BRICS Youth Ministers concluded a landmark meeting in Visakhapatnam on 22 August 2026, with member nations adopting a wide-ranging joint statement aimed at deepening youth cooperation across education, entrepreneurship, health, and sustainability. The gathering, held under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, was led on the Indian side by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse.

Key Outcomes of the Joint Statement

The adopted joint statement spans 11 thematic areas: education, training and skills; youth entrepreneurship; science, technology and innovation; social and cultural participation; volunteering; combating poverty and inequalities; health and sports; environment and sustainability; interfaith dialogue; youth exchange; and youth inclusion. The statement builds directly on outcomes from the BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Youth Council meeting held in Gandhinagar on 19-20 August.

What India Brought to the Table

Addressing delegates, Mansukh Mandaviya outlined India's youth-focused vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing a national roadmap targeting 2047 — the centenary of Indian independence. He noted that the Prime Minister has called for developing one lakh young leaders without political backgrounds to realise this vision.

Mandaviya highlighted the MY Bharat platform, describing it as a one-stop destination for volunteering, learning, leadership, and civic engagement. 'Today, more than 25 million youth have registered and are actively participating on this platform,' he said. He also urged a philosophical shift in how governments engage young people: '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.'

Bilateral Engagements on the Sidelines

On the margins of the plenary, Mandaviya held bilateral meetings with South Africa's youth minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Al Neyadi. Discussions covered skill development, entrepreneurship, digital platforms, exchange programmes, and capacity-building initiatives — signalling that the BRICS framework is being used to build deeper bilateral ties beyond the multilateral agenda.

Cultural and Environmental Initiatives

Delegates participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive, with each representative planting a sapling in honour of their mothers — a symbolic gesture that was widely appreciated by participants. The group also visited the historic Thotlakonda Buddhist Monastery, drawing connections between India's civilisational heritage and its contemporary role as a convener of global youth dialogue.

Significance for India's BRICS Chairship

The Visakhapatnam meeting is the latest in a series of high-level BRICS engagements under India's chairship theme: 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.' Notably, the inclusion of the UAE in bilateral discussions signals the expanding geometry of BRICS cooperation following the bloc's recent enlargement. The outcomes are expected to feed into the broader BRICS Leaders' Summit later this year.