BRICS 2026: Indore Declaration, Members, NDB, India’s Importance & Important MCQs
BRICS 2026: Indore Declaration, Members, NDB, India’s Importance & Important MCQs
BRICS has emerged as an important platform for cooperation among major emerging economies and countries of the Global South. It seeks to promote reforms in global governance, strengthen economic cooperation and provide a stronger voice to developing countries in international institutions.
BRICS came into focus in 2026 when, under India's BRICS Presidency, the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting was held in Indore. The meeting was significant because it was the first BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting to include Partner Countries alongside full Members.
The meeting resulted in the unanimous adoption of the BRICS Indore Declaration, which focused on food security, farmer welfare, climate-resilient agriculture, agricultural trade, regenerative farming and the application of digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in agriculture.
Why is BRICS in the News?
India held the BRICS Presidency in 2026. During this period, the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting was organised in Indore.
The theme of the meeting was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
A major outcome was the unanimous adoption of the BRICS Indore Declaration, aimed at giving new direction to cooperation in food security, farmer welfare, climate-resilient farming, agricultural trade and digital agriculture.
Major Priority Areas of the BRICS Indore Declaration
1. Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods: The Declaration recognises farmers as custodians of traditional knowledge, biodiversity and seed heritage.
It also provides for the launch of a Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems to protect seed rights and indigenous knowledge.
This Forum is expected to function mainly through virtual modalities and be coordinated by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, constituted under the PPV&FR Act, 2001.
2. Agricultural Trade and Cooperation: BRICS countries supported the proposed BRICS Grain Exchange.
The meeting also announced BRICS AGRIN, which stands for Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network. It promotes cooperation in seeds, genetic resources and agricultural inputs.
The BRICS Basic Agricultural Information Exchange System (BAIES) is to be used as a platform for agricultural cooperation.
The BRICS Agricultural Research Platform (BARP) is also to be strengthened as a “Knowledge-to-Action” hub.
3. Regenerative, Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture: A BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture for Climate Resilience and Productivity is to be established.
The network will initially be coordinated by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research (IIFSR), Modipuram.
The Declaration also emphasises sustainable use of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative for strengthening traditional agricultural systems and protecting farmers' livelihoods.
What is GIAHS?
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is an FAO designation introduced in 2002 for living agricultural systems of global importance.
According to the source, India has three such systems:
Kuttanad below-sea-level farming – Kerala
Koraput traditional agriculture – Odisha
Pampore saffron heritage – Jammu & Kashmir
Future-Ready Agriculture under BRICS
The Indore Declaration also promotes greater use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in agriculture.
A BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture is to be established and will initially be coordinated by IIT Delhi. The objective is to bring Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies into farming.
What is BRICS?
The term BRIC was coined in 2001 by British economist Jim O'Neill to refer to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The first BRIC Summit was held in Russia in 2009.
BRICS aims to promote reforms in global governance and provide alternatives to institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and United Nations Security Council.
Three Pillars of BRICS Cooperation
1. Political and Security Cooperation
2. Economic and Financial Cooperation
3. Cultural and People-to-People Cooperation
Global Importance of BRICS
According to the source, BRICS represents approximately:
49.5% of the global population
Around 40% of global GDP by Purchasing Power Parity
Around 26% of global trade
About 42% of global agricultural land
About 42% of world foodgrain production
Fortaleza Declaration and BRICS Financial Institutions
The Fortaleza Declaration of 2014 led to the creation of two important BRICS financial mechanisms:
New Development Bank (NDB): The NDB was established during the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, in 2014.
It has its headquarters in Shanghai and an initial authorised capital of USD 100 billion. It also has regional offices, including one in India.
Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): The CRA is a USD 100 billion currency-swap safety net.
BRICS Members
The original five BRICS members are:
Brazil
Russia
India
China
South Africa
New members mentioned in the source include:
Egypt
Ethiopia
Iran
United Arab Emirates
Indonesia
Indonesia became the first Southeast Asian member of BRICS.
The source notes that Saudi Arabia has not yet taken a formal decision on membership.
BRICS Partner Countries
The Partner Countries listed in the material include:
Belarus
Bolivia
Kazakhstan
Cuba
Malaysia
Nigeria
Thailand
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
BRICS does not have a permanent secretariat or office.
Why is BRICS Important for India?
Strategic Autonomy: BRICS allows India to pursue a multipolar foreign policy while simultaneously engaging with Western groupings such as QUAD.
This supports India's multi-alignment strategy and allows it to act as a bridge between major global powers while preserving strategic autonomy.
India-China Engagement: BRICS provides a diplomatic platform for India and China to engage on bilateral and regional issues. The source highlights the Modi-Xi meeting at the 2024 Kazan Summit after a five-year gap.
