What is the common examiner trap about Intl. Relations in UPSC exams?

Examiners may ask about Saudi Arabia's membership status – the article states Saudi Arabia was invited in 2023 and listed among members but maintains ambiguity; do NOT assume it is a full member. Also, new members joined in 2024-2025, not all at once. Indonesia joined in 2025, not 2024. Iran joined in 2024. UAE and Egypt also joined in 2024. Ethiopia joined in 2024. Another trap: confusing the number of founding members (5) with current members (10) including the newer ones.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Intl. Relations for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi, September 12, 2026 2. Target this Nodal Body: BRICS (informal grouping, no permanent secretariat) 3. Target this Legal Point: BRICS expansion framework – new members (2024-2025): Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia; Saudi Arabia invited but status ambiguous

International_RelationsGovernance

Take AI Challenge ▸

News 14 of 32

18th BRICS Summit 2026: Xi Jinping's First India Visit Since 2020 Border Clashes

Q: Which of the following countries is NOT among the original five founding members of BRICS?

Indonesia, The original five BRICS members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Indonesia joined later in 2025 as part of the grouping's expansion. The article confirms Indonesia became a full BRICS member in 2025, making it a newer member, not a founding one.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the 18th BRICS Summit: 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India for the summit was his first since the 2020 border clashes. 2. Saudi Arabia is a full member of BRICS as of 2026. 3. The summit was held in New Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: The article explicitly states that Xi Jinping's visit to New Delhi is his first trip to India since the deadly 2020 border clashes. Statement 2 is incorrect: Saudi Arabia was invited to join BRICS in 2023 and is listed among its members, but the article says it 'maintained a degree of ambiguity over the formal status of its BRICS membership.' Therefore it is not a confirmed full member. Statement 3 is correct: The summit begins Saturday, September 12 in New Delhi.

Q: According to the article, what was the bilateral trade volume between India and Russia in 2024-25?

$70 billion, The article clearly states: 'Bilateral trade reached nearly $70 billion in 2024–25.' The other options are distractors: $50 billion is not mentioned, $100 billion is the target set for 2030, and $90 billion is not referenced.

Q: What is the primary significance of Iran's presence at the BRICS summit for India, as highlighted in the article?

To balance India's strategic partnerships with the US, Israel, and Gulf states while maintaining dialogue with Iran, The article explicitly states that Iran's presence is important because India 'has to balance several relationships simultaneously: its strategic partnership with the UAE and Gulf states, its ties with Israel and the US, and its longstanding relationship with Tehran.' BRICS gives India a forum to maintain dialogue with Iran while advocating de-escalation and protecting its interests in energy, connectivity, and regional stability.

Intl. Relations Polity Security & DefenceCORE

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

11 Sept 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:18th BRICS SummitXi Jinping's first India visit since 2020 border clashesIndia-Russia bilateral trade $70 billion (2024-25)Target $100 billion by 2030BRICS expansion 2024-2025: Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, IndonesiaSaudi Arabia invited but status ambiguous

Bodies:BRICSIMFWorld BankUnited Nations

Practice MCQs from today's news ▸

~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.BRICS 2026 summit in New Delhi brings together leaders from expanded membership including Xi Jinping (China), Putin (Russia), and new members such as Iran and Egypt.

2.Key strategic significance: Xi's first India visit since 2020 border clashes; Putin's presence underscores Russia's pivot to non-Western partnerships amid Ukraine war.

