Guwahati, Sept. 2 -- India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with leaders from member countries, partner nations and other invited states expected to attend.

The summit comes as the BRIC grouping marks two decades since its formation, having been formalised as a foreign ministers' grouping in 2006. The grouping, which began as an economic platform, has evolved into a major forum for cooperation among emerging economies, representing more than 45 per cent of the global population and nearly 40 per cent of the world's GDP.

India took over the BRICS chairmanship from Brazil on January 1 and has placed "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" at th...