Inside Track: Uncurated Visuals Go Viral

The BRICS summit in Delhi in 2026 witnessed unedited visuals from the event going viral, causing embarrassment to the Indian government. Typically, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) would handle media liaison, background material preparation, and visitor facilitation, but they were notably absent during this summit. The mishaps included central ministers and chief ministers traveling together in a bus, a decision that left some senior leaders unhappy.

Prime Minister Modi and foreign heads of state traveled separately. A video of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval eating nuts next to Vladimir Putin and Randhir Jaiswal chatting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also circulated widely, likely exaggerated by AI. Another unflattering reel showed a woman praising various items in the journalists' gift bags, from toothbrushes to notebooks.

The government's lack of control over the optics was apparent. Diplomatic concessions were made for BRICS, with exceptions allowing Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to have breakfast with Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders. Similarly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was allowed to meet Islamic clerics and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

However, the BJP government remains cautious, with Rahul Gandhi failing to capitalize on the situation as Leader of Opposition. Instead of touring the country and building public opinion, he has been preoccupied with selecting junior-level party office-bearers, a process marred by bureaucracy and personal preferences.