New Delhi: India has reiterated that BRICS was conceived as a platform for economic cooperation and development, firmly rejecting any attempts to project the grouping as a military or security alliance.

As India prepares to assume the BRICS chair in 2026, officials said New Delhi intends to keep the focus of its presidency on issues such as global institutional reform, economic growth, development finance, and enhanced cooperation among emerging economies. India has underlined that the grouping’s strength lies in its ability to amplify the collective voice of the Global South on economic and developmental concerns.

Sources indicated that India is wary of efforts to introduce military signalling or security posturing into the BRICS framework, arguing that such a shift would dilute the bloc’s original mandate and risk internal divisions. New Delhi has maintained that BRICS was never designed to function as a defence or strategic alliance and should not be drawn into geopolitical rivalries.

During its presidency, India is expected to push for reforms in multilateral institutions, including global financial bodies, to better reflect contemporary economic realities. Emphasis is also likely to be placed on sustainable development, trade, technology cooperation, and inclusive growth.

India’s position reflects its broader foreign policy approach of strategic autonomy, seeking to engage with multiple global groupings without aligning them to military blocs. Officials said preserving BRICS as an economic and development-oriented platform remains central to India’s vision for the grouping’s future.