India on Tuesday launched the BRICS official logo and website as it assumed the Chairship of the ten-nation BRICS grouping for 2026.
The 18th BRICS Summit will be held in India later this year.
Launching the lotus-shaped logo and the website External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said India approaches its Chairship and logo with ‘humanity first and a people-centric approach.’’
He said India’s Chairship of BRICS seeks to bring together the potential of BRICS countries for greater global welfare.’’ When India prepares to assume BRICS Chairship in 2026, we do so at an important moment in the group’s journey.’’
He said that in 2026 BRICS will complete 20 years since its inception during which it has steadily evolved into a ‘’significant platform’’ for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies.
‘’Over the years BRICS has expanded its agenda and membership, responding to changing global realities while remaining focused on people-centric developments, fostering dialogue and promoting practical cooperation,’’ he said.
He said the current global environment presents complex and inter-linked challenges, geo-political uncertainties, complicated economic landscapes, climate-related risks, technological changes and persistent development gaps which continue to affect countries across regions.
In this context BRICS remains an important forum that encourages dialogue and cooperation and practical responses taking into account nations’ priorities at different stages of development.
Dr Jaishankar said the logo combines elements of tradition and modernity, and the petals incorporate the colours of all BRICS member countries, representing unity and diversity and a strong sense of shared purpose.
The logo conveys the idea that BRICS draws strength from the collective contributions of its members while respecting their distinct identities, he said.
India took over the rotating presidency from Brazil.
Although details were not immediately available, India plans to emphasize on Global South cooperation, inclusive governance and innovation.
After having successfully hosted the G20 Summit, India intends to host the presidency on a large scale, showcasing its emergence as a major global power. Ahead of the Summit, India plans to host more than 100 meetings in 60 cities throughout the year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested redefining BRICS as an acronym for “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability”.
China will host the BRICS Summit in 2027.
Priorities of the 18th Summit to be hosted by India are likely to be ‘Advancing trade in local currencies and alternative financial mechanisms, strengthening Global South cooperation and inclusive development, collaborating on digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, and space exploration and formulating collective global counter-terrorism strategies.
Brazil, which hosted the 17th Summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025, formally handed over the chairmanship to India at the conclusion of the Summit.
Several ministerial meetings including at the level of foreign ministers, finance ministers, commerce ministers and energy ministers of Members States will be organised leading upto the Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said earlier that “reform of institutions of global governance has been on the BRICS agenda since its inception.” He also has clarified that BRICS was never meant to be against anyone or anti-western, and that it is only non-western. At the Rio BRICS Summit in July 2025, Modi announced India would give a “new form” to BRICS during its presidency in 2026. He has already proposed redefining BRICS as “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability” and emphasized a people-centric approach.
The financial architecture of BRICS constitutes the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). The New Development Bank (NDB), formally referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank operated by the five BRICS member States.
The bank’s primary focus is to support infrastructure development projects with a loan of up to 34 billion USD annually. South Africa hosts the African headquarters of the bank. The Bank has a starting capital of 50 billion USD, with wealth increased to 100 billion USD over time. The founding members of BRICS including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa initially contributed 10 billion USD each to bring the total to 50 billion USD.
On January 1, 2024, four new members–Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia-officially entered BRICS. At the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, it was decided to establish a category of BRICS partner countries. The first countries to become partners were Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
The expanded BRICS generates 36 percent of global GDP and comprises more than 25 percent of the global economy and nearly half the world’s population.
As of January 2026, BRICS is widely considered a ten-member grouping, though some official sources cite eleven. This discrepancy stems from the status of Saudi Arabia, which was invited to join but has maintained an ambiguous formal position. On January 2, 2024, Saudi State television initially announced that the country had officially joined. Shortly after that announcement, Saudi officials clarified that they were still “considering the matter”.
As of early 2026, Saudi Arabia is frequently listed in “BRICS Plus” contexts and invited to member events.
But it has not fully formalized its membership, continuing to balance its ties between the bloc and Western allies.
The bloc now consists of the following full members: Original Five: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 2024 Additions: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. 2025 Addition: Indonesia.
Saudi Arabia remains in a transitional or “pending formalization” status despite participating in bloc activities.
