BRICS NEW MEMBER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - IR)

Context: In a landmark decision, members of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) declared expansion of the grouping by welcoming six new countries into the fold. 

• Announcing the decision at the end of the 15th BRICS summit at Johannesburg, Prime Minister said addition of new members would strengthen the outfit and increase confidence in the idea of multipolar world order.
• The decision to expand BRICS was taken 13 years after the organisation was last expanded with the addition of South Africa in 2010. 
• Originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS was envisioned as a global-level outfit of major economies that are playing an increasingly important role in the post-Cold War world order.