Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P. Chidambaram has questioned the tangible benefits India has gained from its participation in the BRICS grouping, triggering a political exchange with the BJP ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Speaking about the relevance of BRICS, Mr Chidambaram said he had not seen any significant benefits for India from the group’s recent meetings. His remarks came as India prepares to host the 2026 BRICS Summit, with the country currently holding the group’s chairmanship.
Chidambaram Questions BRICS Benefits
Mr Chidambaram expressed doubts over whether India’s participation in BRICS has translated into meaningful gains for the country. He questioned what concrete outcomes India had received from the platform and suggested that the government should assess whether the grouping was delivering measurable benefits.
His comments come at a time when the BRICS agenda has expanded beyond its original economic focus, with discussions increasingly covering global governance, trade, technology, development and geopolitical issues.
BJP Targets Congress
The BJP responded sharply to Mr Chidambaram’s remarks, questioning the Congress’ own record and asking what the party had achieved through BRICS when it was in power.
The political exchange comes just days before the BRICS summit, giving added prominence to the debate over India’s role in the grouping and the benefits it can deliver for the country.
India Set to Host BRICS Summit
India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September 2026. As chair, India has sought to focus the grouping on issues including resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
The expanded BRICS grouping now includes 11 member countries, making it a significant platform representing a substantial share of the world’s population and economy.
The summit is also taking place against the backdrop of evolving India-China relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India for the BRICS summit, with the two countries looking to cautiously improve bilateral ties after years of tensions.
What Is at Stake for India?
For New Delhi, the summit provides an opportunity to push issues important to developing economies while maintaining India’s strategic autonomy. India has been advocating a BRICS agenda centred on economic cooperation, technology, development and a stronger voice for the Global South.
However, questions over the group’s ability to produce concrete economic outcomes remain. The debate sparked by Chidambaram’s comments highlights the larger question of whether BRICS can translate its growing geopolitical influence into tangible benefits for member countries, including India.
