Global Groupings Notes for UPSC

In international relations, countries often work together through groupings to protect common interests, solve global problems and increase their voice. For India, groupings such as BRICS, SCO, Quad and G20 are tools of its multi-alignment policy. The UPSC Civil Services Examination asks about the members, headquarters, objectives, recent summits and India's role in these groups almost every year, in Prelims as well as in Mains. This note explains the main global groupings in simple language, in a form easy to revise.

BRICS

BRICS is a group of emerging economies. The term "BRIC" was coined by economist Jim O'Neill of Goldman Sachs in 2001 for Brazil, Russia, India and China. The group held its first summit in 2009 in Russia, and South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS. In 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became full members (and Saudi Arabia was invited), and Indonesia joined in 2025, with several other countries as partners, so the group is now called "BRICS+" in common use. BRICS has no permanent secretariat; the chairmanship rotates every year, and India was the chair in 2016 and 2021 and holds the 2026 chair. Its achievements include the New Development Bank (NDB), established in 2014-15 and headquartered in Shanghai, and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), which provides support in a payment crisis. BRICS represents about 40 percent of the world population and a large share of global output. Its main aims are reform of global institutions like the IMF and the UN Security Council, support for the Global South and greater use of local currencies in trade.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and security group formed in 2001 in Shanghai, an expansion of the Shanghai Five of 1996. Its headquarters is in Beijing, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is in Tashkent. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, Iran joined in 2023 and Belarus in 2024. The SCO focuses on counter-terrorism, regional security, energy and connectivity with Central Asia. India uses it to engage with Central Asia and to raise the issue of cross-border terrorism, but it did not endorse the Belt and Road Initiative language in SCO statements. India held the chair in 2022-23. The official languages are Chinese and Russian.

Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)

The Quad is a group of four democracies: India, the USA, Japan and Australia. It began informally after the 2004 tsunami relief work, took a formal shape in 2007, stalled and was revived in 2017. Leaders' level summits started in 2021. The Quad works for a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, and has working groups on vaccines and health, critical and emerging technology, climate, space, cyber security, infrastructure and maritime security. It is not a military alliance or a treaty organisation and has no secretariat. Quad also supports maritime domain awareness through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and the Malabar naval exercise, which involves all four navies.

G20 (Group of Twenty)

The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation. It was formed in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, and leaders' summits began in 2008 after the global financial crisis. It has 19 countries plus the European Union, and in 2023, under India's presidency, the African Union became a permanent member. G20 members make up about 85 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of trade and two-thirds of world population. It has no permanent secretariat; the presidency rotates through the "Troika". India held the presidency from December 2022 to November 2023, with the theme "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future", and the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration was adopted by consensus. Key outcomes included the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the Global Biofuel Alliance and support for digital public infrastructure. The USA held the 2026 presidency.

Comparison Table

Other Groupings to Know

ASEAN has ten members and a secretariat in Jakarta; India works with it through the Act East Policy, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. APEC is the Asia-Pacific economic forum, which India is not a member of. G7 is a group of seven advanced economies, and India is often invited as a guest. BIMSTEC links South Asia with Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is headquartered in Gurugram. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) promotes trade and maritime cooperation. The Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement are older forums.

Why These Groupings Matter to India

India uses them to carry out its multi-alignment policy: it takes part in both Western-led and non-Western groupings and refuses to join any exclusive camp. In BRICS and SCO, it works with Russia and China on a more balanced world order. In the Quad, it works with the USA, Japan and Australia on the Indo-Pacific. In the G20, it speaks for the Global South and shapes talks on debt, climate finance and digital public infrastructure. Each forum gives India a platform to protect its interests, attract investment and technology, and strengthen its claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Challenges

These groupings do not always agree. BRICS has members with different political systems and conflicting interests, such as India and China. The SCO is often influenced by Chinese and Russian priorities. The Quad faces questions about its long-term commitment and credibility. In the G20, tensions over the war in Ukraine and over trade can block consensus. India must balance these relationships carefully, so that it benefits from each forum without being forced to take sides.

De-dollarisation and the Global South Voice

One topic often discussed in BRICS is the use of local currencies in trade to reduce dependence on the US dollar, a process called de-dollarisation. Supporters say it protects countries from sanctions and exchange rate shocks. India has taken a careful stand: it supports using national currencies, including the rupee for trade settlement with several countries, but it does not support a single BRICS currency. At the same time, India has used the G20 and the Voice of the Global South Summit to put the concerns of developing countries on the agenda, such as high debt, climate finance, food and fuel security, and fair access to technology. India's argument is that the global order built after 1945 does not reflect today's world, and institutions like the UN Security Council, the IMF and the World Bank must be reformed to give emerging economies a fair share of power.

Role of the Troika and Rotating Chairs

In groups without a permanent secretariat, such as the G20, the work is handled by the country that holds the presidency along with the previous and the next presidents, known as the Troika. This arrangement gives continuity. During its presidency, India held more than 200 meetings in about 60 cities, which also helped to show the diversity and capacity of the country to the world. The host chooses the theme and the priority areas, so a presidency is a chance to shape the global agenda. For the examination, remember who holds each chair in the latest year, and connect the theme to India's national priorities such as digital public infrastructure, women-led development and climate action through LiFE.

How to Answer Questions on Groupings

Use a simple frame: what the group is, why it was created, how it works, what India gains and what the limits are. For example, in a question on whether BRICS is still relevant, argue that the group offers a platform for the Global South, financial institutions like the NDB and a voice in reform, but that internal differences and the dominance of China limit its depth. In a question on the Quad, point out the focus on the Indo-Pacific and the non-military agenda. Always finish with India's national interest and strategic autonomy.

Quick Revision

• BRICS: coined by Jim O'Neill; NDB in Shanghai; South Africa joined in 2010.
• SCO: 2001; Beijing; India joined in 2017.
• Quad: India, USA, Japan, Australia; revived in 2017; summit-level since 2021.
• G20: 1999; India presidency 2023; African Union became a member.

Prepare these groups with a table of date, members, headquarters and India's role. Then update each with the last summit and its host country, as those details are often asked in Prelims.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• United Nations and Security Council Notes for UPSC
• India-USA Relations Notes for UPSC
• India and West Asia Notes for UPSC
• All International Relations notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is BRICS?

BRICS is a group of emerging economies that started as Brazil, Russia, India, China and later South Africa, and has recently expanded to include more members.

Who coined the term BRIC?

The term BRIC was coined by economist Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs in 2001.

What is the New Development Bank?

The NDB is a multilateral development bank set up by the BRICS countries, headquartered in Shanghai, to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

What is the SCO?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian group for political, economic and security cooperation, formed in 2001 with its headquarters in Beijing.

When did India join the SCO?

India became a full member of the SCO in 2017, along with Pakistan.

What is the Quad?

The Quad is a strategic dialogue among India, the USA, Japan and Australia to support a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.

Is the Quad a military alliance?

No. The Quad is not a military alliance. It is a flexible grouping for cooperation on security, technology, health, climate and infrastructure.

What is the G20?

The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation, made of 19 countries and the European Union, along with the African Union as a permanent member since 2023.

What was the theme of India’s G20 presidency?

The theme was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

What is the Malabar exercise?

Malabar is a naval exercise involving the navies of India, the USA, Japan and Australia, which began as an India-USA exercise in 1992.

What is IMEC?

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is a planned corridor of rail and shipping routes announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi in 2023.

What is the International Solar Alliance?

The ISA is an alliance of solar-rich countries launched by India and France in 2015, with its headquarters in Gurugram, to promote solar energy.