BRICS Women Track: India holds third prep meeting ahead of July ministerial
Synopsis
India's third BRICS Women Track preparatory meeting on 30 June has set the stage for the bloc's Women Ministerial from 6–9 July — with a Digital Repository of Best Practices and Capacity Building Guidelines as the headline deliverables under India's Chairship.
Key Takeaways
India held the Third Preparatory Meeting of the BRICS Women Track virtually on 30 June under its BRICS Chairship .
The meeting was chaired by Anil Malik , Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' .
Key deliverables discussed: a Digital Repository of Best Practices and BRICS Women's Capacity Building Guidelines .
The BRICS Women Working Group Meeting and BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting are scheduled from 6 to 9 July .
The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry separately met Dr.
Jitendra Singh to advance industry-led BRICS engagement across innovation, startups, and AI.
India convened the Third Preparatory Meeting of the BRICS Women Track on 30 June under its BRICS Chairship, laying the groundwork for the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting scheduled from 6 to 9 July, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The virtual session brought together representatives from all BRICS member countries to align on priority areas ahead of the ministerial.
Key Agenda and Focus Areas
The meeting was held under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' and was chaired by Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development. Discussions centred on advancing two key deliverables: a Digital Repository of Best Practices and the BRICS Women's Capacity Building Guidelines. Both are expected to form the cornerstone of outcomes at the upcoming ministerial meeting.
What Member Countries Said
BRICS member nations shared inputs and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative, consensus-based outcomes. Member countries also congratulated India on its BRICS Chairship, acknowledged the progress made under the Women Track, and expressed continued support for deepening cooperation on women's empowerment across the bloc. Malik thanked participating delegations for their constructive contributions and reiterated India's commitment to fostering practical partnerships that promote women-led development across BRICS nations.
BRICS Chamber Meets Science Minister
Separately, earlier in the week, a delegation from the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry met Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, to discuss strengthening industry-led engagement across BRICS and BRICS Plus nations. The delegation briefed Singh on the Chamber's decade-long initiatives spanning trade facilitation, business-to-business engagement, women entrepreneurship, startup networking, artificial intelligence, research partnerships, and sectoral cooperation.
Singh noted that India's growing stature as a global innovation hub and its leadership in emerging technologies present an ideal platform for industry organisations to forge stronger international partnerships. The discussions covered innovation, startups, emerging technologies, and research collaboration as priority pillars for deeper BRICS engagement.
What Comes Next
With the preparatory groundwork now complete, attention shifts to the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting from 6 to 9 July. The outcomes — particularly the Digital Repository and Capacity Building Guidelines — are expected to set the agenda for women-focused cooperation under India's Chairship for the remainder of the year.
Point of View
A Digital Repository and Capacity Building Guidelines, are useful but incremental; the real test will be whether the July ministerial produces binding commitments or remains aspirational. India's Chairship narrative has leaned heavily on the 'women-led development' frame, but critics of BRICS summitry have long argued that working-group outputs rarely translate into on-ground policy change across such a diverse bloc. The industry-innovation thread, with AI and startups now explicitly on the BRICS agenda, is arguably the more consequential track to watch.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BRICS Women Track preparatory meeting?
It is a series of virtual consultations held under India's BRICS Chairship to align member countries on priority outcomes before the formal BRICS Women Working Group and Ministerial meetings. The third such meeting took place on 30 June, chaired by Anil Malik, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
When is the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting scheduled?
The BRICS Women Working Group Meeting and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting are scheduled from 6 to 9 July 2025. These meetings will finalise key outcomes including the Digital Repository of Best Practices and the BRICS Women's Capacity Building Guidelines.
What are the key deliverables expected from the BRICS Women Track?
The two primary deliverables are a Digital Repository of Best Practices and the BRICS Women's Capacity Building Guidelines. Both are intended to strengthen women-led development cooperation across BRICS member nations.
What did the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry discuss with Dr. Jitendra Singh?
The BRICS Chamber delegation met Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh to discuss deepening industry-led engagement across BRICS and BRICS Plus, covering innovation, startups, AI, research partnerships, women entrepreneurship, and trade facilitation. Singh highlighted India's role as a global innovation hub as a key enabler for these partnerships.
Why is India's BRICS Chairship significant for women's issues?
Under its Chairship, India has placed women-led development at the centre of BRICS cooperation, organising multiple preparatory meetings and pushing for structured outputs like capacity building guidelines and a best-practices repository. Member countries have expressed support for this agenda, making it one of the more active tracks of India's Chairship year.
