India hosts BRICS summit for fourth time in bloc's history

India is set to host the BRICS summit, reinforcing its position as a key coordinator within the bloc of five major developing nations. The summit will be the fourth time India has taken on the responsibility of hosting the annual gathering since the group's inception.

India's first hosting of the summit took place in New Delhi in 2012, when BRICS was still establishing its institutional framework and forging common positions on global economic and political matters. The second occasion came four years later when Goa served as the venue in 2016, allowing India to showcase its role in regional development and cooperation among emerging markets.

The bloc convened for its third meeting under Indian stewardship in 2021, though the summit was conducted virtually due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the constraints of the digital format, the meeting underscored the continued relevance of BRICS cooperation during a period of global uncertainty.

Each summit hosting presents India with an opportunity to advance its diplomatic priorities within BRICS, which comprises India, Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. The grouping has emerged as an influential platform for dialogue among developing economies seeking to shape global governance structures and address shared economic challenges.