MGU Hosts International Conference on “BRICS @ 2026: India’s Leadership and the Future of the Global South”

The Institute for Contemporary Chinese Studies (ICCS) and the School of International Relations and Politics (SIRP), Mahatma Gandhi University, in collaboration with the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi (ICWA) and the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs (INPA), Government of Kerala, successfully organised a two-day international conference titled “BRICS @ 2026: India’s Leadership and the Future of the Global South” on January 30–31, 2026, under the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) C. Vinodan, Director, SIRP, MGU.

The conference was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) C. T. Aravindakumar, Honourable Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Senior Research Fellow, ICWA, delivered special remarks, while the Keynote Address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Weidong Zhang, Winona State University, USA (Fulbright Visiting Professor at MGU), who examined the future of BRICS in a rapidly changing global order. Dr.Aparna Easwaran welcomed the gathering.

The Plenary Roundtable was chaired by Prof. (Dr.) G. Gopakumar, former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Kerala, with panelists Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar (JNU), Prof. (Dr.) Chintamani Mahapatra (JNU), and Prof. (Dr.) Seshadri Chari (Manipal Academy of Higher Education).
A high-level Diplomatic Conversation featured Ambassador (Rtd.) Ashok Sajjanhar and Ambassador (Rtd.) T. P. Seetharam, moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Mohanan B. Pillai (Pondicherry University), focusing on India’s diplomatic strategies within BRICS.

The second day included distinguished speakers such as Prof. John Moolakkattu Stephen (CUK), Prof. Kitti Prasirtsuk (Thammasat University, Thailand), Dr. Sandip Kumar Singh (JNU), Dr. Anagha Babu (Christ University), along with scholars from the United States, Thailand, and across India.

The conference concluded that BRICS is steadily emerging as a critical platform for Global South cooperation, and that India’s 2026 presidency presents a historic opportunity to strengthen reformed multilateralism, strategic autonomy, and inclusive global governance.