Prashant Kishor, founder of the civic initiative Jan Suraaj, has strongly criticized the BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026, dismissing it as offering nothing new despite the grand rhetoric surrounding the summit hosted by India.
The BRICS grouping — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several newer member nations — released a joint declaration following its summit in the Indian capital. Such declarations typically contain a list of shared commitments on issues ranging from trade and finance to global governance and security. However, Kishor argued that the language and substance of the latest declaration merely rehash positions these nations have taken repeatedly at previous meetings.
His most pointed criticism centred on the topic of terrorism. While the BRICS declaration reaffirmed the member nations' collective opposition to terrorism in all its forms, Kishor noted a conspicuous disconnect between the words on paper and the situation on the ground. Several BRICS members maintain diplomatic and strategic ties that complicate a unified stance on cross-border terrorism, and India has long flagged the selective approach some partners take when addressing terror groups operating from neighbouring countries.
Kishor, who is well known for his grassroots mobilisation work and frequent commentary on national politics, used the platform to highlight what he described as the performative nature of such multilateral summits. According to him, the gap between declared solidarity and actual policy coordination undermines the credibility of forums like BRICS when it comes to concrete security outcomes.
India, which held the BRICS chairmanship in 2026, has consistently emphasised the need for a rules-based international order and a zero-tolerance posture toward terrorism. The criticism from within the country adds to an ongoing debate about whether multilateral declarations translate into measurable action or remain largely symbolic gestures.
