India, Sept. 11 -- Perhaps the most salient feature of BRICS is its lack of uniformity, twenty years after the formation of the group. It has a diverse membership with varying political systems, economic bases, strategic interests and relationships with the great powers. In spite of trade and cooperation in multilateral forums, India and China are still viewed as strategic competitors. In its conflict with the West, Russia has found itself in a much different geopolitical situation than India, Brazil or some of the newer members. The Gulf economies provide a different energy, financial and investment paradigm to the "original" BRICs. Yet, BRICS has flourished and expanded. This paradox is more significant than the more common BRICS-G7 jux...