Delhi's preparations for the 2026 BRICS Summit exemplify a pattern where cities pursue 'world-class' aesthetics by removing or concealing urban poor populations—street vendors, slum dwellers, informal workers—who are seen as obstacles to the desired image. This practice intensifies around mega-events like the Commonwealth Games and G20 Summit, where large-scale beautification is justified as modernization despite displacing vulnerable communities and contradicting stated values of equality and humanity.