With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: 1. The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Jeneiro in 2009 2. South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents16
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (B) 2 only
Statement 1 — WRONG:
The first BRIC Summit (without 'S') was held in Yekaterinburg, RUSSIA in June 2009, NOT Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, which may cause confusion.
Statement 2 — CORRECT:
South Africa joined BRIC in December 2010, making it BRICS.
The original four (Brazil, Russia, India, China) were coined as 'BRIC' by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001.
South Africa was the last addition.
Timeline:
- 2009 — 1st BRIC Summit (Russia).
- 2010 — South Africa invited.
- 2011 — 3rd Summit (China) — first as 'BRICS.'
Note:
In 2024, BRICS expanded further to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
BRICS began as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and became BRICS only when South Africa joined in December 2010.
The first BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009, not in Rio de Janeiro which is a common trap answer.
UPSC tests precise knowledge of summit locations and membership timeline to distinguish between students who memorized facts versus those who guessed.
BRICS Formation & Timeline
World Affairs (International Relations) BRICS First Summit Rio de Jeneiro South Africa
BRICS Formation: From BRIC to BRICS Expansion
BRICS = Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
First Summit: Yekaterinburg, Russia (June 2009) as BRIC
South Africa joined December 2010, last of original five
Expanded to 10 members in 2024 with 5 new additions
Origins
BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 to describe four major emerging economies. The concept evolved from an investment thesis into a formal diplomatic grouping by 2009.
Key Milestones
Year | Event | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
2001 | BRIC term coined | Goldman Sachs report | Investment concept introduced |
2009 | 1st BRIC Summit | Yekaterinburg, Russia | Formal grouping begins |
2010 | South Africa invited | December announcement | BRIC becomes BRICS |
2011 | 3rd Summit | Sanya, China | First summit as BRICS |
2024 | Expansion | Multiple countries | 10-member BRICS |
Question Analysis
Statement 1 trap: Rio de Janeiro vs Yekaterinburg — Rio hosted 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, creating false association
Statement 2 correct: South Africa was indeed the last to join the original BRICS formation in December 2010
Rio de Janeiro vs Yekaterinburg — UPSC tests location confusion using major event cities
2024 expansion — Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE joined, but South Africa was still the last of original five
BRIC vs BRICS — Don't confuse the 2009 summit (BRIC) with later BRICS summits
BRICS Summit Locations
World Affairs (International Relations) Summit Rio de Jeneiro Yekaterinburg
BRICS Summits: Rotating Presidency & Host Cities
Rotating presidency among member countries annually
First Summit: Yekaterinburg, Russia (2009)
Brazil hosted 3rd, 6th, and 11th Summits
Rotation System
BRICS follows alphabetical rotation by country name (Brazil → Russia → India → China → South Africa). Each presidency lasts one year and includes hosting the annual summit.
Key Summit Locations
Summit | Year | Host City | Country | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2009 | Yekaterinburg | Russia | First formal BRIC summit |
2nd | 2010 | Brasília | Brazil | South Africa invited to join |
3rd | 2011 | Sanya | China | First as BRICS (5 members) |
6th | 2014 | Fortaleza | Brazil | New Development Bank established |
15th | 2023 | Johannesburg | South Africa | Major expansion announced |
Summit Locations Map
Source: India Map — BRICS Countries Map, BRICS Countries · www.mapsofindia.com
Rio de Janeiro never hosted early BRICS summits — Brasília and Fortaleza were Brazil's host cities
Yekaterinburg (Russia's 4th largest city) vs major capitals — UPSC tests lesser-known but historically important cities
BRICS Membership Evolution
World Affairs (International Relations) South Africa last to join
BRICS Membership: From BRIC-4 to BRICS-10
Original BRIC-4: Brazil, Russia, India, China (2009-2010)
BRICS-5: Added South Africa (2011-2023)
BRICS-10: Added 5 countries in 2024 expansion
Membership Phases
# BRICS Evolution
## Original BRIC (2009)
- Brazil
- Russia
- India
- China
## BRICS-5 (2011)
- Added South Africa
- December 2010 invitation
- First as BRICS in 2011
## BRICS-10 (2024)
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Iran
- Saudi Arabia
- UAEWhy These Countries
Phase | Criteria | Geographic Spread | Economic Logic |
|---|---|---|---|
BRIC-4 | Large emerging economies | 4 continents | High GDP growth potential |
+ South Africa | Africa's largest economy | All inhabited continents | Gateway to African markets |
2024 Expansion | Regional powers | Middle East + Africa focus | Energy, trade partnerships |
South Africa's Addition
December 2010: Formal invitation extended to South Africa during 2nd BRIC Summit follow-up
Strategic choice: Africa's most developed economy and largest by GDP at the time
Continental balance: Completed representation from all major inhabited continents
First BRICS Summit: Sanya, China (2011) was the first with all five members
South Africa was last of the original five — 2024 additions don't change this historical fact
Invitation vs joining — South Africa was invited in December 2010 but formally participated from 2011 summit
Africa representation — Don't confuse with later African additions (Egypt, Ethiopia in 2024)
BRICS 2024 Expansion
World Affairs (International Relations)
BRICS 2024 Expansion: Strategic Implications
Five new members joined BRICS in 2024
Focus on Middle East and Africa integration
Represents 46% of global population after expansion
Strategic Context
The 2024 expansion represents BRICS' evolution from an economic grouping to a geopolitical counterweight to Western institutions. The additions focus on energy-rich and strategically located nations.
New Members Profile
Country | Region | Key Strength | Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|---|
Egypt | North Africa | Suez Canal control | Trade route access |
Ethiopia | East Africa | AU headquarters | African Union influence |
Iran | Middle East | Oil reserves | Regional power |
Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Largest oil exporter | Energy dominance |
UAE | Middle East | Financial hub | Trade & logistics |
Expansion Impact
Energy dominance: Saudi Arabia + Iran + Russia control significant global oil production
Trade routes: Egypt (Suez), UAE (shipping hub) enhance logistics cooperation
Financial alternatives: Push for de-dollarization and alternative payment systems
Institutional challenge: Provides alternative to G7, World Bank, IMF dominated by Western powers
2024 expansion is recent — questions may test knowledge of new vs original members
South Africa still 'last of original five' despite 2024 additions
Regional focus shift — from pure emerging economies to geopolitical balancing