UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 SEPTEMBER 2026

GS 2 BRICS New Delhi Declaration

Context: The Leaders of the BRICS nations issued the BRICS New Delhi Declaration during the 18th BRICS Summit held under India’s chairship in New Delhi.

Convening on the landmark 20th anniversary of BRICS under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, the summit produced a comprehensive 140-point consensus.

BRICS New Delhi Declaration

About BRICS New Delhi Declaration :

What it is?

The 18th BRICS Summit marks the institutionalization of the expanded grouping, consolidating cooperation across its three primary pillars:

Political and Security Cooperation Economic and Financial Cooperation Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges

Under the 2026 Indian presidency, the grouping organized over 400 ministerial, official, and technical meetings across 30 Indian cities, anchoring initiatives in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a people-centric, balanced, and development-oriented Global South agenda.

Key Highlights of the New Delhi Declaration:

Reforming Global Multilateral Institutions & the UN: Reaffirmed commitment to comprehensive UN reform, including expanding developing-country representation in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to reflect contemporary multipolar realities. Explicitly recognized the aspirations of African nations as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration . Reasserted support from permanent members China and Russia for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council. Noted that in the history of the United Nations, no woman has ever been elected Secretary-General , while calling for equitable geographical representation across senior international agency appointments without state monopolies.

Bretton Woods & International Trade Reforms: Called for expedited quota increases under the IMF’s 16th General Review of Quotas (GRQ) and urgent, meaningful quota realignments under the 17th GRQ based on the Diriyah Guiding Principles to reflect the true economic weight of Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs). Advocated for the immediate restoration of a fully functional, two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement mechanism and the prompt appointment of Appellate Body members. Strongly opposed unilateral protectionist tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers, particularly highlighting that measures such as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM) distort trade and penalize developing nations under the guise of environmental goals. Endorsed the accession bids of Ethiopia and Iran to the WTO .

Counter-Terrorism & Security Priorities: Condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations, reiterating zero tolerance and rejecting double standards. Specifically condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025 , which claimed 26 lives. Called for the swift finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) within the UN framework and coordinated multilateral action against all UN-designated terrorist entities. Welcomed the Guwahati Declaration adopted by the BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies to coordinate counter-narcotics operations.

Middle East & Regional Peace Mandates: Expressed grave concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, reaffirming an unwavering commitment to a sovereign, viable State of Palestine within 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital under the two-state solution, alongside full UN membership for Palestine. Opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians, endorsed the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and demanded unhindered access for humanitarian aid and UNRWA. Welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, demanding full adherence to UNSC Resolution 1701 and condemning attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers , expressing deep condolences for the deaths of Indonesian and fellow peacekeepers. Condemned deliberate attacks on peaceful civilian nuclear facilities operating under full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Welcomed the African Union peace initiatives for Sudan based on African solutions to African problems, called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria, and urged an end to the unilateral blockade against Cuba in line with UNGA resolutions.

Major Economic, Financial & Technological Initiatives:

Local Currencies & Cross-Border Payments: Tasked the BRICS Payment Task Force (BPTF) to advance practical, fast, low-cost cross-border payment interoperability and promote settlements and investment using BRICS local currencies rather than creating a single top-down currency.

Tasked the BRICS Payment Task Force (BPTF) to advance practical, fast, low-cost cross-border payment interoperability and promote settlements and investment using rather than creating a single top-down currency. Insurance & Risk Management Architecture: Welcomed discussions on establishing a BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre (BIRC) to build collective reinsurance capacity, and noted member support for India’s proposal to host a BRICS Risk Lab at GIFT City IFSC in Gujarat.

Welcomed discussions on establishing a BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre (BIRC) to build collective reinsurance capacity, and noted member support for India’s proposal to host a BRICS Risk Lab at GIFT City IFSC in Gujarat. SME Invoice Discounting & Trade Finance: Endorsed the Jaipur Consensus to formulate an Invoice Discounting Mechanism for BRICS members to unlock working capital for export-oriented MSMEs.

