India has assumed chairmanship of the
influential BRICS bloc comprising five countries and having 42 per cent of the
world population and combined a GDP of over USD 16 trillion.
"As on February 15, India has assumed
the chairmanship of BRICS for the next 11 months," External Affairs
Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
India will host the BRICS
(Brazil-Russia-China-South Africa) summit later this year date and venue for
which has not been yet been finalised.
Russia had the chairmanship of BRICS and it
was passed to India.
The 7th BRICS summit was held in the
Russian city of Ufa on July 8-9 last year.
