Behind BRICS 2026: The Diplomats Who Drove India’s Summit Success

New Delhi, September 22, 2026 The successful hosting of the 18th Annual BRICS Summit in India was backed by months of diplomatic coordination and administrative preparation. Indian bureaucrats and diplomats played a crucial role in conducting negotiations, bringing together the 11 diverse member states, managing geopolitical differences within the expanded grouping and building consensus through year-long preparations. The presence of two senior IAS officials—former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr. P.K. Mishra—also attracted considerable attention across the bureaucracy. At the same time, a younger group of Indian diplomats worked extensively behind the scenes to support the successful organisation of BRICS 2026. A significant share of the diplomatic effort was led by Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs and India’s BRICS Sherpa. He had earlier served as Joint Secretary (Multilateral Economic Relations & G20) and as the country’s BRICS Sous-Sherpa, bringing prior experience in handling multilateral economic engagements. A 2017-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Dalela was also seen sharing the frame with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. His prominent role highlighted the extensive diplomatic groundwork undertaken by India to bring together the expanded BRICS membership and steer the summit through complex geopolitical differences. The summit’s outcome therefore reflected not only the presence of high-profile leaders but also the sustained work of officials and diplomats operating behind the scenes. From negotiations and consensus-building to coordinating with participating countries, their efforts formed an important part of India’s BRICS 2026 preparations and execution.