Discuss the significance of India's BRICS Chairmanship in advancing multilateral cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction. (GS-II/GS-III, 250 words)

Q. Discuss the significance of India's BRICS Chairmanship in advancing multilateral cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction. (15 marks, 250 words)

As BRICS Chair for 2026, India steered a year-long, technical-to-ministerial process culminating in the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in New Delhi (24 July 2026), reflecting recognition that disasters are systemic risks to sustainable development, climate resilience and human security [1].

Diplomatic and strategic significance - Uses the Chairmanship to project leadership in non-traditional security, widening BRICS beyond its economic-security core [1]. - Convened ministers from 10 member states, including the expanded bloc (Egypt, Iran, UAE, Indonesia and others), building South-South solidarity [1].

Institutional and administrative gains - Showcased NDMA's capacity to shepherd a DRR Working Group into a ministerial consensus within a year, under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" [1]. - Platformed India's tested models (e.g. Odisha's cyclone response) as exportable best practice.

Advancing DRR cooperation - Anchored dialogue on climate-smart, disaster-resilient infrastructure, partnerships and financing, operationalising the four priorities of the Sendai Framework 2015–2030 [2]. - Extends the PM's 10-Point Agenda on DRR (AMCDRR, 2016) into a multilateral setting [3].

Limitations - Consensus among economically and geographically diverse members risks diluting binding commitments; outcomes remain largely declaratory.

By linking domestic disaster-management strength to plurilateral diplomacy, India converts vulnerability into cooperative capacity. Institutionalising a standing BRICS DRR mechanism with financing under the New Development Bank would advance shared resilience and the Sendai goals.

(~245 words)

Sources: 1. BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, New Delhi (PIB, 2026) — host/NDMA, 10 members, theme, systemic-risk framing, climate-resilient infrastructure agenda 2. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (UNDRR) — four priorities India's DRR engagement operationalises 3. PM's Ten-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction, AMCDRR 2016 (PIB) — foundational DRR policy extended to multilateral cooperation