India outlined its priorities for the 2026 BRICS Chairship at the first Sherpas’ meeting in New Delhi, emphasising resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability as the grouping continued to expand its scope and membership
The first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas under India’s 2026 Chairship was held in New Delhi from 9 to 10 February, marking the formal start of India’s stewardship of the grouping and setting the direction for cooperation across political, economic and people-to-people tracks.
The meeting was chaired by Sudhakar Dalela, India’s BRICS Sherpa and Secretary (Economic Relations), with support from Joint Secretary (Multilateral Economic Relations) Shambhu L. Hakki. Sherpas and senior officials from BRICS member states and partners, including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, participated in the discussions. On 10 February, the Sherpas and country representatives jointly called on India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar.
India presented its Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, positioning it as a response to global economic uncertainty, development challenges and the need for inclusive growth. Officials said the priorities built on initiatives undertaken during previous BRICS chairships while seeking to deepen practical cooperation among an expanded membership.
Several ministries and departments of the Government of India outlined proposed activities across a wide range of thematic areas. These included cooperation in health, agriculture, labour and employment, disaster risk reduction, environment and climate change, energy, innovation, information and communications technology, security and counter-terrorism, as well as economic and financial cooperation. Delegates also held exchanges on the institutional development of the BRICS grouping, reflecting ongoing discussions on coordination mechanisms following its recent expansion.
In line with India’s stated objective of a “people-centric” chairship, presentations were also made on cooperation in sports, youth exchanges and cultural engagement. Forums and platforms linked to BRICS, including the BRICS Academic Forum, Think Tank Council, Civil Forum, Business Council and Women’s Business Alliance, were highlighted as channels to broaden stakeholder participation beyond government-led processes.
Representatives of BRICS partner countries attended the opening session and welcomed India’s proposed theme and priorities. According to participants, member and partner countries shared perspectives on advancing cooperation in resilience, innovation and sustainability, while supporting a people-focused approach to BRICS engagement.
On the sidelines of the meeting, delegates visited the National Crafts Museum and Hastakala Academy, as well as Akshardham Temple, as part of the programme highlighting India’s cultural heritage. Officials said BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas would continue to meet regularly throughout 2026 to coordinate work across the various thematic tracks and prepare for ministerial- and leaders-level engagements later in the year.
Observers noted that the first Sherpas’ meeting signalled India’s intent to balance strategic coordination with developmental and societal priorities during its chairship. While the breadth of proposed activities reflected the growing ambition of BRICS, further progress is expected to depend on sustained coordination among members and partners as the grouping navigates an increasingly complex global environment.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
