"Expansion has widened BRICS' reach but diluted its coherence." Critically examine with reference to the 2026 New Delhi Summit.

BRICS has grown from five founders to 11 members [2]. At the 18th Summit in New Delhi (12–13 September 2026), all members agreed to the New Delhi Declaration [1]. The bloc's reach has clearly grown. Its unity has not grown with it.

Widened reach

• Global South voice: The Declaration points to the growing share of emerging and developing economies in world output. It asks for a more representative UN and international financial institutions [1].
• Economic agenda: It backs local-currency trade, interoperable payment systems, the Economic Partnership Strategy 2030 and a Global Value Chain Action Plan 2026–2030 [1].
• New sectors: Members committed to a joint statement on AI governance, and India launched the BRICS–NDB Knowledge Portal [2].
• Depth of engagement: India's Chairship held over 400 meetings in 30 cities [3].

Diluted coherence

• Weak agreement: Decisions need consensus [1], so any one of 11 members can block a line. The text keeps only what nobody objects to. It is broad, but it binds members to little.
• Rivalries inside the bloc: India and China are still in a border standoff after Galwan (2020). Egypt and Ethiopia are at odds over the GERD dam on the Nile, and Iran has rivalries with the Gulf states.
• UNSC reform: China and Russia already hold permanent seats (UN Charter, Art. 23) [4]. A joint call for reform does not mean they back a seat for India.
• Words versus practice: The Declaration condemns unilateral and secondary sanctions [1]. Yet BRICS' own New Development Bank put new Russian transactions on hold in 2022 [5].
• Split on the dollar: India wants practical workarounds, not a common currency. So the Declaration talks about payment interoperability, not a BRICS currency [1].

Assessment The statement is largely valid, but the consensus rule also helps India. It lets India block any anti-Western tilt, which fits its policy of keeping good ties with all major powers (multi-alignment).

BRICS now speaks for more of the world, but it struggles to act as one. India should push for measurable targets under Strategy 2030. It should keep payment links technical, not political, and steer NDB lending toward projects that sanctions do not affect. This would turn wider reach into results, in the spirit of SDG 17 (global partnerships).