CURRENT AFFAIRS | 1 APRIL 2026
CLAT GK + INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY
• Article 51 DPSP — promotion of international peace and security
• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961
• BRICS New Development Bank — multilateral institutions
• India’s multi-alignment foreign policy and strategic autonomy
• Energy security as a driver of international diplomacy
What Happened: BRICS Ministerial in Delhi
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is planning to visit New Delhi on May 14-15, 2026, for the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting. This was confirmed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko following Russian-Indian interministerial consultations held in New Delhi on March 31.
Key details:
- India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026 with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”
- The ministerial will determine the final documents for the BRICS summit later in 2026
- A separate bilateral meeting with EAM S. Jaishankar is also planned
- Energy security is high on the agenda — Russia is India’s largest oil supplier
- India was importing approximately 1.5 million barrels per day of Russian oil in March 2026 (50% increase over February)
- Discussions on LNG and LPG supplies from Russia, and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
BRICS: Evolution and Expansion
- 2001: Term “BRIC” coined by Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs
- 2006: First BRIC foreign ministers’ meeting
- 2010: South Africa joined, making it BRICS
- 2014: New Development Bank (NDB) established, headquartered in Shanghai
- 2024: BRICS expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia (BRICS+)
- 2025: Brazil held presidency; 17th Summit in Rio de Janeiro
- 2026: India holds presidency — first since BRICS expansion
Legal & Constitutional Framework
1. Article 51 — Directive Principles (International Peace)
• Art 51(a): Promote international peace and security
• Art 51(b): Maintain just and honourable relations between nations
• Art 51(c): Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations
• Art 51(d): Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration
• India’s BRICS engagement directly fulfils Art 51 mandate
2. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961
• Cornerstone of modern diplomatic law
• Article 22: Inviolability of diplomatic premises
• Article 29: Inviolability of diplomatic agents
• Article 31: Diplomatic immunity from jurisdiction
• Governs Lavrov’s visit and all diplomatic engagements in India
3. BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)
• Established by Fortaleza Declaration 2014
• Authorised capital: USD 100 billion
• Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): USD 100 billion pool for balance-of-payments crises
• Headquartered in Shanghai; India Regional Office in Ahmedabad
• Current president: Dilma Rousseff (former Brazil president)
4. India’s Multi-Alignment Policy
• India engages with US (Quad), Russia (BRICS, SCO), EU, and Gulf States simultaneously
• Strategic autonomy: Decisions based on national interest, not bloc politics
• Energy diversification: Buys Russian oil despite Western pressure, while deepening US defence ties
• Reflects India’s position as a swing state in the emerging multipolar world
• Multilateral institutions: BRICS as alternative to Western-dominated Bretton Woods system (IMF/World Bank) — key CLAT GK topic
• Article 51 questions: DPSP on international relations frequently tested in CLAT
• India’s foreign policy doctrine: Multi-alignment vs Non-alignment — important distinction for legal reasoning
• Energy security framework: How India balances energy needs with geopolitical pressures
• BRICS expansion: Including Iran and Saudi Arabia changes the group’s dynamics — expect questions on new member profiles
| Visit dates | May 14-15, 2026 |
| BRICS Chair 2026 | India |
| Theme | Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability |
| NDB HQ | Shanghai, China |
| NDB Capital | USD 100 billion |
| India’s Russian oil imports | ~1.5 million barrels/day (March 2026) |
| BRICS members | Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa + Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Saudi Arabia |
| Key Article | Article 51 (DPSP — international peace) |
B — Bank (New Development Bank, Shanghai, USD 100bn)
R — Russia (holds 2024 presidency, energy partner)
I — India (2026 chair, multi-alignment policy)
C — CRA (Contingent Reserve Arrangement, USD 100bn)
S — South Africa (joined 2010, completing the acronym)
+ — Plus 5 new members (Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Saudi Arabia)
Source: Business Standard, The Tribune, IANS — March/April 2026
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding with these 10 MCQs:
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
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