New Delhi: India has rolled out the logo, theme and official website for its BRICS 2026 chairship, signalling a people-centric and pragmatic approach to global challenges as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the grouping must place “humanity first” at a time of economic uncertainty, geopolitical churn and growing fragmentation in the world order.
Unveiling the visual identity of India’s BRICS presidency, Jaishankar said the country’s strategy would be guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on people-focused development and cooperative solutions.
The logo, centred on a lotus with folded hands in a namaste, reflects India’s civilisational ethos while incorporating colours representing the diversity and unity of BRICS nations. The theme underscores India’s focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Jaishankar said India’s year-long chairship would build on the three core pillars of BRICS - political and security cooperation, economic and financial collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges - with the aim of delivering practical outcomes rather than rhetorical positioning. He noted that the grouping, which has expanded significantly in recent years, now represents a wider swathe of the Global South and carries greater responsibility in shaping conversations on development, growth and reform of global institutions.
Drawing a link between global economic pressures and the need for collective strength, Jaishankar referred to the current trade environment, including tariff actions by the US, and said such challenges underline the importance of building resilient economies and supply chains. Without naming any country directly, he said BRICS members must be prepared to deal with unilateral measures and external shocks through cooperation and internal capacity-building.
India plans to follow a decentralised engagement model during its BRICS presidency, hosting around 100 meetings across cities in states and Union Territories, mirroring the outreach-driven template adopted during its G20 presidency. Officials said the newly launched BRICS 2026 website will serve as a central hub for information on meetings, initiatives and outcomes through the year.
The launch also comes as BRICS marks two decades since its formation, with its footprint expanding to include new members from West Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Jaishankar said India sees BRICS as a platform that must respond to contemporary realities, from climate change and sustainable development to technological transformation and equitable growth.
As India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit later this year, the government has signalled that its presidency will seek to balance strategic autonomy with global responsibility, positioning BRICS as a forum that speaks not just for emerging economies, but for broader global welfare in an increasingly polarised world.
BI Bureau