3.Expanded BRICS now represents major economies of the Global South, challenging traditional Western-dominated institutions like IMF and World Bank.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi (Sept 12, 2026) is a landmark event with Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting India for the first time since the 2020 border clashes. The summit features an expanded BRICS with new members like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the UAE, alongside ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. For exam purposes, this summit tests your understanding of India's foreign policy balancing, multipolar world order, and the evolving role of BRICS as a platform for the Global South.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Summit Edition18th BRICS Summit

Host CountryIndia (New Delhi)

New Members (2024-2025)Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia

China-India ContextXi Jinping's first India visit since 2020 border clashes

India-Russia Trade (2024-25)$70 billion

India-Russia Trade Target$100 billion by 2030

Key Connectivity ProjectChabahar Port (India-Iran cooperation)

1-Minute Revision

›Summit Edition: 18th BRICS Summit
›Host Country: India (New Delhi)
›Target this Data: 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi, September 12, 2026
›Target this Nodal Body: BRICS (informal grouping, no permanent secretariat)
›Target this Legal Point: BRICS expansion framework – new members (2024-2025): Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia; Saudi Arabia invited but status ambiguous

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

News Snapshot

🌍

Expanded BRICS Gathering

The 18th summit brings together leaders from original BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) plus newer members Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, reflecting the grouping's growing influence.

🛡️

Xi-Putin Presence & Geopolitics

Xi Jinping's visit marks de-escalation efforts post-2020 border clashes, while Putin's attendance reinforces Russia's strategic ties with India despite Western sanctions.

🌐

Global South & Multipolarity

The summit underscores a push for a more multipolar world, with BRICS advocating for developing country representation in institutions like IMF and World Bank.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

BRICS was originally formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a platform to enhance economic cooperation among major emerging economies. The grouping expanded in 2024-2025 to include Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, reflecting its growing appeal to the Global South. The 18th summit is being held in New Delhi amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia (Iran-Israel/US tensions) and heightened great-power competition. India's role as host highlights its strategic balancing act between the US-led West and Russia-China axis.

Core Analysis & Implications

The presence of all major BRICS leaders, especially Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, signals the bloc's resilience despite internal differences. For India, Xi's first visit since the 2020 Galwan clashes suggests a cautious diplomatic thaw, though the boundary question remains unresolved. Putin's attendance strengthens defence and energy ties – bilateral trade reached $70 billion in 2024-25 – even as India deepens partnerships with the US, Europe, and Gulf states. The inclusion of Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, and Indonesia diversifies BRICS' geographical and economic base, potentially reducing China's dominance. However, internal tensions persist: Iran-UAE rivalry as both are BRICS members, India's delicate relationship with Iran (Chabahar) vs. ties with Israel and Gulf monarchies. The summit also pushes for de-dollarization and greater use of local currencies in trade, challenging dollar hegemony.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

BRICS is likely to continue expanding, with more Global South countries seeking membership. For India, the grouping serves as a counterweight to Western pressure and a platform to advocate reforms of the UN Security Council and Bretton Woods institutions. India must manage its multiple strategic partnerships – especially balancing China with the US and Japan – while using BRICS to maintain dialogue with Iran, Russia, and emerging powers. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and Chabahar Port are key connectivity initiatives that BRICS could integrate. Future challenges include operationalising the BRICS New Development Bank and achieving the $100 billion trade target with Russia by 2030.

Key Facts at a Glance

Summit Edition18th BRICS Summit

Host CountryIndia (New Delhi)

New Members (2024-2025)Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia

China-India ContextXi Jinping's first India visit since 2020 border clashes

India-Russia Trade (2024-25)$70 billion

India-Russia Trade Target$100 billion by 2030

Key Connectivity ProjectChabahar Port (India-Iran cooperation)

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Which of the following countries is NOT among the original five founding members of BRICS?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the 18th BRICS Summit:

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India for the summit was his first since the 2020 border clashes.

2. Saudi Arabia is a full member of BRICS as of 2026.

3. The summit was held in New Delhi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, Banking, SSC

According to the article, what was the bilateral trade volume between India and Russia in 2024-25?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, MPSC, SSC

What is the primary significance of Iran's presence at the BRICS summit for India, as highlighted in the article?

