OpinionBRICS is bigger than ever. Its main challenge is now coherence, not expansion
The enlarged bloc represents a huge share of the world economy and population, but members disagree on how geopolitical the grouping should become.
THE INDIQA Research DeskPublished 12 Sept 2026Updated 12 Sept 20261 min read
BRICS has expanded far beyond its original membership, adding major emerging economies from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. That scale gives the grouping greater economic and diplomatic weight.
Expansion, however, makes consensus harder. China and Russia often favour a sharper geopolitical challenge to Western power, while India and Brazil have generally preferred a more flexible platform focused on reform, development and economic cooperation.
The central question for the New Delhi summit is therefore not how large BRICS can become, but whether it can build practical cooperation without forcing members into positions that conflict with their other strategic relationships.
CIVIL SERVICES VIEWStudy this development
GS-IIBRICS expansion and emerging multipolarityPrelims: MediumMains: High
Why this matters
The expanded BRICS is meeting in New Delhi amid questions about its purpose and internal coherence.
Key facts
- BRICS began with Brazil, Russia, India and China; South Africa joined later.
- The New Development Bank is headquartered in Shanghai.
Key terms
- BRICS expansion
- multipolarity
- New Development Bank
- Global South
- consensus
Arguments, challenges and policy responses
- Multipolarity versus bloc politics
- Consensus after institutional expansion
- India's role as a bridge power
India’s context
India benefits from a larger Global South platform only if it can preserve flexibility across competing partnerships.
Keep in mind
BRICS membership does not create mutual-defence obligations.
Practice question
Does BRICS expansion strengthen the Global South or make meaningful consensus harder to achieve?
Revision summary
- BRICS began with Brazil, Russia, India and China; South Africa joined later.
- The New Development Bank is headquartered in Shanghai.
- Multipolarity versus bloc politics
- Consensus after institutional expansion
- India's role as a bridge power
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