The evolution of BRICS - from an acronym coined by a Western investment bank to a credible geopolitical bloc - marks one of the most significant shifts in global power dynamics since the end of the Cold War. In that journey, India has emerged as the indispensable centrepiece - not merely a participant, but the pivot around which the bloc's legitimacy and long-term success revolve
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
By Pankaj Mishra
The evolution of BRICS - from an acronym coined by a Western investment bank to a credible geopolitical bloc - marks one of the most significant shifts in global power dynamics since the end of the Cold War. In that journey, India has emerged as the indispensable centrepiece - not merely a participant, but the pivot around which the bloc's legitimacy and long-term success revolve.
For decades, the global order has been defined and dominated by the United States and its transatlantic allies. Institutions like the IMF, World Bank and WTO have largely operated within a framework that aligns with Western economic and strategic priorities. While this system delivered stability in certain periods, it has also perpetuated inequities- often sidelining the interests of developing nations.
BRICS offers India a platform to challenge this one-sided arrangement. It is not about opposing the United States for the sake of confrontation, but about demanding a rebalancing- a recognition that the 21st-century world cannot be governed by the rules of a 20th-century unipolar order. The bloc's combined GDP (in PPP terms) already surpasses that of the G7, and its demographic and resource advantages make it the natural nucleus for the Global South's voice.
US hegemony is not only an economic reality but a political one-anchored in the dominance of the dollar, control over global financial flows, and the ability to sanction at will. For India, which values strategic autonomy above all, a world where a single power can dictate trade routes, financial transactions, and even defence procurements is inherently dangerous.
By deepening its role in BRICS, India pushes for a multipolar order - one where global governance is based on negotiation and mutual respect, not coercion. This vision resonates strongly with emerging economies that have long borne the brunt of Western double standards on trade, climate change, and security.
In BRICS, Russia and China stand as India's natural partners in dismantling unilateralism - though each relationship carries its own dynamics.
With Russia, India shares a deep legacy of strategic trust dating back to the Cold War. Moscow has been a consistent defence partner, a supporter in global forums, and an advocate for India's permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Today, Russia's energy resources, technology, and willingness to bypass Western-dominated systems make it an invaluable ally in BRICS' economic and security agenda.
With China, the relationship is more nuanced. While border tensions and competition in the Indo-Pacific remain real, both nations recognise that cooperation in global forums serves their strategic interests. China's economic weight and technological prowess, combined with India's demographic dividend and strategic geography, make the partnership an unavoidable- if sometimes uneasy- reality. In the context of BRICS, they can set aside bilateral disputes to jointly advance the cause of global financial reform and trade diversification.
India's Unique Role: Bridge and Balancer
India's value to BRICS lies not only in its economic size or military capabilities, but in its ability to act as a bridge between competing blocs. Unlike China and Russia, India maintains strong relations with the West- this gives it credibility when advocating for reform rather than rupture. Unlike Brazil or South Africa, India's geographic position and economic momentum make it a natural anchor for Eurasian and Indo-Pacific connectivity.
Crucially, India's democratic system adds moral weight to BRICS' demands. It demonstrates that a multipolar world need not be dominated by authoritarian models-diversity of governance can coexist with shared economic goals.
The Road Ahead
If BRICS is to evolve beyond a talking shop, India must lead the push for institutionalisation - from the development of alternative financial mechanisms to greater coordination in technology, energy, and supply chains. The New Development Bank (NDB) and the push for de-dollarisation are early steps, but without sustained political will, the bloc risks losing momentum.
India's centrality in BRICS is thus both an opportunity and a responsibility. By leveraging its partnerships with Russia and China- while staying true to its independent foreign policy - India can help craft a world order that is less prone to unilateral diktats and more responsive to the aspirations of the many, not the few.
In an era when the old order is fraying but the new has not yet been born, India is not just part of BRICS- it is its moral, strategic and geopolitical pivot.
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