UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Harnessing BRICS ‘POWER’ to empower the world

Q1. Consider the following statements about countries invited at the 2023 BRICS Summit to join the grouping: 1. Egypt took up the invitation and became a full member with effect from 1 January 2024. 2. Argentina, having been invited, became a full member along with every other invited country. 3. Ethiopia took up the invitation and became a full member with effect from 1 January 2024. 4. Indonesia was among the countries that acquired full membership in the 1 January 2024 round. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Egypt took up the invitation and became a full member with effect from 1 January 2024.
  2. Argentina, having been invited, became a full member along with every other invited country.
  3. Ethiopia took up the invitation and became a full member with effect from 1 January 2024.
  4. Indonesia was among the countries that acquired full membership in the 1 January 2024 round.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. As of India's 2026 chairship, how many BRICS full members are countries of the African continent?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q3. In the context of India's preparations for the 18th BRICS Summit, the term 'BRICS Sherpa' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The senior official who steers a member country's negotiating track and prepares the leaders' summit agenda
  • B. The presiding officer of the BRICS Business Council nominated for the year by the chair country
  • C. The member country's representative on the standing committee of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement
  • D. The liaison officer deputed by each member country to the permanent BRICS Secretariat at Shanghai

Q4. Consider the following ministerial/official-level BRICS meetings hosted by India during its 2026 chairship and their venues: 1. 11th BRICS Energy Ministers' Meeting — Gurugram 2. 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting — Chandigarh 3. 16th BRICS Trade Ministers' Meeting — Indore 4. 18th Meeting of Heads of Intellectual Property Offices — New Delhi Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. 11th BRICS Energy Ministers' Meeting — Gurugram
  2. 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting — Chandigarh
  3. 16th BRICS Trade Ministers' Meeting — Indore
  4. 18th Meeting of Heads of Intellectual Property Offices — New Delhi
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q5. India's chairship of BRICS in 2026 is its fourth. Which one of the following correctly gives the years of India's three earlier chairships?

  • A. 2009, 2016 and 2021
  • B. 2012, 2017 and 2021
  • C. 2013, 2016 and 2022
  • D. 2012, 2016 and 2021

Q6. Which one of the following is the overarching theme adopted for India's BRICS chairship in 2026?

  • A. Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security
  • B. Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
  • C. Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance
  • D. BRICS: Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions

Q7. The first summit of BRIC leaders, held in 2009, took place in which one of the following cities?

  • A. Sanya
  • B. Brasilia
  • C. Ufa
  • D. Yekaterinburg

Q8. The 'Principle' pillar of the five-point 'POWER' framework proposed for BRICS cooperation ahead of the New Delhi Summit rests on sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes. These are invoked as enshrined in which one of the following?

  • A. The Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, in force since 2003
  • B. The Fortaleza Declaration adopted at the sixth BRICS Summit in 2014
  • C. The Charter of the United Nations
  • D. The Brasilia Declaration issued by the IBSA Dialogue Forum in 2003

Q9. In the five-point 'POWER' framework articulated for BRICS cooperation on the eve of the New Delhi Summit, the leading element — the letter 'P' — stands for which one of the following?

  • A. Partnership
  • B. Prosperity
  • C. Peace
  • D. Principle

Q10. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the IBSA Dialogue Forum?

  • A. A trilateral South-South grouping formalised by the Brasilia Declaration of 2003, which also operates a development fund for poverty and hunger alleviation
  • B. A trilateral consultative mechanism created at the second BRIC summit of 2010 to coordinate the admission of new members from the Global South
  • C. A grouping of BRICS trade ministers constituted under the Fortaleza Declaration to execute South-South technical cooperation projects
  • D. A caucus of Indian Ocean member states of BRICS that supervises the Africa Regional Centre of the New Development Bank

Q11. The Agreement establishing the New Development Bank and the Treaty establishing the Contingent Reserve Arrangement were signed at which one of the following BRICS summits?

  • A. The fifth summit held at Durban in 2013
  • B. The sixth summit held at Fortaleza in 2014
  • C. The seventh summit held at Ufa in 2015
  • D. The eighth summit held at Goa in 2016