India assumes chairmanship of BRICS

NEW DELHI: India has assumed chairmanship of the influential bloc BRICS comprising five countries having 42 per cent of the world population and combined GDP of over $16 trillion.

"As on Feb 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 finalised.

Russia had the chairmanship of BRICS and it was passed onto India.

The 7th BRICS summit was held in the Russian city of Ufa on July 8-9 last year.