infectious Diseases.

It also promotes:

• Local production of medical products
• Digital health
• AI in healthcare
• Regulatory cooperation
• Vaccine R&D
• Health workforce development

Social and Human-Centred Development

The Declaration extends BRICS cooperation beyond state-to-state diplomacy.

Women

• It promotes women’s political participation, financial inclusion, digital inclusion, skills, entrepreneurship, climate leadership and welcomes the BRICS Women’s Digital Capacity Building Guidelines.

Education and skills

The BRICS-TCA and BRICS Network University are intended to deepen cooperation in:

• Technical and vocational education
• Digital literacy
• STEM
• Industry-academia linkages
• Academic mobility
• Scholarships
• Traditional and indigenous knowledge

Labour

• BRICS emphasises productive employment, human-capital development and social protection for workers, including those in the gig and platform economy.
• The proposed BRICS CONNECT focuses on capacity building, employability and new skills, while the Declaration also discusses portability of social-security benefits for cross-border workers.

New Development Bank: Financing the Global South

The New Development Bank (NDB) is identified as an important institution for infrastructure and development financing in emerging economies.

BRICS encourages the NDB to:

• Mobilise greater resources
• Expand local-currency financing
• Diversify funding
• Support sustainable infrastructure
• Reduce inequalities
• Promote economic integration

The Declaration also welcomes the BRICS-NDB Knowledge Portal launched under India’s chairship.

Key Challenges for BRICS

Despite its growing relevance, BRICS faces several structural challenges:

1. Diversity of interests: BRICS members differ significantly in political systems, economic structures, strategic interests and foreign-policy priorities.
2. Consensus-based decision-making: The emphasis on consensus can slow implementation of ambitious initiatives.
3. Institutionalisation gap: The 2026 Declaration itself recognises the need for stronger institutional development and continuity.
4. Geopolitical contradictions: Members may cooperate economically while simultaneously pursuing divergent geopolitical interests.
5. Implementation deficit: Declarations can generate norms and proposals, but their effectiveness depends upon financing, institutional capacity and national implementation.
6. Balancing BRICS with existing institutions: BRICS seeks reform rather than necessarily replacing institutions such as the UN, IMF, World Bank and WTO. Maintaining constructive engagement with these institutions is therefore essential.

Way Forward

For BRICS

1. From declarations to delivery: Establish measurable targets, timelines and monitoring mechanisms.
2. Strengthen institutional continuity: Ensure initiatives survive changes in annual chairships.
3. Prioritise functional cooperation: Focus on payments, health, climate, food, technology, infrastructure and disaster resilience where interests converge.
4. Build interoperable systems: Particularly in digital payments, DPI, cybersecurity, AI standards and trade documentation.
5. Strengthen Global South financing: Expand NDB financing and innovative instruments for climate-resilient infrastructure.
6. Maintain strategic autonomy without institutional fragmentation: BRICS should complement, not undermine, the UN-centred multilateral order.

For India

India can leverage BRICS to advance:

• Strategic Autonomy
• Global South Leadership
• Technology Diplomacy
• Development Partnerships
• Reformed Multilateralism

India should continue using its strengths in digital public infrastructure, disaster resilience, affordable healthcare, renewable energy, space technology and inclusive development as platforms for South-South cooperation.

Conclusion

The New Delhi Declaration 2026 reflects the evolution of BRICS from a primarily economic grouping into a broader platform addressing global governance, peace and security, climate change, technology, health, food, energy and human development.

Its central message is that a changing global economy requires a corresponding transformation in global institutions. For the Global South, the objective is not simply greater representation but a more equitable architecture of decision-making, finance, technology and development.

For India, BRICS provides an avenue to translate the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” into practical multilateral cooperation, building a global order that is representative in governance, resilient in crises, innovative in technology and sustainable in development.