The BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

The meeting was presided over by Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, alongside Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, and Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Sh. Sunil Paliwal.

The discussions at the Ministers’ Meeting built upon the outcomes of the BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council Meeting. The recommendations and perspectives emerging from these engagements provided an important foundation for the Ministerial discussions.

Addressing the delegates, Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, we have made a vision document for 2047, when India completes 100 years of Independence. The Prime Minister has given a clarion call to develop 100,000 young leaders with no political background, to lead the country towards the realisation of this vision.

“We have, therefore, launched several initiatives in this spirit. We have established MY Bharat as a one-stop platform for volunteering, learning, leadership and civic engagement. Today, over 25 million youth have registered and are actively participating on this platform,” said Dr. Mandaviya.

The engagements brought together youth representatives, young leaders, policymakers and senior officials from BRICS member and partner countries, providing platforms for dialogue, exchange of experiences and collaborative action on issues of importance to young people.

The Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports further highlighted the necessity to partner with the youth to shape a better future. He said, “During India's BRICS Chairship our approach has been clear that young people must be recognised not merely as beneficiaries, but as active partners in shaping our shared future. Let us move from youth participation to youth partnership; from consultation to co-creation; from programmes for youth to platforms built with youth. Together, let us continue building a BRICS where young people are not merely preparing for the future- they are actively shaping it.”

As part of the sidelines of the BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, delegates from BRICS member countries participated in a special plantation drive titled 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', wherein each delegate planted a sapling in honour of their respective mothers. The gesture was widely appreciated by the visiting delegations as a symbolic and heartfelt expression of gratitude.

The delegates also visited the historic Totlakonda Buddhist Monastery, one of the significant heritage sites located near Visakhapatnam. The visit offered the delegates a valuable insight into India's rich civilisational heritage and its long-standing traditions of peace, harmony and cultural exchange. The excursion was well received by the visiting dignitaries and provided an enriching cultural dimension to the overall programme, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of BRICS nations.

The BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting marked the culmination of the youth engagements, following the BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council Meeting held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on August 19-20, 2026. The Meeting brought together Ministers and senior officials responsible for youth affairs from BRICS member countries to review progress in youth cooperation, exchange policy perspectives, and discuss priorities for advancing the role of young people in sustainable and inclusive development.

A key outcome of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting was the adoption of the Joint Statement, reflecting the shared commitment of BRICS countries to strengthening youth cooperation and promoting meaningful youth participation in development processes. The Joint Statement highlights the importance of Education, Training and Skills; Youth Entrepreneurship; Science, Technology and Innovation; Social and Cultural Participation, Social Work and Volunteering; Development, Combating Poverty, Hunger and Inequalities; Health, Youth and Sports; Youth, Environment and Sustainability; Interfaith Youth Dialogue; Youth Exchange; and Youth Inclusion.

One of the key focus areas of discussion at the Ministers’ Meeting was the importance of creating enabling environments for young people to develop their capabilities, participate meaningfully in decision-making, and contribute to addressing contemporary youth-related issues. They also underscored the importance of strengthening youth-led initiatives, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for cross-border collaboration amongst youth through exchange of experiences and contribution of ideas on issues of common interest.

The successful conclusion of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, along with the adoption of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Joint Statement, marks an important milestone in advancing youth cooperation among BRICS countries.

The BRICS youth engagements have strengthened partnerships, fostered greater mutual understanding, and created avenues for continued cooperation among young people and institutions across BRICS.

Under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the youth engagements have sought to strengthen youth cooperation with emphasis on exchange of best practices, national priorities and collaborative action, in alignment with the overarching theme of India’s BRICS Chairship for 2026, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The BRICS Youth Summit, BRICS Youth Council Meeting and BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting were held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 as part of the BRICS Youth Calendar of Activities, with the successful convening of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on August 22, 2026.

As India’s BRICS Chairship progresses towards its conclusion, the outcomes of these engagements provide a strong foundation for continued collaboration and reaffirm the shared commitment of BRICS countries to harness the potential of youth in building a more resilient, innovative, inclusive and sustainable future.

On the sidelines of the BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of youth affairs and sports, with an emphasis on skill development, youth entrepreneurship, and digital platforms for youth engagement.

All parties explored avenues for deeper collaboration through exchange programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and institutional frameworks to further consolidate ties between India and the respective countries in the youth and sports domains.

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Pawan Singh Faujdar / Ayushman Kumar