Connectivity: The inclusion of countries such as Iran increases the relevance of connectivity projects such as Chabahar and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Global Economic Governance: BRICS gives India a platform to advocate for a fairer global economic order and oppose unilateral sanctions, discriminatory trade measures and excessive concentration of economic power.
Technology and Innovation: Cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, fintech and space technologies allows India to expand its digital governance models across the Global South.
Energy Security: Expanded BRICS membership improves India's access to oil, gas and critical minerals while also providing opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy.
Challenges for India within BRICS
Anti-Western Image: India seeks to keep BRICS as a non-Western rather than anti-Western grouping so that its relations with the United States, European Union and QUAD are not undermined.
Divergent Strategic Priorities: Different geopolitical and economic priorities among members can make consensus difficult.
China's Dominance: China's growing influence and agenda-setting capacity may make the grouping increasingly China-centric and potentially marginalise India's strategic interests.
India-China Rivalry: Border disputes, competing regional interests and China's influence in trade, infrastructure and the Global South continue to affect cooperation within BRICS.
Structural Contradictions: Expansion has added countries with conflicting regional interests and threat perceptions, such as Iran and the UAE, increasing challenges to consensus-building.
The material notes that the BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting in April 2026 and Foreign Ministers' Meeting in May 2026 failed to build consensus.
Quick Revision Points
India's BRICS Presidency: 2026
Recent Meeting: 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting
Venue: Indore
Theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
Major Outcome: BRICS Indore Declaration
BRIC Term Coined: Jim O'Neill, 2001
First BRIC Summit: Russia, 2009
Three Pillars: Political & Security; Economic & Financial; Cultural & People-to-People
NDB Established: Fortaleza, 2014
NDB Headquarters: Shanghai
NDB Authorised Capital: USD 100 billion
CRA: USD 100 billion currency-swap safety net
First Southeast Asian BRICS Member: Indonesia
Permanent Secretariat: None
AGRIN: Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network
BARP: BRICS Agricultural Research Platform
GIAHS: FAO designation for living agricultural systems
Digital Agriculture Network: Initially coordinated by IIT Delhi
POINT TO REMEMBER:-
Q1) The 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting was held in which Indian city?
A) New Delhi
B) Indore
C) Jaipur
D) Bengaluru
Answer:=> B) Indore
Explanation: Under India's BRICS Presidency in 2026, the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting was held in Indore.
Q2) What was significant about the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting?
A) It was the first BRICS summit ever held.
B) It was the first agriculture meeting to include Partner Countries alongside Members.
C) It established BRICS for the first time.
D) It admitted all G20 countries into BRICS.
Answer:=> B) It was the first agriculture meeting to include Partner Countries alongside Members.
Explanation: The source specifically highlights that Partner Countries participated alongside Members for the first time in such a BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting.
Q3) What was the theme of the 2026 BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting?
A) One Earth, One Family, One Future
B) Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
C) Food Security for All by 2030
D) Sustainable Agriculture through Globalisation
Answer:=> B) Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
Explanation: This was the theme mentioned for the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting.
Q4) Which declaration was unanimously adopted at the meeting?
A) Kazan Declaration
B) Indore Declaration
C) Fortaleza Declaration
D) Delhi Declaration
Answer:=> B) Indore Declaration
Explanation: The BRICS Indore Declaration was unanimously adopted to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and related areas.
Q5) The Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems primarily seeks to protect:
A) International shipping rights
B) Seed rights and indigenous knowledge
C) Mining rights
D) Digital payment systems
Answer:=> B) Seed rights and indigenous knowledge
Explanation: The proposed Forum focuses on the protection of seed rights and indigenous agricultural knowledge.
Q6) The Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems will be coordinated by:
A) RBI
B) Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority
C) NITI Aayog
D) NABARD
Answer:=> B) Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority
Explanation: The Forum is expected to function mainly through virtual modalities coordinated by the PPV&FR Authority.
Q7) BRICS AGRIN stands for:
A) Agricultural Growth and Regional Integration Network
B) Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network
C) Agriculture Research and Global Innovation Network
D) Agro-Industrial Investment Network
Answer:=> B) Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network
Explanation: AGRIN promotes cooperation in seeds, genetic resources and agricultural inputs.
Q8) Which BRICS platform is described as a “Knowledge-to-Action” hub?
A) BAIES
B) BARP
C) NDB
D) CRA
Answer:=> B) BARP
Explanation: The BRICS Agricultural Research Platform (BARP) is to be strengthened as a Knowledge-to-Action hub.
