EAM Jaishankar launches logo, official website of BRICS 2026 under India Chairship

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday launched the official logo and website for BRICS 2026, scheduled to take place this year, with India as the chair of the multilateral forum, which was formed in 2006.

The grouping is led by five major economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia becoming full members of the forum later. The launch is part of India’s efforts to strengthen outreach, communication, and collaboration among BRICS member nations ahead of its 2026 leadership of the grouping.

The new logo is inspired by the lotus, symbolising deep-rooted heritage and rising resilience. Its petals reflect the colours of the BRICS countries, representing the many voices united under one shared purpose. At the centre of the emblem is the Namaste gesture, signifying respect and a call for collaboration.

Jaishankar said that India’s BRICS Chairship will seek to bring about greater global welfare, as it has expanded its scope over the years.

Speaking at the launch of BRICS India 2026 Website, Logo and Theme. https://t.co/LLZb16y9VA

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 13, 2026

He said, “India’s BRICS chairship will seek to bring together the potential of BRICS countries for greater global welfare. When India prepares to assume the BRICS chairship in 2026, we do so at an important moment in the grouping’s journey. In 2026, BRICS will complete 20 years since its inception, during which it has steadily evolved into a significant platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies. Over the years, BRICS has expanded its agenda and membership, responding to changing global realities, while remaining focused on people-centric development, fostering dialogue, and promoting practical cooperation,” he said.

Jaishankar said that India is approaching the chairship while being inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance while maintaining humanity first approach.

“India approaches its chairship with a humanity-first and a people-centric approach, inspired by the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our chairship theme, building for resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, reflects our belief that cooperation among BRICS members can help address shared challenges in a balanced and inclusive manner,” he said.

At the launch of the BRICS 2026 logo, he said that the theme underscores development for all. Jaishankar said, “The theme underscores the importance of strengthening capacities, promoting innovation, and ensuring sustainable development for the benefit of all. The logo that we unveiled today reflects this approach. It combines elements of tradition and modernity, and the petals incorporate the colours of all BRICS member countries, representing unity and diversity and a strong sense of shared purpose.”

“The logo conveys the idea that BRICS draws strength from the collective contributions of its members while respecting their distinct identities. The BRICS India website which has also been launched this morning, will serve as a common platform during India’s chairship. It will provide information on meetings, initiatives, and outcomes, and will facilitate greater transparency and engagement. It will also help timely dissemination of information throughout,” he added.

Jaishankar highlighted how the current global environment is laced with uncertainties and complications. He said, “The current global environment presents complex and interlinked challenges, geopolitical uncertainties, complicated economic landscapes, climate-related risks, technological changes, and persistent development gaps continue to affect countries across regions. In this context, BRICS remains an important forum that encourages dialogue and cooperation and practical responses, taking into account national priorities at different stages of development.”

According to officials, the emblem embodies a people-centric vision, emphasising cooperation, mutual respect, and solidarity as India leads BRICS in 2026, with the tagline accompanying the logo reading, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The website launch aims to provide a central platform for information on BRICS initiatives, projects, events, and official documents. The EAM, following the launch, stated that the BRICS chairmanship will focus on advancing global welfare as the grouping marks its 20th anniversary in 2026.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, BRICS, the grouping of major emerging economies, has grown into a significant global platform, now bringing together eleven member nations that collectively represent around 49.5 per cent of the world’s population, approximately 40 per cent of global GDP, and nearly 26 per cent of global trade.

The acronym BRIC was first coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs in their Global Economics Paper, “The World Needs Better Economic BRICs”, based on analyses projecting that Brazil, Russia, India, and China would individually and collectively occupy a larger share of the global economy and become among the world’s largest economies over the following decades.

The grouping took formal shape after a meeting of the leaders of Russia, India, and China in St Petersburg during the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006, and was further institutionalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York later that year.

The first BRIC Summit was subsequently held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. In 2010, it was agreed to expand BRIC to BRICS, with South Africa joining at the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011.

The grouping expanded further in 2024, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE becoming full members on January 1, 2024. Indonesia joined as a full member in January 2025, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan were inducted as partner countries of BRICS.

Over the years, BRICS has evolved into a dynamic forum that promotes cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and sustainable development, and provides a platform for dialogue among emerging economies to address global challenges and reform multilateral institutions.

With India set to lead BRICS in 2026, the grouping is poised to further strengthen its global footprint and advance cooperation across economic, technological, and geopolitical domains. (ANI)