All 15 MCQs ▸

Read original article from Indian Express

You finished this topic

Practice 3 MCQs from this news Next Article

Explore Related Topics

Intl. RelationsView Topic MCQs →PolityView Topic MCQs →Security & DefenceView Topic MCQs →

PreviousBRICS Delhi Declaration: Common Stand on Terrorism, UNSC Reform, and 50 Tangible Outcomes for Global South Next BRICS Nations Adopt New Delhi Declaration; Urge Restraint in West Asia War, Seek WTO Reform

Related Current Affairs

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

India's Peace Push in Russia-Ukraine War: Jaishankar Meets Putin, BRICS Summit Key

India has intensified diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, with EAM Jaishankar and PM Modi engaging both Moscow and Kyiv. The US is also pushing for a deal via CIA Director Ratcliffe's secret trip. India should use the upcoming BRICS summit to push for confidence-building measures like protecting energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

BRICS as a Reformist Non-Western Bloc: Key Data on NDB, Intra-BRICS Trade & De-dollarisation for India's Global South Strategy

BRICS has evolved from a loose grouping into a formidable Global South platform, challenging Western-dominated institutions. For India, it serves as a strategic bridge to both the West and developing economies, offering concrete mechanisms like the NDB (120 projects, $39 billion) and local currency trade to reduce dollar dependence. Key for Mains: analyse BRICS as reformist (not anti-Western) and its role in multipolar world order.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

BRICS Summit: Xi Jinping Visit Highlights India-China Border Standoff Impact on Grouping

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits India for the BRICS summit after a seven-year gap, against the backdrop of the ongoing eastern Ladakh border standoff (since 2020). The article analyzes how divergent India-China ties, China's assertiveness, and the US tariff war under Trump shape BRICS' future, with India viewing it as a 'non-Western' bloc and China as an 'anti-West' grouping.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

India-Russia FM Talks: Bilateral Cooperation, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran Discussed Ahead of BRICS Summit 2026

India and Russia reaffirm bilateral cooperation and discuss global hotspots (Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran) ahead of the BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi. The visit lays groundwork for Putin's expected visit and highlights India's balancing act in global diplomacy.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

PM Modi Proposes Seafarers' Emergency Support Network at BRICS Summit; India Supplies 12% Global Workforce

PM Modi proposed a 'Seafarers' Emergency Support Network' at the BRICS Summit to ensure safety of maritime workers amid global conflicts. With India providing over 12% of the world's trained seafarers and 15 already killed in West Asia/Black Sea, this proposal has direct implications for India's workforce and trade security.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

PM Modi at BRICS 2026 Warns Against Weaponisation of Tech, India Proposes Early Warning System

At the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, PM Modi warned against weaponising technology and critical minerals, stressing the need for BRICS unity to tackle geopolitical tensions affecting the Global South. Key outcomes include a consensus on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases and a logistics supply chain cooperation framework.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

UN Chief Antonio Guterres Backs UNSC Expansion at BRICS Summit; India Leads Global South Demand

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres endorsed the Global South's demand for UN Security Council expansion at the BRICS Summit, emphasizing that institutional structures must reflect today's geopolitical realities. India, at the forefront of this push, has called for developing nations to transition from 'rule-takers' to 'rule-shapers'. The BRICS New Delhi Declaration reiterated support for India and Brazil's greater UN role, pressing for comprehensive UNSC reform to increase representation of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

18th BRICS Summit, India-EU FTA, Houthi Seize Perim Island: UPSC Must-Know Topics

The 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi brings together 11 nations representing 36.8% of global GDP, with India balancing ties between West and East. Meanwhile, India-EU FTA nears completion (96% tariff elimination), and Houthi capture of Perim Island threatens Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint. Exam angles: BRICS dynamics, India's strategic autonomy, maritime security, and trade pacts.

Start Today's Quiz(15 Qs)

Take Today's Quiz

15 Qs • 5-7 Mins

18th BRICS Summit 2026: Xi Jinping's First India Visit Since 2020 Border Clashes

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Expanded BRICS Gathering

Xi-Putin Presence & Geopolitics

Global South & Multipolarity

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance