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Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
On December 12, 2025, at the conclusion of the fourth BRICS Sherpas meeting in Brasília, Brazil formally transferred the presidency of the bloc to India. India will officially assume the chair on January 1, 2026. The handover was symbolized by Brazil’s Sherpa, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, presenting a gavel handcrafted from repurposed Amazonian wood to India’s Sherpa, Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela.
Key Achievements under Brazil (2025): Brazil’s presidency, themed “Strengthening Global South Co-operation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” successfully consolidated the bloc’s expanded composition (now 11 members). Major outcomes included the Rio Declaration, the first-ever Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, and a unified statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.
India’s Vision for 2026: Ambassador Dalela reaffirmed India’s commitment to the principles of continuity, consolidation, and consensus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a “humanity-first approach“ for the 18th BRICS Summit, aiming to redefine the bloc under the pillars of Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.
What is the “Amazon Gavel”? The gavel handed to India was handcrafted by the community of Novo Airão using wood sourced from native trees (Itaúba, Pau Rainha, and Jaqueira). It symbolizes both Brazil’s commitment to sustainability and the deep-rooted cooperation between BRICS nations.
Policy Relevance
India’s 2026 presidency marks a strategic opportunity to transition from symbolic leadership to driving structural reforms that directly benefit the Global South.
Digital and Financial Inclusion: India plans to leverage its expertise in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a model for inclusive development across BRICS partner states, focusing on technology transfer and shared technical standards.
Economic Resilience: A central pillar will be the expansion of the New Development Bank (NDB) and streamlining intra-bloc trade through national currency settlement systems to mitigate the impact of global trade tensions and external economic pressures.
Global Governance Reform: India will continue to lead the push for UN Security Council reform and ensuring greater representation for Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) in global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will India balance its “humanity-first” agenda with the diverse and often conflicting national priorities of the recently expanded 11-member BRICS bloc?
Follow the full news here: Brasil Hands Over BRICS Presidency to India