New Delhi, February 10, 2026 – The first BRICS Sherpa Meeting under India’s 2026 chairship commenced today in the national capital, marking the beginning of a year-long agenda focused on global cooperation and sustainable development.

Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs and India’s BRICS Sherpa, Sudhakar Dalela, addressed the gathering, outlining the key priorities shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. He emphasized a “people-centric and humanity-first” approach, with the overarching theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.

This marks India’s fourth time chairing the BRICS grouping, having previously led in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The expanded forum—now including new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates alongside founding nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—aims to amplify voices from the Global South on critical issues like economic resilience, technological innovation, and multilateral reforms.

The Sherpa-level discussions are expected to lay the groundwork for ministerial meetings and the annual BRICS Summit later this year, where leaders will deliberate on shared challenges including climate action, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.

India’s chairship comes at a pivotal moment, with the grouping representing over 40% of the world’s population and a significant share of global GDP. Officials highlighted the platform’s role in fostering equitable development and strengthening multilateralism amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

The meeting underscores India’s proactive leadership in BRICS, building on its successful 2021 chairship that saw the adoption of initiatives on counter-terrorism and disaster resilience. Further details on the outcomes of today’s sessions are awaited as deliberations continue.