Central Idea

India, a key member of the BRICS group (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa), has affirmed its endorsement for the bloc’s expansion based on consensus.

BRICS Group
Full Form	Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
Formation	Originally “BRIC” in 2001, South Africa joined in 2010 to become BRICS
Economic Significance	Represents significant portion of global population, land area, and economic output
Objectives	Enhance cooperation, dialogue on political, economic, social issues
Principles	Mutual respect, equality, non-interference in internal affairs
Summits	Holds annual summits for leaders to discuss economic, trade, development issues
Cooperation Areas	Finance, trade, investment, technology, energy, agriculture, health, education
New Development Bank (NDB)	Established in 2014, finances infrastructure and sustainable projects
Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)	Established in 2015, provides financial assistance during currency crises
Political Dialogue	Advocates for peace, security, stability, coordinates positions on global issues

Embracing BRICS Expansion

Indian Support: PM Modi reiterated India’s full support for the expansion of BRICS membership, emphasizing the need for consensus.
Collaborative Approach: Modi highlighted the potential for increased collaboration between BRICS countries in fields like space, education, and technology, using India’s expertise as a basis.
Shared Platforms: Modi offered to share India’s technological platforms with other BRICS members, fostering a cohesive and future-ready organization.

BRICS Progress: Modi recalled BRICS’ journey, from being defined as “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions” during India’s chairmanship in 2016 to its current vision of “Breaking barriers, Revitalising economies, Inspiring innovation, Creating opportunities, and Shaping the future.”
Chinese Perspective: Chinese President expressed support for speedy expansion to enhance global governance’s fairness and equity. He emphasized the enthusiasm of developing nations in joining BRICS cooperation.

South African Insight: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that discussions on BRICS expansion are ongoing, suggesting that a clear solution will be reached collectively among BRICS leaders.
Indian Initiative: India’s approach to BRICS expansion was guided by the inclusion of strategic partners as new members, emphasizing consensus and unstructured discussions during leaders’ retreats.

Diverse Candidates: Approximately 20 to 30 nations expressed interest in joining BRICS, with leading candidates like Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. India aims to prevent a China-centric grouping.
Counterpoint to the West: China aims to expand BRICS as a counterpoint to Western dominance, gaining support from Russia due to diplomatic isolation linked to the Ukraine conflict.

Modi’s Proposals: Modi emphasized collaboration in space, technology, digital infrastructure, and education among BRICS members.
BRICS Space Exploration Consortium: Modi proposed creating a Brics space exploration consortium for research and weather monitoring.
Education and Technology: Modi cited India’s innovative solutions like Diksha and Bhashini for education and the CoWIN platform for vaccination, offering to share these platforms with BRICS partners.
Skill Mapping and Conservation: Modi proposed skill mapping and cooperation for the preservation of various species of big cats found in BRICS countries.
Support for African Union: Modi sought BRICS states’ endorsement for India’s proposal to grant the African Union full membership in the G20, reflecting shared commitment and unity within the group.

As India reaffirms its backing for BRICS expansion, the group’s shared vision of inclusive growth and equitable global governance is reinforced.
PM Modi proposals highlight the potential for collaboration in diverse domains, harnessing India’s technological prowess to foster a forward-looking and cohesive BRICS organization.
Amid evolving global dynamics, BRICS’ united stance and collaborative efforts stand to reshape the landscape of international cooperation and equitable development.