New Delhi [India], January 13 (ANI): India on Tuesday officially assumed the chairship of the BRICS grouping for 2026, unveiling the theme, logo and official website for its presidency, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlined New Delhi’s vision of a people-centric, inclusive and reformed multilateral order amid growing global challenges.
Launching the BRICS 2026 logo and website at a ceremony held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan on the eve of Makar Sankranti, Jaishankar said India’s chairship would seek to harness the collective potential of BRICS member states to promote global welfare in an era marked by geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty, climate risks and technological disruption.
India formally took over the BRICS presidency from Brazil on January 1, marking its fourth term as chair after 2012, 2016 and during the COVID-19 period in 2021. The 2026 chairship coincides with 20 years of BRICS, which Jaishankar described as having evolved into a significant platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies.
The BRICS grouping currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia joining later as full members. Several countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan, have also been inducted as partner countries.
The logo for India’s BRICS chairship features the lotus, India’s national flower, symbolising prosperity and growth, with the traditional greeting “Namaste” at its centre. The petals incorporate the colours of all BRICS member countries, representing unity in diversity and a shared purpose. The design was selected through an open public contest on the government’s citizen engagement platform.
The logo is accompanied by the theme and tagline: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Jaishankar said the theme reflects India’s belief that cooperation among BRICS members can address shared global challenges in a balanced, inclusive and people-focused manner, while blending tradition with modernity.
Outlining India’s approach, the External Affairs Minister identified four broad priorities guiding the 2026 chairship — resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability — which will provide a coherent framework across BRICS’ three foundational pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Under the resilience pillar, India aims to strengthen institutional capacities to withstand global shocks by enhancing cooperation in agriculture, health, disaster risk reduction, energy and supply chains. Emphasising innovation as a key driver of development, Jaishankar highlighted the role of emerging technologies, start-ups and MSMEs in addressing socio-economic challenges while maintaining a people-centric focus.
He said India would place equal emphasis on cooperation and sustainability, advancing climate action, promoting clean energy and supporting sustainable development pathways that are fair and sensitive to national circumstances.
Calling for urgent reform of global governance structures, Jaishankar stressed that BRICS must commit to a reformed multilateral system that reflects contemporary realities. He said institutions such as the United Nations, WTO, IMF and World Bank must become more representative and inclusive to remain effective.
Highlighting the role of the Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank (NDB), founded by BRICS countries in 2015, Jaishankar described it as a key instrument for infrastructure development and sustainable growth in emerging economies, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening the bank as a credible and financially sustainable institution.
The newly launched BRICS India website will serve as a common platform during the chairship, providing information on meetings, initiatives and outcomes, while enhancing transparency, engagement and timely dissemination of information.
People-to-people exchanges, including cooperation in youth, culture, education, sports, tourism and academia, will remain a core focus of India’s chairship, the minister said, reiterating that BRICS is guided by mutual respect, sovereign equality and consensus.
Echoing support for deeper cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong said China stands ready to work with all parties to promote high-quality BRICS cooperation and contribute to an equal, multipolar world and inclusive economic globalisation.
Jaishankar said India views BRICS as a constructive platform that complements the broader multilateral system and pledged to make its 2026 chairship inclusive, practical, people-centred and outcome-oriented, expressing confidence in continued cooperation among member states and partners.
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