RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4415
ANSWERED ON - 02/04/2026
COOPERATION THROUGH BRICS
4415. SHRI BABUBHAI JESANGBHAI DESAI
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the major initiatives proposed by India during its BRICS Chairship in 2026;
(b) whether the Government proposes to promote trade, investment and technology partnerships through BRICS that may benefit states such as Gujarat & Maharashtra;
(c) whether any conferences, cultural events or business forums related to BRICS are proposed to be organised in Indian cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai, Pune, etc; and
(d) the steps being taken to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation through BRICS?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to d) India assumed the BRICS Chairship on 1 January, 2026 under the theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. Priorities aligned with this overarching theme have been identified across all thematic tracks, including in the areas of trade, investment, and technology. The BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) and the Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) alongwith the various thematic tracks on Finance are taking forward discussion among members. The BRICS meetings are being conducted both virtually and in-person. The in-person meetings have been planned in several cities, including in Maharashtra and Gujarat. India’s BRICS Chairship has a people-centric and humanity first approach. In addition to the thematic meetings, it is proposed to host engagements such as the BRICS Youth Summit, BRICS Film Festival, BRICS Culture Festival, BRICS Network University Conference, BRICS Think Tanks Council meetings, BRICS Academic Forum, BRICS Civil Forum, BRICS Business Council, BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, which would foster people-to-people exchanges during our Chairship. Economic cooperation among BRICS member countries would be pursued through the meetings of the BRICS Finance Track, including meetings of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) and the BRICS CGETI.
*****