New Edition of BRICS International School: New Generation Held in New Delhi

In early March, the largest‑ever edition of the BRICS International School: New Generation took place at the Russian House in New Delhi. Young BRICSologists gained a powerful start and became part of a global movement dedicated to advancing and popularizing the BRICS agenda. The program was organized by the BRICS Expert Council‑Russia, HSE University, jointly with the Russian House in New Delhi, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was timed to coincide with India's BRICS Chairship. Two hundred young leaders from 80 leading Indian universities, think tanks, and public and youth organizations took part in the school and joined the global alumni network as BRICS ambassadors.

Over two days, participants engaged with a rich program of lectures, discussions, and presentations on the role of BRICS in contemporary international relations, delivered by Russian and Indian experts. Mentors included representatives of leading research institutions, think tanks, and universities from both countries. The sessions covered a broad spectrum of issues on the BRICS cooperation agenda—from politics and security to economy, sustainable development, innovation, and humanitarian affairs.

The school's opening ceremony was attended by Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council‑Russia and Vice Rector at HSE University, Mikhail Pontser, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India, and Elena Remizova, Head of the Russian House in New Delhi.

As part of the program, Victoria Panova delivered a lecture on BRICS's role in the global arena, outlining key aspects of the group's work: the history of dialogue among member nations, goals and priorities of intra-BRICS cooperation, the expansion process, ongoing projects in economy, science, education, and infrastructure, as well as near‑ and long‑term development prospects. Participants also explored opportunities for cooperation in educational and research programs.

On Day 2, participants delved deeper into BRICS cooperation, gaining insights from leading Russian and Indian experts. Binod Singh Ajatshatru, Director of the BRICS Institute (India), discussed the priorities, main goals, and objectives of India's BRICS Chairship in 2026. A lively discussion followed on bilateral relations between Russia and India and their place in contemporary geopolitics, featuring Rajendra Singh Yadav, Director at the Center for Security Studies and Simulation of the United Service Institute of India; Jagannath Panda, Geopolitical Expert and Series Editor for Routledge Studies on Think Asia; and Alexei Kupriyanov, Head of the Center of the Indo-Pacific Region at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations under the Russian Academy of Sciences. After lunch, Igor Makarov, Director of the Institute for the Economics of Natural Resources and Climate Change at HSE University, delivered a lecture on sustainable development trends, emphasizing that achieving the SDGs requires substantial investment in clean technologies, infrastructure, education, and social systems.

The afternoon continued with an expert discussion on BRICS economic cooperation, featuring Surender Kumar, Senior Professor at the Delhi School of Economics under the University of Delhi, and Ajay Dubey, Distinguished Fellow at the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) and President at the African Studies Association of India (ASA India). Ivan Timofeev, Chief Executive Officer at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), presented a lecture on BRICS's potential to address global challenges. Govind Kelkar, Executive Director at the GenDev Center for Research and Innovation, delivered a TED‑style talk on India's role in BRICS's technological development. Anastasia Ilyushina, Coordinator of Youth Projects at the Russian House in New Delhi and a graduate of the BRICS International School, also gave a presentation on Russia and the opportunities available for the younger generation.

Following the academic program, a certificate ceremony was held for participants of the BRICS International School: New Generation in India. The participants formally joined the global alumni network and will continue engaging with the world of BRICS through future projects.

An integral part of the BRICS International School was the inaugural junior program for school students, which brought together 60 students from 15 secondary schools based in Delhi. The younger participants engaged in interactive lectures, quizzes, presentations, intellectual games, and meetings with mentors—all graduates of the BRICS International School. They learned about the history of BRICS and the youth diplomacy projects currently unfolding across member countries.