Expanded BRICS+ alliance drives global growth with projected economic expansion tripling the G7

Gist The BRICS grouping has evolved from a theoretical economic concept into a formidable geopolitical alliance, expanding into BRICS+ with the inclusion of new member and partner nations. This expansion fundamentally shifts the global economic balance of power, as the bloc now commands a dominant share of the world's population and is projected to significantly outpace Western economies in growth. For civil services aspirants, understanding this transition is crucial, as it highlights the rising influence of multilateral platforms led by the Global South and the strategic necessity of Sino-Indian cooperation in shaping a multipolar world order. Background The acronym "BRIC" was first coined in 2001 by Jim O'Neill , the former chief economist of Goldman Sachs, to group the major emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The bloc formalised its cooperation with a high-level ministerial meeting in 2006 and held its inaugural summit in 2009 . The grouping officially became BRICS when South Africa joined the bloc in December 2010 . Historically functioning as a five-nation dialogue forum, the recent expansion to include 11 core members and 10…