New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- As India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit in the national capital, former BRICS Sherpa and Indian diplomat Sanjay Bhattacharyya has described the grouping as a "stabilising force" at a time of geopolitical churn, saying India's leadership could provide an inspirational push to the bloc as it marks 20 years of its existence.

Speaking to ANI ahead of the September 12 and September 13 summit, Bhattacharyya said India's chairship comes at a "very crucial juncture" and praised New Delhi's agenda focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.

"The world is going through a difficult time, but BRICS is a stabilising force, and within that stabilising force there could be no greater inspirational ...