Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Amitabh Kant Identifies Three Tests for India’s BRICS Presidency
Amitabh Kant said India faces three important tests while leading BRICS.
First, India must help members discuss the conflict in West Asia.
Some BRICS members, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have different views about that conflict.
Second, India must help the group agree on shared words for its summit document.
The document should look ahead and should not attack Western countries.
Third, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with Russian and Chinese leaders will be important.
Kant said India and China should make progress in development, trade and technology.
He also said India should seek more Chinese technology and investment instead of letting the trade gap grow.
Amitabh Kant said India’s BRICS summit document should be progressive and forward-looking without being anti-Western.
He identified differences among Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the West Asia conflict as a key diplomatic challenge.
Kant said India should help BRICS members agree on minimum common language regarding West Asia.
He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected bilateral meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
Kant called for progress in India-China development, trade and technology ties, including greater Chinese investment and technology.
- Who
- Amitabh Kant discussed India’s BRICS challenges; Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
- What
- India must manage West Asia differences, produce balanced summit language and advance engagement with China during its BRICS presidency.
- When
- During India’s BRICS presidency and the BRICS summit; the article does not specify dates.
- Where
- At the India Today BRICS Roundtable and in bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit; no summit location is specified.
- Why
- India needs to build agreement among an expanded and internally diverse BRICS grouping while strengthening key bilateral relationships.
- Speaker
- Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO
- First test
- Managing differences among BRICS members over the West Asia conflict
- Second test
- Producing a progressive, forward-looking summit document that is not anti-Western
- Third test
- Advancing bilateral engagement, particularly with China and Russia
- Chinese investment rule
- Kant referred to rules under Press Note 2 allowing Chinese investment of up to 10%
- Policy recommendation
- Kant said India should seek Chinese technology and investment rather than allowing the trade imbalance to widen