Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 13 September 2026, outlined India's stewardship of the BRICS grouping at the 18th BRICS Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, saying the presidency was anchored in four core pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. In his closing remarks, Modi said India had worked to translate the shared vision of member states into what he called a 'win-win collaboration'.

India's Four-Pillar Framework

Elaborating on the summit theme — 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth' — Modi said each pillar was designed to address real-world challenges facing the bloc's member nations. He expressed satisfaction that, with the backing of all member states, India was able to operationalise these priorities during its presidency term.

'Today, this group is uniting different continents, cultures, and development journeys. This is a testament to the growing strength, attraction, and unwavering confidence of BRICS,' Modi said in his address.

Early Warning Systems and Disaster Preparedness

On the resilience front, Modi highlighted that global crises — from pandemics to climate change disasters and supply chain disruptions — had demonstrated that no emergency remains confined to a single region in today's interconnected world. In response, the summit reached a consensus on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases.

Additionally, Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines were formulated specifically for disaster management. The BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework was also announced, aimed at making global supply chains 'more reliable and resilient', according to the Prime Minister.

Innovation: Startups, Digital Agriculture, and Technology Inclusion

Under the innovation pillar, Modi announced the BRICS Incubator Network, which will connect startups and incubators across member states. India also proposed a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to promote scalable and innovative solutions across the bloc.

A BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture was introduced to create new opportunities for farmers by aligning artificial intelligence (AI), geospatial technology, and digital public infrastructure with on-ground agricultural needs. Modi also sounded a note of caution on technology access, saying, 'The weaponisation of technology and critical minerals can create hurdles for common growth. Therefore, we have emphasised inclusivity in the adoption of technology.'

People-Centric Cooperation

A recurring thread in Modi's address was the intent to extend BRICS cooperation beyond inter-governmental engagement. He said India had made deliberate efforts to bring entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth, and ordinary citizens into the orbit of BRICS collaboration.

'We want our entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth, and ordinary citizens to become active participants as well,' the Prime Minister said. This people-first framing is notable as BRICS continues its post-expansion phase, having admitted several new member states in recent years.

Context and What Comes Next

India assumed the BRICS chairship at a time of heightened global tensions, making the summit's focus on multilateral resilience particularly timely. The outcomes — including the early warning system, disaster management guidelines, startup fund, and digital agriculture network — are expected to be formalised in a summit declaration. The next BRICS chair will take forward these frameworks, with India having set a broad agenda for inclusive, technology-driven global cooperation.