Whenever we hear about BRICS — Brazil, Russia India, China, and South Africa — it sounds like a powerful group.
Let’s be real — BRICS looks fancy on paper. Five big countries coming together to challenge Western dominance sounds great. But the real question is: Is it doing anything solid for India? Or are we just sitting in a group with big speeches and very little actual benefit?
What Was the Idea Behind BRICS?
India didn’t join BRICS just for fun or a few trade deals. It joined with a larger vision — to build a collective voice for the Global South — countries that are often ignored in global politics.
For India, BRICS was an opportunity to be seen not just as a regional power, but as a serious global player. And to some extent, BRICS helped us with that. It gave us a platform where we could sit next to leaders like Putin and Xi, and talk about important issues like finance, development, technology, climate, etc.
What’s Working for India in BRICS?
There are a few things that genuinely work in our favour:
The New Development Bank (NDB): It gave loans for infrastructure without the tough conditions of IMF or World Bank. India has benefited from it.
Informal diplomacy: The BRICS summits give India a chance to have one-on-one side conversations with global leaders. Sometimes these talks lead to more results than formal speeches.
Global credibility: Being in BRICS improves India’s image in the non-Western world and lets us push for reforms in institutions like the UN or WTO.
So yes, BRICS has value. But only to a point.
What’s NOT Working for India? ** Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room — China. India and China have tense relations — border conflicts, trade imbalances, and the race for regional dominance. And yet, we sit at the same table.
Worse, China is slowly dominating BRICS, pushing its own agenda. But India knows this. And that’s exactly why we stay in BRICS — to balance China from inside.
Also, economically, BRICS has been a bit of a letdown — no free trade agreement, no big investments, no game-changing decisions.
India’s Real Strategy: Strategic Patience
So why doesn’t India just walk out?
Because walking away would give China a free hand. Staying in BRICS lets India keep a check on the narrative and ensures our presence in all major forums — BRICS, G20, SCO, QUAD — this is smart diplomacy.
Let’s not forget the soft power angle. BRICS gives India a space to act like a responsible and mature voice from the Global South, and that matters in today’s world.
So,Is BRICS worth it?
Honestly? Yes- but only if India stays alert. BRICS won't bring magical results overnight, but it gives India space to speak, build partnership, and shape global conservations. The key is to use this space wisely: It isn't a perfect group but in today's world having more seats at the table is always better than watching from the outside .