Current affairs, 13 September 2026: the 18th BRICS Summit concludes and chairship passes to China

13 September 2026 closes India’s BRICS chairship year with a handover to China, while a Petroleum Ministry backgrounder explains the new domestic PNG connections incentive scheme.

18th BRICS Summit concludes; chairship passes to China

The XVIII BRICS Summit in New Delhi (12–13 September 2026) officially concluded, with leaders reaffirming the New Delhi Declaration adopted on the opening day. In his concluding remarks at Bharat Mandapam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BRICS has emerged as an “ecosystem of solutions” and called on members to convert summit outcomes into time-bound, tangible action. As India concluded its fourth BRICS chairship, PM Modi extended best wishes to China, which will host the next BRICS Summit in 2027. Leaders reaffirmed support for a multipolar, rules-based multilateral order and greater voice for the Global South. WION · SA News

PIB backgrounder: domestic PNG connections incentive scheme

PIB published a backgrounder on the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections, launched 18 August 2026 and effective from 1 September 2026. India had 1.74 crore domestic PNG connections as of 18 August 2026, developed by PNGRB-authorised City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities across 309 Geographical Areas covering the mainland. The scheme runs in two tranches over six months: CGD entities that add billed domestic connections above a GA-specific threshold earn 200 SCM of domestically produced APM gas per incremental connection — cheaper gas that replaces costlier LNG in their sourcing mix, improving commercial viability. PIB Backgrounder

Why it matters for an exam: BRICS 2027 host = China; PNG scheme = PNGRB + CGD + 309 GAs + 1.74 crore connections + 200 SCM APM gas per incremental connection + two tranches.

What to write in your notebook

Three lines:

1. BRICS conclusion (13 Sep): 18th Summit ends; New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed; China takes 2027 chairship/host.
2. PM Modi’s call: convert outcomes to time-bound action; BRICS as “ecosystem of solutions”.
3. PNG incentive scheme: effective 1 Sep 2026; 1.74 crore connections; 309 GAs; 200 SCM APM gas per incremental billed connection; two tranches / six months.