‘Misleading, Malicious’: MEA Fact-Checks Reports Claiming Several Leaders ‘Fell Ill’ After BRICS Summit | India News

Last Updated:September 17, 2026, 11:30 IST

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, China’s President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri pose for a family photo during the BRICS summit in New Delhi. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday issued a caution against false reports claiming that several world leaders reportedly “fell ill” after attending the 18th BRICS Summit in India.

The Fact Check unit of the MEA tagged a post by the US-based prediction market platform, Polymarket, which posted a picture of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, claiming, “Multiple world leaders have reportedly fallen ill after attending BRICS summit in India.”

Re-sharing the post, the MEA wrote: “Fake Alert!!! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!”

The MEA also fact-checked another post claiming that various world leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, fell sick after the BRICS Summit. It claimed that updates on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s health remains unconfirmed.

“Misleading! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!”

PM Modi Stops Mid-Speech, Checks On Xi

During his opening remarks at the BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, PM Modi took a brief pause mid-speech to check on Chinese President Xi Jinping who appeared uncomfortable.

PM Modi looked at Xi and asked if “it was okay”. The Chinese leader landed in New Delhi on Saturday, marking his first visit to India after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.

The two leaders also met for a bilateral summit on the sidelines of BRICS.

BRICS Summit 2026 

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 in New Delhi under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The two-day event marked the participation of several world leaders, including: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev were also in attendance.

The BRICS nations adopted the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday, laying out common positions on issues, including West Asia war, artificial intelligence, tariffs and more.

In a major diplomatic victory for India, the declaration condemned the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, while also expressing its commitment to combating terrorism in “all its forms and manifestations”.

The 18th BRICS Summit came at a critical juncture, as the world grappled with multiple conflicts, particularly the energy price shock triggered by the US-Israel war with Iran and the subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia, the New Delhi declaration called for maximum restraint while avoiding direct condemnation of specific state strikes.

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How did India’s Ministry of External Affairs respond to reports that world leaders fell ill after the 18th BRICS Summit?

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Fact Check unit dismissed the reports as “fake,” “misleading,” and “malicious”. The MEA cautioned social media users against these false posts, specifically flagging a claim by the US-based platform Polymarket that multiple leaders had fallen ill after attending the summit in India.

What did South Africa say about President Cyril Ramaphosa’s health following the 2026 BRICS Summit?

Following his return from the summit, the South African presidency announced that the 73-year-old president was advised by doctors to rest and recover due to ill health. Because of his absence, President Ramaphosa requested respective ministers to represent him at scheduled public engagements where possible.

What claims were made regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping’s health and hospitalization after the BRICS Summit?

The chairman of the China Democracy Party, Wanjun Xie, claimed that President Xi Jinping suffered a severe ischemic stroke and fainted during the summit, leading to an emergency military helicopter transport to Beijing’s 301 Hospital upon his return. However, the MEA noted that updates on his health remain unconfirmed, and the hospitalization claims have not been officially verified by the Chinese government or any independent sources.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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