From weakest link to key player: How India strengthened its position in BRICS

India’s standing within the BRICS bloc has undergone a notable transformation, moving from early doubts about its suitability to a more influential role in the coalition’s strategic agenda. The change has been highlighted by officials and analysts who note the country’s growing contribution to the group’s collective initiatives.

When BRICS was founded in 2006, India’s economy was expanding at a rate exceeding 9 percent. By the fiscal year 2012‑13, growth had decelerated to roughly 5 percent, prompting Western media, economists and rating agencies to describe India as the bloc’s weakest link and to question its continued membership. These assessments were based on publicly reported GDP figures and comparative performance metrics across the five nations.

The BRICS partnership, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was created to foster cooperation among major emerging economies. India’s earlier slowdown raised concerns among member states and investors about the bloc’s overall economic balance. The later rebound in India’s growth has been seen as strengthening the group’s bargaining power in global trade negotiations and attracting greater foreign investment, thereby benefiting businesses and citizens across the member countries.