Endorsed the to formulate an Invoice Discounting Mechanism for BRICS members to unlock working capital for export-oriented MSMEs. Agro-Inputs & Food Security: Endorsed discussions on operationalizing the BRICS Grain Exchange and expanding it to broader agricultural commodities. Established BRICS AGRIN (Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources, and Information Network) as a farmer-centric collaborative platform, and launched the Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems.

Green Energy, Grid Modernization & Critical Minerals: Emphasized technological neutrality and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), acknowledging that fossil fuels remain necessary for developing-world energy transitions alongside renewables. Initiated the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage under the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform (ERCP). Affirmed the need for resilient, diversified, and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals while preserving resource-rich nations’ sovereign rights over domestic deposits.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) & Artificial Intelligence: Supported the creation of a BRICS Digital Public Infrastructure Repository to export and scale open-source digital public goods across members. Acknowledged the outcomes of India’s AI Impact Summit and Shanghai’s World AI Conference , committing to implement the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.

Space Sustainability & The Gagarin Jubilee: Finalized amendments to include new member space agencies into the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation (RSSC) and drafted the Terms of Reference for the BRICS Space Council. Commemorated the 65th jubilee of Yuri Gagarin’s historic first human space flight (April 12, 1961).

Public Health & Social Sector Outcomes:

Institutionalizing Mental Health & Lifestyle Medicine: Endorsed the launch of the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle (2026–2029) and established a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on mental well-being, designating the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, as the coordinating nodal center.

Endorsed the launch of the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle (2026–2029) and established a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on mental well-being, designating the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, as the coordinating nodal center. Traditional Medicine Integration: Proposed the establishment of a dedicated BRICS Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) to coordinate scientific research and pharmacopoeia standardization.

Proposed the establishment of a dedicated BRICS Expert Working Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) to coordinate scientific research and pharmacopoeia standardization. Pandemic Preparedness: Established a dedicated sub-working group to operationalize the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for Mass Infectious Diseases.

Established a dedicated sub-working group to operationalize the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for Mass Infectious Diseases. Labor & Gig Worker Protections: Adopted BRICS CONNECT (Cooperation Network for Capacity Building, Employability, and New Skills and Technologies) to forecast green/digital labor shifts and develop social security portability frameworks for cross-border and platform/gig workers.

Environmental & Climate Commitments:

Pre-eminence of the UNFCCC & CBD: Reaffirmed adherence to the Paris Agreement, calling on developed countries to fulfill financial and technological transfer obligations for adaptation.

Reaffirmed adherence to the Paris Agreement, calling on developed countries to fulfill financial and technological transfer obligations for adaptation. Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF ): Welcomed the launch of the TFFF at the COP30 Belém Climate Summit to mobilize long-term results-based financing for tropical forest conservation.

Welcomed the launch of the TFFF at the COP30 Belém Climate Summit to mobilize long-term results-based financing for tropical forest conservation. International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA ): Acknowledged India’s initiative to lead the IBCA and encouraged member collaboration to safeguard endangered big cat species across their natural ranges.

Acknowledged India’s initiative to lead the IBCA and encouraged member collaboration to safeguard endangered big cat species across their natural ranges. Grasslands, Deserts & Holistic Landscape Restoration: Welcomed the adoption of the BRICS Principles for Integrated Landscape-Based Greening and Land Restoration, committing to holistic protection across forests, wetlands, mangroves, peatlands, and arid savannahs.

Conclusion:

The 2026 BRICS New Delhi Declaration consolidates the expanded 11-member bloc into an active, institutionalized coalition capable of addressing complex global divides. By balancing political positions on UN reform, Gaza, and terrorism with pragmatic initiatives in local-currency payments, Digital Public Infrastructure, and health networks, India’s presidency helped maintain group cohesion without allowing the platform to devolve into a polarized anti-Western bloc.