Dignitaries savour Indian cuisine at BRICS gala dinner

1. At a Glance

• India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit (12–13 September 2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, its first as summit host since BRICS expanded membership [1][2].
• PM Narendra Modi hosted a gala dinner for BRICS leaders showcasing Indian culinary diplomacy — soft power via cuisine at a major multilateral event [3].
• For UPSC, this is a current-affairs peg into the larger, examinable topic of India's BRICS Chairship 2026, its theme, venue and participating leaders.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping's absence from the dinner is a minor but noteworthy diplomatic optics point [3].

2. Why in the News

• India held the 18th BRICS Summit on 12–13 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam under its fourth BRICS Chairship [1][2].
• On Day 1 (13 Sept 2026 per Hindu report dateline), PM Modi hosted a gala dinner serving Indian dishes — paneer lababdar, millet pulao, khandvi mille, khumb galouti, gucchi marmik, carrot-bean poriyal, shahtoot phirni — to visiting heads of state/government [3].
• Xi Jinping skipped the dinner, reportedly returning to his hotel to rest; reason not officially confirmed [3].

3. Background & Evolution

• BRICS originated as "BRIC" (Brazil, Russia, India, China), a term coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill; first BRIC summit held in 2009 (Yekaterinburg, Russia); South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.
• Expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE (and later others), making it a broader multilateral grouping representing Global South interests.
• India previously hosted BRICS Summit in 2012 (New Delhi) and 2021 (virtual, Chairship).
• 2026 marks India's fourth Chairship of BRICS and its first summit-hosting since the bloc's expansion [1].
• Theme for India's 2026 Chairship: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" [1][2].

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic

• Hosting BRICS reaffirms India's positioning as a Global South leader and balancer among major powers (Russia, China) amid ongoing global realignments.
• Bilateral optics matter: Modi-Xi engagement at the summit is being closely watched given border tensions; Xi's gala dinner absence adds a subtle diplomatic signal [3].
• BRICS expansion (2024) has diluted original BRIC cohesion, raising India's challenge of balancing ties with China/Russia against its Quad/Western partnerships.

Cultural / Soft Power

• Culinary diplomacy — showcasing regional Indian cuisine (Gujarati khandvi, Awadhi galouti, Himalayan morel "gucchi," South Indian poriyal, Kashmiri phirni) — projects India's cultural diversity to a global audience, akin to G20 2023 practices.

Administrative

• Execution of 350+ meetings across 25 cities during the Chairship year reflects India's decentralized "federal diplomacy" approach, involving multiple states in hosting duties [1].

Economic

• Associated BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition highlights India's Deep-Tech/innovation ambitions to BRICS partners, linking soft diplomacy with economic showcasing [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• June 2026: BRICS Agriculture Working Group meeting held in Indore (9–11 June), followed by Agriculture Ministers' meeting (12–13 June) [1].
• BRICS Health Working Group's first 2026 meeting hosted by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi [1].
• 11–12 September 2026: BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition held at Bharat Mandapam alongside the summit [1].
• 12–13 September 2026: 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi; gala dinner hosted by PM Modi on 12 September [1][3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• The 18th BRICS Summit (2026) was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi [1].
• India's 2026 BRICS Chairship theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" [1].
• 2026 marks India's fourth Chairship of BRICS [1].
• BRICS originated from the acronym "BRIC," coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001.
• First BRIC Summit held in 2009 at Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• South Africa joined BRIC in 2010, forming BRICS.
• BRICS underwent major expansion in 2024, adding new members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE.
• The BRICS Bharat Innovates (BBI) Exposition was organised by the Ministry of Education (11–12 Sept 2026) [1].
• Gala dinner dessert served: shahtoot phirni [3].
• Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the BRICS gala dinner hosted by PM Modi [3].
• India previously hosted a BRICS Summit in New Delhi in 2012.
• 'Khumb galouti' — a starter using mushrooms styled on the Awadhi galouti kebab — was served at the 2026 gala [3].
• More than 350 ministerial meetings/engagements were held across 25 cities during India's 2026 BRICS Chairship [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II (International Relations): India's role in multilateral groupings — BRICS, Global South leadership, India-China/India-Russia relations.
• GS-I (Culture): Culinary/cultural diplomacy as an instrument of soft power (may link to Art & Culture / Indian society sections).
• Possible question stems: 1. Discuss the significance of India's Chairship of BRICS in 2026 in the context of a rapidly evolving multipolar world order. (GS-II) 2. Culinary diplomacy has increasingly become a tool of India's soft power projection at multilateral summits. Discuss with examples. (GS-I/GS-II) 3. Examine the challenges India faces in balancing its strategic partnerships with the West while deepening its role within BRICS. (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• BRICS expansion (2024) — new members and implications for group cohesion.
• India-China relations post-Galwan — relevant given Modi-Xi dynamics at the summit.
• G20 New Delhi Summit 2023 — comparative precedent of India hosting a major multilateral summit with cultural diplomacy elements.
• NDB (New Development Bank) — BRICS' financial institution, headquartered in Shanghai.
• India's Look East / Act East and Global South leadership initiatives — broader foreign policy context.
• Cultural diplomacy & GI-tagged Indian foods — links to India's soft power strategy.
• India AI Impact Summit 2026 — another major multilateral summit hosted at Bharat Mandapam in 2026.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing BRICS with BRICS Plus or G20 — different membership and mandates; do not conflate venues/summits.
• Misattributing the nodal ministry — MEA coordinates BRICS diplomacy overall, but sector-specific meetings (agriculture, health, education) are run by respective line ministries [1].
• Assuming Xi Jinping's absence from the gala dinner had a confirmed political cause — the source explicitly states the reason was not officially confirmed [3]; avoid stating it as fact in Mains answers.
• Mixing up India's Chairship count — 2026 is India's fourth Chairship, not first; India hosted before (2012, 2021) [1].
• Assuming BRICS founding year is same as first summit — the acronym dates to 2001, but the first actual summit was in 2009.