International Groupings

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: G-20 →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: ASEAN →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: BIMSTEC →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: BRICS →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) →

📖 G20

The Group of Twenty (G20) brings together the world's major economies (19 countries plus the EU and, since 2023, the African Union) to coordinate on global economic issues. India held the G20 Presidency in 2023, hosting the summit in New Delhi and pushing successfully for the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member.

🌏 BRICS

Originally an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS represents major emerging economies seeking greater influence in global economic governance, and has recently expanded to include additional members, reflecting growing interest from countries seeking alternatives to Western-dominated institutions.

🇨🇳 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

A Eurasian political, economic, and security grouping including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian states, focused on regional security cooperation (including counter-terrorism) and economic ties, though internal tensions (like India-Pakistan and India-China frictions) limit its cohesion.

🌊 The Quad

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (India, US, Japan, Australia) focuses on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region — including maritime security, infrastructure, and technology — widely seen as a loose counterbalance to China's growing regional influence, though it is not a formal military alliance.

💡 Key Facts

India held the G20 Presidency in 2023, hosting the summit in New Delhi.
The African Union became a permanent G20 member in 2023, with India's advocacy playing a key role.
BRICS originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and has since expanded.
The Quad is not a formal military alliance, but a cooperative framework focused on the Indo-Pacific.

🔖 60-Second Revision

G20: major economies + EU + AU (since 2023); India held Presidency in 2023.
BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (+ recent expansion).
SCO: Eurasian security/economic grouping (China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Central Asia) — limited by internal tensions.
Quad: India, US, Japan, Australia — Indo-Pacific cooperation, not a formal alliance.