India on Tuesday formally unveiled the official logo and website for BRICS 2026, marking the beginning of its preparations to assume the chairmanship of the multilateral grouping later this year.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the new branding, underscoring India’s intent to strengthen engagement, communication and coordination among BRICS nations as the forum approaches a milestone year. BRICS will complete 20 years since its formation in 2006 when India takes over the leadership in 2026.
The newly launched logo draws inspiration from the lotus, a symbol deeply rooted in Indian heritage. Officials said the design reflects resilience and growth, with each petal carrying the colours of BRICS member countries to represent unity amid diversity. At the heart of the emblem is the Namaste gesture, symbolising mutual respect and a collective call for cooperation. The accompanying tagline reads: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Alongside the logo, India also launched a dedicated BRICS 2026 website, which will serve as a central hub for information on initiatives, projects, events and official documents linked to the grouping’s activities during India’s chairmanship.
Following the launch, Jaishankar said India’s leadership of BRICS would prioritise global welfare, especially as the grouping enters its third decade. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), BRICS has evolved into a key global platform representing 11 member countries, accounting for around 49.5 per cent of the world’s population, nearly 40 per cent of global GDP, and about 26 per cent of global trade.
Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the grouping has expanded significantly in recent years. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joined as full members on January 1, 2024, followed by Indonesia, which became a full member in January 2025. In addition, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan have been inducted as BRICS partner countries.
The origins of BRICS date back to 2001, when the acronym “BRIC” was coined by Goldman Sachs in its Global Economics Paper titled “The World Needs Better Economic BRICs”. The paper projected that Brazil, Russia, India and China would emerge as dominant forces in the global economy over the coming decades.
The grouping took concrete shape in 2006, following a meeting of the leaders of Russia, India and China during the G8 Outreach Summit in St. Petersburg, and was later institutionalised through a meeting of BRIC foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, and the forum expanded to BRICS in 2011, with South Africa joining at the Sanya Summit.
Over the years, BRICS has grown into a dynamic platform promoting cooperation across trade, investment, technology, innovation and sustainable development, while also amplifying the collective voice of emerging economies on global governance and multilateral reforms.
With India set to steer the bloc in 2026, officials say the focus will be on deepening collaboration across economic, technological and geopolitical spheres, while reinforcing BRICS’ role in shaping a more inclusive and balanced global order.
