Aaj Tak & India Today Global will host the BRICS Roundtable on 10th September 2026, at New Delhi. The high-level forum will bring together ministers, diplomats, business leaders, policymakers, economists and strategic thinkers for an in-depth discussion on the evolving role of BRICS and the opportunities for deeper economic cooperation, strategic partnerships and greater collaboration in a rapidly changing global order.
Being held just before the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the Aaj Tak & India Today Global BRICS Roundtable will focus on going beyond the immediate diplomatic agenda to explore BRICS’ longer-term purpose and potential. At the heart of the conversation will be a defining question on the next chapter of BRICS, how it will look like, and how it can help shape a more resilient, inclusive and multipolar global order.
The distinguished speaker line-up for the Aaj Tak & India Today Global BRICS Roundtable includes Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs of Iran, who will examine the fault lines shaping the emerging global order. Anant Goenka, Vice Chairman, RPG Group, and President, FICCI, will discuss business strategy amid geopolitical conflict and economic uncertainty, while Ram Madhav, National Vice President, BJP, will articulate India’s perspective on the evolving BRICS order. H.E. M. Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, will explore the intersection of BRICS and BIMSTEC, while H.E. Prof. Anil Sooklal, South African High Commissioner to India, will examine Africa’s growing role within BRICS. Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will explore BRICS’ potential to bridge political divides.
The business case for BRICS will be explored by Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head, South Asia, Women’s World Banking; Manpreet Singh, President, Indian Chamber of International Business; and Sachin Ahuja, CEO, Alfeco Holdings Group. Vijay K. Mishra, Chairman of the India-China Technology Transfer Centre and Executive Vice Chairman of the India China Trade Centre; Sammy Manoj Kotwani, President, Indian Business Alliance; and industrialist Jamil Saidi will examine the opportunities and challenges for Indian businesses operating in sanctioned economies. Rahul Mithal, Chairman and Managing Director, RITES, will discuss the emerging connectivity corridors.
The programme will also feature C. P. Gurnani, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, AIonOS, on artificial intelligence as a transformative force; former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on BRICS’ potential to bridge political divides; and former diplomats Ashok Kantha and Sanjay Bhattacharyya on BRICS’ role in shaping a new world order. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, former Member of Rajya Sabha, and Muktesh Pardeshi, former Indian Ambassador to Türkiye, will explore how people-to-people connectivity can strengthen the spirit of BRICS.
Designed to facilitate meaningful engagement among government, diplomatic and industry representatives, the Roundtable will examine how BRICS can progress from broad dialogue towards practical and results-oriented cooperation. The discussions will deliberate on the measures needed to strengthen coordination among member countries and convert areas of shared interest into tangible economic, strategic and developmental outcomes.
By bringing together perspectives from policy, diplomacy, business and academia, the Roundtable will witness discussions to identify credible pathways for greater collaboration within BRICS. It will explore how the grouping can respond to emerging global challenges, support sustainable and inclusive development, and create stronger channels for cooperation across its member nations.
The Aaj Tak & India Today Global BRICS Roundtable will drive a focused, forward-looking conversation on BRICS’ future, exploring how it can strengthen its relevance and emerge as a more effective force in the global economic and strategic landscape.