Archive · 4 Sep 2026
India’s Three BRICS Summits Shifted From Finance to Security
India has hosted the BRICS meeting three times: in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
In 2012, leaders mainly discussed improving the world’s financial system.
They supported creating a development bank, which later became the New Development Bank.
In 2016, security and fighting terrorism became more important topics.
Leaders also reviewed financial tools that could help member countries during money problems.
In 2021, the meeting happened online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leaders discussed vaccines, health cooperation and how to respond to future health emergencies.
They also discussed Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power.
India hosted BRICS summits in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
The 2012 summit advanced plans for a South-South development bank and local-currency credit facilities.
The 2016 Goa summit emphasized counter-terrorism and noted progress on BRICS financial mechanisms.
The virtual 2021 summit focused on pandemic cooperation, vaccines and the Afghanistan crisis.
Across the three summits, India helped broaden BRICS from an economic grouping into a wider diplomatic and financial platform.
- Who
- India and leaders of the BRICS countries.
- What
- India hosted three BRICS summits that addressed financial reform, security, counter-terrorism, healthcare and Afghanistan.
- When
- In 2012, 2016 and 2021.
- Where
- New Delhi in 2012, Goa in 2016 and virtually in 2021.
- Why
- India used each presidency to address priorities shaped by global financial pressures, terrorism, the pandemic and developments in Afghanistan.
- Summits hosted by India
- Three: 2012, 2016 and 2021
- 2012 theme
- “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity”
- 2012 financial outcome
- Leaders asked finance ministers to examine a South-South development bank; the proposal led to the New Development Bank in 2014.
- 2016 theme
- “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”
- 2016 security focus
- The Goa Declaration condemned terrorism and called for faster progress on a proposed UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
- 2021 theme
- “BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus”
- 2021 health initiative
- The BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre was launched to strengthen vaccine cooperation and preparedness.
- 2021 Afghanistan position
- Leaders called for an inclusive political settlement and said Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack other countries.