The meeting between Xi and Modi, who have not held formal talks for five years, was one highlight of a summit. BRICS also gave an opportunity to the Russian President Vladimir Putin for showcasing that the West had failed to isolate Russia over the Ukraine war.
A final communique listed a number of projects aimed at facilitating trade between BRICS nations including an alternative payment system to the dollar but did not include details or timelines.
Just two days after New Delhi announced that it had reached a deal with Beijing to resolve a four-year military stand-off on their disputed Himalayan frontier, Xi told Modi that they should enhance communication and cooperation and effectively manage differences.
BRICS - an idea thought up inside Goldman Sachs two decades ago to describe the growing economic clout of China and other major emerging markets - is now a group that accounts for 45% of the world's population and 35% of the global economy.
Former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, who coined the BRIC term in 2001, told Reuters that he had little optimism for the BRICS club as long as China and India remained so divided.
"It seems to me basically to be a symbolie annual gathering where important emerging countries, particularly noisy ones like Russia, but also China, can basically get together and highlight how good it is to be part of something that doesn't involve the U.S. and that global governance isn't good enough,"
The 43-page final communique from the summit ranged from geopolitics and narcoties to artificial intelligence and even the preservation of Big Cats, but lacked detail on some major issues. It mentioned Ukraine just once.
(Excerpts from "Putin scores a BRICS win with rare Xi and Modi show of harmony" By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge, Reuters, October 23, 2024)
Which statement reflects as a critique from the Western establishment?
- BRICS currency cannot displace Dollars
- Asian economies will not impact Western economy
- India-China conflicts will impact progress of BRICS
- All of the above
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
| Option | Critique |
| BRICS currency cannot displace Dollars | Reflects skepticism on currency impact |
| Asian economies will not impact Western economy | Reflects skepticism on economic impact |
| India-China conflicts will impact progress of BRICS | Reflects concern on BRICS unity |
The emergence of BRICS signals:
- Asian consolidation of economic power
- Diminishing European dominance
- Revival of Nonaligned movement
- A geopolitics without US dominance
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
- Enhanced Cooperation: Heads like Xi and Modi agreed on improving communication and cooperation between China and India, spotlighting efforts to reduce historical tensions and focusing on mutual interests.
- Alternative Systems: Discussion of an alternative payment system to reduce the dependency on the dollar reflects waning reliance on Western financial systems, indicating a shift toward more autonomous economic architecture.
- Geopolitical Implications: The main theme from the cumulative understanding of these strategic moves is to reduce US contiguity and influence in global governance. Russia, in particular, seeks to showcase that Western isolation attempts, given its Ukraine stance, have been ineffective.
- Symbolic Representation: While the actions are incremental, the BRICS summit is a symbolic demonstration that emerging powers aim to formulate a geopolitical equilibrium void of US dominance.
- Population and Economic Weight: BRICS accounts for 45% of the world's population and 35% of global GDP, underscoring its potential impact on global economics and politics.
Which one of the below is an outcome of 16th BRICS meeting?
- Proposal to end Russia-Ukraine war
- To expand BRICS by including Scandinavian countries
- To reassign China’s claim of Taiwan
- Reducing tension between India and China
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The correct outcome of the 16th BRICS meeting is Reducing tension between India and China. This conclusion is based on the interactions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit held in Russia. Their meeting, which was a significant highlight, aimed at fostering a more harmonious relationship between the two populous nations after years of hostility.
The summit provided an opportunity for both leaders to announce collaborative efforts post New Delhi's decision to resolve a prolonged military standoff with Beijing along their contested Himalayan border. This emphasis on reducing tensions and increasing bilateral communication and cooperation was a key outcome of the summit discussions.
The 16th BRICS achieved the following:
- Launch of BRICS currency
- De-escalation of Russian-Ukrainian conflict
- Diplomatic dialogue between India and China
- All of the above
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Based on the provided comprehension, the correct answer to the question about the 16th BRICS achievements is: Diplomatic dialogue between India and China.
The comprehension highlights a meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit. This meeting was significant because it was their first formal dialogue in five years and symbolized a potential easing of relations following a prolonged period of tension. This aligns with the answer option "Diplomatic dialogue between India and China."
The other options are not supported by the content:
- Launch of BRICS currency: The comprehension mentions alternative payment systems but no specific BRICS currency launch.
- De-escalation of Russian-Ukrainian conflict: The document briefly references Russia's involvement with the Ukraine war but does not detail any de-escalation efforts.
- All of the above: This is incorrect as the stated events do not all align with the situations described.
What does the letter “S” in BRICS stand for?
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South America
- South Africa
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The letter “S” in BRICS stands for “South Africa.”
BRICS is an acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The addition of South Africa to the group expanded the acronym from BRIC to BRICS. This coalition aims to promote peace, security, and development among member countries and acts as a collective voice on global and regional issues.
The initiative of Big Cats Alliance refers to:
- Lions, Tigers and Jaguar
- Tigers, Jaguar and Leopard
- Lions, Cheetah and Snow Leopard
- All of the above
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
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