India participated in the BRICS Sherpas’ Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, with key discussions revolving around multilateralism, sustainable development, and enhancing cooperation within the BRICS grouping. Dammu Ravi, the BRICS Sherpa Secretary (ER), represented India at the event, where officials explored ways to strengthen intra-BRICS collaboration.
In a post shared on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the constructive nature of the discussions, emphasizing that the BRICS Sherpas’ Meeting was pivotal in shaping the future course of the group.
“BRICS Sherpa Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi participated in the #BRICS Sherpas’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. The meeting featured constructive discussions on multilateralism, sustainable development, and enhancing intra-BRICS cooperation,” shared MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Key Takeaways from the BRICS Discussions
Earlier this year, in March, the 10th BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue was held in Brasilia, furthering discussions on key geopolitical issues and the future of the bloc. Hosted by Brazil, the two-day dialogue laid the groundwork for the upcoming BRICS Summit, set for later this year.
India was represented at the Brasilia dialogue by Raghuram S, the Joint Secretary of Policy Planning and Research in the MEA. The event focused on crucial global matters, including global health cooperation, international trade, climate action, artificial intelligence governance, and much-needed reforms in peace and security frameworks.
Brazil, the current BRICS chair, has taken on a leadership role, steering the group towards addressing contemporary challenges in the global arena.
The Expanded BRICS Group and Its Impact
BRICS continues to grow as a major international coalition. With 11 major emerging economies, the grouping now represents about 49.5% of the global population, 40% of global GDP, and 26% of global trade.
The BRICS formal grouping began in 2006, with Russia, India, and China holding a pivotal meeting on the margins of the G8 Outreach Summit in St. Petersburg. It was later formalized through the UNGA Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York in 2006. The first BRIC Summit was hosted in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009.
In 2010, the BRICS expanded to include South Africa, and in 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE joined as full members. Indonesia joined as a full member in 2025, along with Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, and several others as partner countries.
Conclusion
As BRICS continues to evolve and expand, India’s involvement in the Sherpas’ Meeting and the Policy Planning Dialogue signals its growing role in shaping the global agenda. With an emphasis on multilateralism and sustainable development, BRICS aims to forge stronger ties among its diverse members while addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
