New Delhi: Congress leader Rajesh Thakur has questioned the tangible outcomes of the 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi, saying that only time will reveal what India has actually gained from the high-profile diplomatic gathering.
The summit, held on September 12 and 13 under India's chairship, brought together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping and focused on global governance, economic cooperation, technology, sustainability and major international conflicts. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
Reacting to the conclusion of the summit, Thakur expressed scepticism about the government's claims regarding its achievements. He suggested that the real impact of the discussions and agreements would have to be judged by their implementation and by whether they eventually translate into concrete benefits for India.
His comments come as the ruling BJP has described the summit as a major diplomatic success for the country. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, for instance, termed the summit a “historic success” and praised India's foreign policy and leadership of the grouping.
India's BRICS chairship has been presented by the government as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among emerging economies and give greater representation to the Global South. According to the government, more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements were organised across 25 cities during India's 2026 chairship. Several initiatives were advanced in areas including agriculture, digital technology, industry, health and financial cooperation.
One of the key outcomes of the summit was the New Delhi Declaration, which reaffirmed the members' commitment to multilateralism and called for reforms in global institutions. The declaration also addressed international conflicts, economic issues and cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and development.
The summit also witnessed a series of important bilateral engagements involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of BRICS countries. Discussions covered areas including trade, investment, defence, energy, critical minerals and regional stability. Modi also met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit, with both sides discussing the need to maintain stability in bilateral relations.
For the Congress, however, the focus remains on whether these diplomatic engagements produce measurable results for the country. Thakur's remarks reflect the opposition's broader approach of questioning government claims of diplomatic success and seeking greater clarity over specific gains from international summits.
The 18th BRICS Summit was also significant as the grouping marked two decades since its formation. India's chairship emphasised four priorities resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability with the government stressing the need to convert consensus among member nations into practical outcomes.
With the summit now concluded, attention is likely to shift towards the implementation of the commitments made in New Delhi. As Thakur indicated, the effectiveness of the summit will ultimately depend not only on declarations and diplomatic meetings but on what tangible results emerge in the months and years ahead.
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