Visakhapatnam, August 23: The BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India, successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, along with State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Nikhil Khadse, and Secretary of the Youth Affairs Department, Sunil Paliwal.
Discussions during the meeting were based on the outcomes of the BRICS Youth Summit and the BRICS Youth Council meeting. The recommendations and insights gathered from these events provided a significant foundation for the dialogue among the youth ministers.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the representatives, stating, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have prepared a vision document for 2047, marking 100 years of India’s independence. The Prime Minister has called for the development of 100,000 youth leaders without any political background to lead the nation towards realizing this vision.”
Mandaviya emphasized, “In this spirit, we have initiated several initiatives. We have created a one-stop platform named ‘My India’ for volunteering, learning, leadership, and civic participation. Currently, over 25 million youth have registered on this platform and are actively participating.”
The meeting brought together youth representatives, leaders, policymakers, and senior officials from BRICS member and partner countries. This provided a platform for discussing essential youth issues, sharing experiences, and collaborating.
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports stressed the need to work alongside youth to build a better future. He stated, “During India’s BRICS presidency, our approach has been clear: youth should not only be seen as beneficiaries but as active partners in shaping our shared future. We must move from youth participation to partnership, from dialogue to creating something new together, and from developing programs for youth to creating platforms with youth.”
At the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, representatives participated in a special tree-planting program called ‘One Tree in the Name of Mother,’ where each representative planted a sapling in honor of their mothers. This gesture was widely appreciated and considered a heartfelt expression of gratitude.
Representatives also visited the historic Thotlakonda Buddhist Monastery, one of the significant heritage sites near Visakhapatnam. This visit provided them with special insights into India’s rich civilizational heritage and its longstanding traditions of peace, harmony, and cultural exchange. The guests greatly appreciated this experience, adding a rich cultural aspect to the program and strengthening friendships and mutual understanding among the youth of BRICS countries.
Following the BRICS Youth Summit and the BRICS Youth Council meeting held on August 19 and 20, 2026, the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting served as a concluding event for youth-related activities. Ministers and senior officials responsible for youth affairs from BRICS member countries reviewed the progress in youth collaboration, exchanged policy perspectives, and discussed priorities to enhance the role of youth in sustainable and inclusive development.
A key outcome of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting was the adoption of a joint statement. This statement reflects the shared commitment of BRICS nations to strengthen cooperation among youth and promote meaningful participation of youth in development processes.
The joint statement addressed various topics, including education, training and skills, youth entrepreneurship, science, technology and innovation, social and cultural participation, community service and volunteering, addressing development, poverty, hunger, and inequalities, health, youth and sports, youth, environment and sustainability, inter-religious youth dialogue, youth exchanges, and the importance of involving youth in these areas.
One of the main discussion points during the meeting was creating an environment for youth to develop their capabilities, meaningfully engage in decision-making processes, and contribute to solving existing youth-related issues. They emphasized the importance of strengthening youth-led initiatives, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and increasing cross-border cooperation among youth through dialogue on shared interests.
The successful conclusion of the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting and the adoption of the joint statement mark a significant achievement in advancing youth cooperation among BRICS countries.
Partnerships through BRICS youth programs have been strengthened, mutual understanding has increased, and pathways for continuous collaboration among BRICS youth and institutions have been opened.
Under India’s BRICS presidency in 2026, the aim of youth-related programs has been to enhance cooperation among youth, focusing on the exchange of best practices, national priorities, and collaborative efforts. This aligns with the central theme of India’s 2026 BRICS presidency: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.”
During India’s 2026 BRICS presidency, the BRICS Youth Summit, BRICS Youth Council meeting, and BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting were held as part of the youth activities calendar. In this context, the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam on August 22.
As India’s BRICS presidency approaches its conclusion,
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