Q9) The BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture is initially coordinated by:
A) IIT Delhi
B) ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram
C) FAO Headquarters
D) NDB
Answer:=> B) ICAR-IIFSR, Modipuram
Explanation: The source identifies ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Modipuram as the initial coordinating institution.
Q10) Which institution will initially coordinate the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture?
A) IIT Bombay
B) IIT Delhi
C) ICAR-IARI
D) IISc Bengaluru
Answer:=> B) IIT Delhi
Explanation: IIT Delhi will initially coordinate the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture.
Q11) Who coined the acronym BRIC in 2001?
A) Joseph Stiglitz
B) Jim O'Neill
C) Amartya Sen
D) Paul Krugman
Answer:=> B) Jim O'Neill
Explanation: British economist Jim O'Neill coined the term BRIC in 2001 for Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Q12) Where was the first BRIC Summit held in 2009?
A) India
B) Brazil
C) Russia
D) China
Answer:=> C) Russia
Explanation: The first BRIC Summit was held in Russia in 2009.
Q13) Which of the following correctly represents the three pillars of BRICS cooperation?
A) Defence, Agriculture and Space only
B) Political and Security; Economic and Financial; Cultural and People-to-People
C) Trade, Tourism and Transport only
D) Monetary, Military and Maritime cooperation
Answer:=> B) Political and Security; Economic and Financial; Cultural and People-to-People
Explanation: These are the three pillars of cooperation identified in the source.
Q14) The New Development Bank was established during which BRICS Summit?
A) 4th BRICS Summit
B) 5th BRICS Summit
C) 6th BRICS Summit
D) 10th BRICS Summit
Answer:=> C) 6th BRICS Summit
Explanation: The NDB was established during the 6th BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil, in 2014.
Q15) Where is the headquarters of the New Development Bank located?
A) New Delhi
B) Moscow
C) Shanghai
D) Johannesburg
Answer:=> C) Shanghai
Explanation: The New Development Bank is headquartered in Shanghai.
Q16) What is the value of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement established by BRICS?
A) USD 20 billion
B) USD 50 billion
C) USD 100 billion
D) USD 200 billion
Answer:=> C) USD 100 billion
Explanation: The CRA is a USD 100 billion currency-swap safety net.
Q17) Which country became the first Southeast Asian member of BRICS?
A) Malaysia
B) Thailand
C) Vietnam
D) Indonesia
Answer:=> D) Indonesia
Explanation: According to the source, Indonesia became the first Southeast Asian member of BRICS.
Q18) Which of the following statements about BRICS is correct?
A) BRICS has a permanent secretariat in Shanghai.
B) BRICS has no permanent secretariat or office.
C) BRICS Secretariat is located in New Delhi.
D) The NDB serves as the official permanent secretariat.
Answer:=> B) BRICS has no permanent secretariat or office.
Explanation: BRICS functions without a permanent secretariat or office.
Q19) Consider the following statements regarding BRICS:
1. It accounts for approximately 49.5% of the global population.
2. It represents around 40% of global GDP by PPP.
3. It accounts for around 26% of global trade.
4. It represents about 42% of global agricultural land.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 2 and 3 only
C) 2, 3 and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer:=> D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: All four figures are given in the source as indicators of BRICS' global economic and demographic significance.
Q20) India prefers BRICS to be viewed as:
A) Anti-Western and military-oriented
B) Non-Western but not anti-Western
C) Exclusively China-led
D) A replacement for the United Nations
Answer:=> B) Non-Western but not anti-Western
Explanation: India seeks to prevent BRICS from developing an anti-Western identity because it also maintains important partnerships with the United States, European Union and QUAD.
BRICS – Most Important Facts for Exams
Remember the chronology: BRIC coined in 2001 → First Summit in Russia in 2009 → Fortaleza Declaration in 2014 → NDB and CRA.
Remember Agriculture 2026: Indore → 16th Agriculture Ministers' Meeting → Indore Declaration → AGRIN → BARP → Digital Agriculture Network.
Remember Finance: NDB Headquarters = Shanghai; Authorised Capital = USD 100 billion; CRA = USD 100 billion.
Remember India's approach: Strategic autonomy + Global South leadership + multi-alignment + non-Western, not anti-Western.
Conclusion
BRICS has evolved into an important platform for promoting multipolarity, South-South cooperation and reform of global governance.
For India, the grouping offers opportunities to strengthen strategic autonomy, promote Global South interests, increase cooperation in technology and energy, improve connectivity and advocate for reforms in international institutions.
At the same time, differences among members, China-related concerns, India-China rivalry and growing structural contradictions remain major challenges. For BRICS to remain credible and effective, it will need balanced leadership, greater internal consensus and stronger implementation of its initiatives.
