First BRICS Sherpas' Meeting Held During India's Chairship in New Delhi
New Delhi, February 11
The first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas under India's Chairship was held from 9-10 February 2026 in New Delhi.
The meeting was Chaired by Secretary (Economic Relations) Sudhakar Dalela, India's BRICS Sherpa, supported by Joint Secretary (Multilateral Economic Relations) Shambhu L Hakki, India's BRICS Sous Sherpa.
BRICS Sherpas and senior officials from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and UAE participated in the meeting. The BRICS Sherpas and Country Representatives jointly called on the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 10 February 2026.
During the meeting, India presented the priorities for its Chairship in 2026 under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". Several Ministries and Departments of the Government of India presented India's priorities and proposed activities under various BRICS thematic areas, including cooperation in health, agriculture, labour and employment, disaster risk reduction, environment, climate change, energy, innovation, ICT, security and counter-terrorism, economic and financial domains. Further, there was a productive exchange of views on institutional development of the BRICS grouping. In line with India's approach of having a "people-centric" Chairship, presentations on cooperation in sports, youth connect, cultural engagements, BRICS Academic Forum, BRICS Think Tank Council, BRICS Civil Forum as well as the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women's Business Alliance were also made.
The representatives of the BRICS Partner countries participated at the opening session of the meeting. The BRICS Members and Partner countries appreciated the theme and priorities identified by India for its Chairship, which builds on the cooperative activities carried out under previous BRICS Chairships, and shared their perspectives in advancing priorities of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, and people-centric approach.
The delegates visited the National Crafts Museum & Hastakala Academy and Akshardham Temple. The BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas will continue to meet regularly during the course of the year to coordinate work across various thematic tracks.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartening to see India taking the lead on such a diverse platform. The inclusion of disaster risk reduction and climate change is crucial. Hope this translates into concrete action, not just meetings. The visit to Akshardham is a nice cultural touch.
Good to see the BRICS group expanding with new members. India's leadership can help balance the dynamics. The focus on economic cooperation and counter-terrorism is very important for our national security interests. Let's see how China engages constructively.
As an expat in Delhi, it's impressive to see India hosting such significant multilateral meetings. The priorities around innovation and ICT are where India can truly shine and offer leadership. The "people-centric" approach is a refreshing change from pure geopolitics.
While the themes sound good, I hope our diplomats are clear-eyed. We must ensure our national interests are protected, especially in forums where strategic competitors are present. The proof will be in the outcomes, not the presentations. Wishing the team the best.
Love the emphasis on the BRICS Women's Business Alliance! 👏 Promoting women entrepreneurs on such a platform is a fantastic step. Also, showcasing our crafts at the National Crafts Museum is perfect soft diplomacy. This is how you build lasting connections.
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