Commemorative Postage Stamps on Two Decades of BRICS Cooperation
Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched two special commemorative postage stamps to celebrate two decades of BRICS cooperation. The launch took place on September 12, 2026, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, hosted under India's 2026 chairship.
General Specifications
- Issuing Authority: The stamps were issued by the Department of Posts, Government of India.
- Bilingual Inscription: Each stamp features the official text "BRICS: Two Decades of Cooperation, 2006–2026" written in both English and Hindi ("ā¤ŦāĨā¤°ā¤ŋā¤āĨā¤¸: ā¤¸ā¤šā¤¯āĨā¤ ā¤āĨ ā¤ĻāĨ ā¤Ļā¤ļā¤, 2006–2026").
- Thematic Grounding: The designs reflect the official theme of India's 2026 BRICS Chairship: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
Design & Symbolism
- The First Stamp: Embodies the core foundational values of the alliance, highlighting a spirit of mutual respect, mutual understanding, and solidarity among member nations.
- The Second Stamp: Displays the official 2026 Summit Logo and visually captures India's distinct "humanity first" and "people-centric" approach to global governance.
Context & Evolution of BRICS
- Historical Origins: The alliance originally began as "BRIC" and was formalized during the first meeting of Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September 2006.
- Name Change: The grouping was later renamed "BRICS" following the official inclusion of South Africa.
- Current Footprint: As of 2026, the expanded alliance comprises 11 major emerging market nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
