UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — BRICS should ensure the world is free from ‘double standards’: Xi

Q1. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members of BRICS with effect from which date, and pursuant to a decision taken at which summit?

  • A. 1 January 2024, pursuant to the decision taken at the Johannesburg Summit of 2023
  • B. 1 January 2023, pursuant to the decision taken at the Beijing Summit of 2022
  • C. 1 January 2025, pursuant to the decision taken at the Kazan Summit of 2024
  • D. 1 January 2024, pursuant to the decision taken at the Kazan Summit of 2024

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the two most recent rounds of BRICS enlargement: 1. Indonesia became a full member of BRICS in 2025, whereas Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates had become full members in 2024. 2. The Partner Country category created in 2025 confers on its members the same rights within the grouping's full-membership structure as those enjoyed by full members. 3. All the countries admitted to the Partner Country category in 2025 are located exclusively in Asia and Africa. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Indonesia became a full member of BRICS in 2025, whereas Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates had become full members in 2024.
  2. The Partner Country category created in 2025 confers on its members the same rights within the grouping's full-membership structure as those enjoyed by full members.
  3. All the countries admitted to the Partner Country category in 2025 are located exclusively in Asia and Africa.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The sub-title of the outcome document adopted at New Delhi on 12 September 2026 reproduced India's Chairship theme, which expands the letters of 'BRICS' into a phrase. That phrase is:

  • A. Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
  • B. Bridging Regions through Investment, Connectivity and Solidarity
  • C. Building Reform, Inclusion, Cohesion and Shared Security
  • D. Bridging for Recovery, Integration, Commerce and Stability

Q4. India assumed the BRICS Chairship on 1 January 2026 for the fourth time. In which earlier years had India held the Chairship?

  • A. 2012, 2016 and 2021
  • B. 2010, 2014 and 2019
  • C. 2012, 2017 and 2021
  • D. 2013, 2016 and 2020

Q5. At the concluding session of the 18th BRICS Summit, it was announced that the Chairship for 2027, along with the hosting of the next annual summit, would pass to which one of the following member states?

  • A. China, whose President made the announcement at the closing session in New Delhi
  • B. Brazil, whose President made the announcement at the closing session in New Delhi
  • C. Russia, whose President made the announcement at the closing session in New Delhi
  • D. South Africa, whose President made the announcement at the closing session in New Delhi

Q6. Which one of the following correctly describes the lead initiative among the five unveiled by the Chinese President at the 18th BRICS Summit, New Delhi?

  • A. A BRICS open-source AI community to support cooperation on developing and applying large language models
  • B. A binding BRICS treaty making open-source licensing compulsory for every artificial intelligence model built in member states
  • C. Transfer of the entire governance of artificial intelligence in BRICS countries to a technology arm of the New Development Bank
  • D. An undertaking that BRICS members would exclusively adopt a single common large language model developed in China

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the Chinese President's five-point initiative with the collective outcomes of the 18th BRICS Summit: 1. The five-point initiative included a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance, while the New Delhi Declaration called for keeping artificial intelligence out of education. 2. The five-point initiative proposed a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, whereas the BRICS leaders collectively committed to implement the BRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. 3. The five-point initiative proposed a BRICS special economic zone partnership, while the New Delhi Declaration welcomed a new startup incubator network and a proposed innovation fund. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The five-point initiative included a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance, while the New Delhi Declaration called for keeping artificial intelligence out of education.
  2. The five-point initiative proposed a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, whereas the BRICS leaders collectively committed to implement the BRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.
  3. The five-point initiative proposed a BRICS special economic zone partnership, while the New Delhi Declaration welcomed a new startup incubator network and a proposed innovation fund.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. At the 18th BRICS Summit, the Indian Prime Minister, while arguing that the Global South must become a rule-shaper, proposed that BRICS jointly formulate how many proposals for global governance reform, to be consolidated into a reform roadmap by the next summit?

  • A. 5 proposals, to be consolidated into a BRICS reform roadmap
  • B. 10 proposals, to be consolidated into a BRICS reform roadmap
  • C. 15 proposals, to be consolidated into a BRICS reform roadmap
  • D. 20 proposals, to be consolidated into a BRICS reform roadmap

Q9. Consider the following statements about the use of the expression 'double standards' around the 18th BRICS Summit: 1. The Chinese President deployed the expression with reference to the application of international law and rules, whereas the Indian Prime Minister invoked it primarily in the context of counter-terrorism. 2. The Indian Prime Minister urged that the Global South should remain a 'rule-taker' rather than seek to become a 'rule-shaper'. 3. The rejection of 'double standards' in the fight against terrorism had also figured in the declaration adopted at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held at Bishkek shortly before the BRICS Summit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Chinese President deployed the expression with reference to the application of international law and rules, whereas the Indian Prime Minister invoked it primarily in the context of counter-terrorism.
  2. The Indian Prime Minister urged that the Global South should remain a 'rule-taker' rather than seek to become a 'rule-shaper'.
  3. The rejection of 'double standards' in the fight against terrorism had also figured in the declaration adopted at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held at Bishkek shortly before the BRICS Summit.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Unlike the G7 and the G20, which function without a permanent secretariat and rely on national Sherpas, BRICS work in India is likewise run through a Sherpa-led national mechanism. Which one of the following operationalised India's BRICS Chairship of 2026, including the Sherpas' meetings?

  • A. The Ministry of External Affairs, which convened the Sherpas' meetings of India's Chairship at New Delhi
  • B. The NITI Aayog, which is the sole nodal body for every plurilateral grouping that India belongs to
  • C. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which alone runs all BRICS tracks including the political and security track
  • D. The Ministry of Finance, which is exclusively responsible for India's engagement with all multilateral groupings

Q11. With reference to the institutional mechanisms created by BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The New Development Bank was established under an agreement signed at Fortaleza in 2014 and has its headquarters at Shanghai. 2. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement operates as a multilateral currency swap arrangement among the central banks of BRICS countries. 3. Membership of the New Development Bank is permanently restricted to the founding BRICS countries alone. 4. The initial authorised capital of the New Development Bank was US$100 billion, contributed entirely by China. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The New Development Bank was established under an agreement signed at Fortaleza in 2014 and has its headquarters at Shanghai.
  2. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement operates as a multilateral currency swap arrangement among the central banks of BRICS countries.
  3. Membership of the New Development Bank is permanently restricted to the founding BRICS countries alone.
  4. The initial authorised capital of the New Development Bank was US$100 billion, contributed entirely by China.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only