New Delhi, September 12: The BRICS 2026 Summit commenced today at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the venue yesterday, marking India’s fourth presidency of BRICS, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016, and 2021. This year’s theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” coinciding with the 20th anniversary of BRICS. All 11 member countries are participating in the summit, including leaders such as China’s President Xi Jinping, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The member nations consist of India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, partner countries include Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. During the meeting, PM Modi presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Tirukkural.