Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted 15 formal bilateral meetings over three days as the 18th BRICS Summit concluded at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Sunday, 14 September 2026, in what observers described as one of India's most diplomatically intensive multilateral hosting efforts in recent memory. The meetings — with heads of state and government from across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America — were held in addition to a series of pull-aside conversations on the sidelines of the summit sessions.

A Diplomatic Sprint Across Three Days

The diplomatic engagement began on Friday afternoon when Modi held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Bharat Mandapam. The same evening, he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, setting a brisk pace that would continue through the weekend.

On Saturday, Modi opened the day at Hyderabad House with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, before hosting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in quick succession. The afternoon featured the summit's most-watched engagement: a bilateral with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Bharat Mandapam. Saturday concluded with Modi hosting a gala dinner for all visiting leaders.

Summit Sessions and the Modi-Xi Meeting

Between bilaterals on Saturday, Modi addressed a closed plenary session on 'Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism' and joined BRICS leaders at the 'Bharat Innovates' exhibition, a joint tree-plantation ceremony, and the customary leaders' family photograph on the lawns of Bharat Mandapam.

The Modi-Xi bilateral was widely regarded as the centrepiece of the weekend's diplomatic activity, given the significance of India-China relations. Details of the discussions have not been officially disclosed beyond standard readouts, but the meeting itself signals continued engagement at the highest level between the two neighbours.

Sunday's Back-to-Back Schedule

On Sunday, Modi met leaders from BRICS partner countries and outreach invitees before addressing the session on 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.' He then conducted seven consecutive bilaterals: with Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and Ugandan Vice-President Jessica Alupo.

India's Multilateral Moment

India's hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit comes at a moment of heightened global interest in the bloc, which has expanded significantly in recent years. The sheer volume of engagements — 15 formal bilaterals plus multiple pull-asides — underscores New Delhi's strategy of using multilateral summits as concentrated diplomatic platforms. This approach mirrors India's use of the G20 presidency in 2023, when a similar sprint of bilaterals accompanied the New Delhi summit. The range of leaders met — spanning BRICS core members, partner countries, and international institution heads — reflects the breadth of India's current foreign policy priorities.

The summit's conclusion marks a key moment in India's BRICS chairmanship. Detailed outcomes of the summit declarations and bilateral agreements are expected to be formalised in the coming days.