The BRICS Summit 2025, hosted in Brasília, Brazil, marks a pivotal moment for the bloc as it navigates global economic shifts and rising aspirations from the Global South. India is playing a vital role in shaping the group's agenda. The summit's focus includes inclusive multilateralism, digital cooperation, and sustainable development.

India's Strategic Role

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has transitioned from a cautious participant to a proactive agenda-setter within BRICS. India is advocating for the democratization of global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank. The nation is also promoting digital public infrastructure collaboration, drawing from its experiences with UPI and Aadhaar to offer solutions to other BRICS nations. Furthermore, India is emphasizing South-South cooperation to build capacity, improve healthcare, and facilitate green energy transitions.

Economic Interests and Trade

India is pushing for increased intra-BRICS trade using local currencies, which has become more important due to sanctions on Russia and growing discussions about de-dollarization. While India is cautious about a single BRICS currency, it supports diversifying trade dependencies. PM Modi has reaffirmed India's dedication to building resilient supply chains, showcasing the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives as partnership opportunities. He has also proposed a BRICS Start-up Network to leverage India's growing entrepreneurial sector.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has engaged in bilateral talks with counterparts from Russia, China, Brazil, and Indonesia, reinforcing India's commitment to collaboration. Discussions covered financial cooperation, the New Development Bank, and global growth strategies. Sitharaman emphasized that deeper engagement could amplify the voice of developing economies and help shape narratives aligned with the priorities of the Global South.

Balancing Act and Key Priorities

India faces the challenge of balancing its BRICS involvement with its complex bilateral relationships, especially with China. At the summit, Modi is expected to avoid direct confrontations while focusing on deliverables such as digital governance, sustainable agriculture, youth exchange, and cultural diplomacy. India is also making efforts to deepen relations with the West. India's balancing act between the West and the Global South demonstrates the agility of its foreign policy.

PM Modi's priorities include a unified stance against terrorism, support for climate finance, enhanced AI collaboration, and promotion of trade in national currencies to reduce dollar dependence. India is also pushing for trade settlement in national currencies to reduce the global South's dependence on the US dollar.

Summit Agenda and Discussions

The BRICS 2025 Summit agenda, under Brazil's theme of “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” will likely focus on global health, trade, investment, climate change, AI governance, multilateral peace and security architecture, and institutional development. Discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including the situations in West Asia and Ukraine, climate finance, and AI governance.

India as a Bridge Builder

India aims to complement the West rather than confront it, building a multipolar future where BRICS serves as a platform for opportunity and reflects changing global realities. India and Brazil are striving to make BRICS a forum that offers tangible benefits to the Global South, such as alternative financing sources through the New Development Bank, and new models for trade, digital connectivity, and climate finance.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite India's growing influence, BRICS faces internal divisions that threaten its cohesion. India's economic growth is projected to outpace all major economies in 2025–26, presenting both an opportunity and a test as it prepares to assume the BRICS chairpersonship in 2026. The key question is whether India can leverage its economic strength to guide the alliance toward meaningful cooperation.