BRICS Summit 2025: India’s Strategic Role in Global South Leadership Explained by the Best IAS Academy in Delhi

Introduction: Why BRICS 2025 Should Be on Every UPSC Aspirant’s Radar

Are you preparing for the UPSC exam and trying to connect current affairs with your GS syllabus? Then BRICS Summit 2025 is a golden opportunity to understand India’s diplomatic ambitions, multilateral engagements, and vision for the Global South.

In this blog, mentors from the Best IAS Academy in Delhi for Beginners, Bajirao IAS Academy, break down what this summit means for India and for your UPSC preparation.

What is BRICS? A Quick Revision for Aspirants

BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Formed in 2009, it represents:

• 41% of the world’s population

• 24% of global GDP

• A rising alternative to Western-led global institutions like G7 and NATO

As UPSC aspirants, you must link BRICS with themes like South-South cooperation, multipolar world order, and India’s foreign policy goals.

🇮🇳 BRICS Summit 2025: Why India’s Role Is More Strategic Than Ever

The BRICS 2025 Summit, scheduled to be hosted by Russia, is crucial for India as it:

• Strengthens its position as a leader among developing nations

• Counters China’s dominance diplomatically

• Pushes for reform in global financial and political institutions
  

India's Core Objectives at BRICS 2025

1. Championing the Global South

India wants to become the voice of the Global South by advocating for:

• Technology transfer

• Debt relief

• Equitable climate financing

• Food and energy security
  

“India plays a stabilizer’s role—balancing diplomacy and development. BRICS gives us the platform to shape a new economic order,”

2. Digital and Financial Cooperation

India promotes initiatives like:

• Unified Payment Interface (UPI) integration across BRICS

• Cross-border digital infrastructure

• Strengthening the New Development Bank (NDB)
  

3. Strengthening Multipolarity

India’s strategic diplomacy pushes for:

• UNSC reforms

• Equal voting rights in IMF

• Counter-narratives to Western sanctions and dominance

This reflects India’s “strategic autonomy”—a term often asked in UPSC Mains.

UPSC-Relevant Themes from BRICS 2025 (GS Paper 2 & IR)

UPSC is not about mugging current affairs—it's about analyzing them. Here’s how BRICS 2025 fits into your syllabus:

Topic	UPSC Relevance
India & Neighborhood	India's equation with China, Russia, and South Africa
Multilateral Institutions	Role of BRICS vs. UN, WTO, IMF
South-South Cooperation	India’s leadership in Global South
IR Theory	Realism, multipolarity, balance of power

“In Mains, BRICS is often the context, not the question. Your job is to connect the dots,” “India uses BRICS to show that diplomacy is not just about hard power, but also trust-building and regional leadership. It’s a masterclass in balanced diplomacy.”

“For GS2 and Essay, BRICS offers examples of India’s leadership style—dialogue-driven, tech-forward, and equality-centric.”

These quotes help aspirants build high-quality answers with perspectives.

Sample GS2 Mains Answer Framework

Q: "Discuss the relevance of BRICS for India's leadership role in the Global South."

Intro: Define BRICS and the term ‘Global South’ Body:

• India's initiatives in BRICS (NDB, digital infra)

• Voice for Global South (climate justice, equitable finance)

• Strategic autonomy and balancing China Conclusion: India's long-term soft power via BRICS platforms

Use this format to score 115+ in GS Paper 2!

Why Bajirao IAS Academy is the Best IAS Academy in Delhi for Beginners

Many students feel overwhelmed by complex IR topics. That’s why Bajirao IAS Academy has designed a foundation course that breaks down concepts like BRICS, WTO, or SCO into simple, actionable knowledge for Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Their strengths include:

• Simplified GS2 modules

• Current affairs classes with answer writing practice

• Mock interviews with diplomats

• Monthly ‘IR Digest’ PDFs
  

BRICS-Based Questions You Should Practice

1. How is India redefining multilateralism through BRICS?

2. Evaluate the challenges and opportunities of India-China cooperation in BRICS.

3. Is BRICS still relevant in a polarized global world? Discuss.

4. How can BRICS help India lead the Global South?

Practice these with current examples and mentor feedback.

BRICS Is Not Just News—It’s a Strategy

UPSC preparation isn’t about headlines—it’s about vision. BRICS 2025 shows India’s efforts to lead without dominating, to collaborate without compromising, and to be a voice of balance in an increasingly divided world.

Mentors at Bajirao IAS Academy, consistently ranked as the Best IAS Academy in Delhi for Beginners, help aspirants decode such summits with exam focus—making your learning smarter and impactful.

"Don’t just track events—track India’s role in shaping outcomes. That’s where the marks are."