Archive · 12 Sep 2026
India’s Expanding Global Footprint Across BRICS, Quad and G20
India works with many different groups of countries at the same time.
These groups include BRICS, the Quad, the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Each group helps India pursue a different goal.
The Quad focuses on the Indo-Pacific, technology and safer supply chains.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation helps India engage on security and Central Asia.
BRICS gives India a way to work with developing and emerging economies.
The G20 gives India a role in major global economic discussions.
By joining many groups, India seeks partnerships without depending on one powerful bloc.
India participates in 12 major international groupings, according to the article’s infographic.
Its overlapping memberships reflect a shift after 1991 from non-alignment toward strategic autonomy and issue-based multi-alignment.
The Quad focuses on Indo-Pacific cooperation, while the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation addresses security and Central Asian engagement.
BRICS supports cooperation among emerging and developing economies, while the G20 addresses global economic governance.
India’s memberships span the Indo-Pacific, Eurasia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Europe, climate cooperation and energy.
- Who
- India and the countries participating in the BRICS, Quad, G20, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other listed groupings.
- What
- India is expanding its international influence through participation in 12 major global and regional groupings.
- When
- The shift toward strategic autonomy followed 1991; India chaired the G20 in 2023 and is set to host a BRICS Summit.
- Where
- The groupings cover the Indo-Pacific, Eurasia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Europe and global institutions.
- Why
- India uses different partnerships to advance interests in security, economic governance, development, climate, energy and regional cooperation.
- Groupings covered
- BRICS, the Quad, G20, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BIMSTEC, IORA, I2U2, IMEC, the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance are discussed.
- India’s participation
- The infographic says India belongs to all 12 groupings it compares.
- G20 presidency
- India chaired the G20 in 2023 and emphasized the interests of the Global South.
- Quad members
- India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
- Quad priorities
- Indo-Pacific cooperation, maritime security, resilient supply chains, technology and public goods.
- SCO priorities for India
- Counter-terrorism, engagement with Central Asia and participation in Eurasian security structures.
- Comparative participation
- The infographic lists six groupings each for the United States, Japan and Australia; five each for Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates; and four each for China, Russia, France and Brazil.