India hosts BRICS summit: What does Delhi actually gain?

India will host the BRICS summit as questions grow about what the country gains from the group. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It is a bloc of major emerging economies that meets to discuss trade, security and development. For India, the group offers a platform to talk with rivals and partners at the same table. It also gives Delhi a voice in shaping rules for developing countries. But critics say the benefits are limited. BRICS has no binding trade rules. Its members often disagree. And China, the largest economy in the group, tends to set the agenda. So what does India want from this summit? Delhi is expected to push for reform of global institutions, more cooperation on counter-terrorism, and better access to finance for developing nations. What India actually gets may be smaller. The group can send a signal of unity. It can open side talks. But it rarely delivers hard results. For now, India will use the summit to look like a leader of the Global South. Whether that pays off at home is another question.