Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, welcomed the decision to host the second technical meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group in the state, calling it a moment of pride and an opportunity to showcase Odisha's world-class disaster management model on a global stage. The meeting is scheduled from June 3 to 5 in Puri, the coastal pilgrimage city on Odisha's Bay of Bengal coast.

Posting in Odia on X, the Chief Minister said, 'ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସ୍ୱାଭିମାନ ଓ ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ ଆଜି ବିଶ୍ୱ ମଞ୍ଚରେ ସ୍ୱୀକୃତି ପାଇଛି' ['Odisha's self-respect and capability have received recognition on the world stage today']. He expressed confidence that the discussions would 'add a new chapter to the progress of Viksit Odisha' [Developed Odisha] by strengthening global disaster resilience and mutual cooperation.

Context

The BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group is a technical body within the BRICS intergovernmental framework, established to institutionalise the sharing of best practices for managing natural hazards among member nations. Hosting its second technical meeting in Odisha places the state at the centre of a multilateral conversation on climate adaptation and disaster resilience. Chief Minister Majhi also invoked the Sanskrit principle of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' ['The guest is god'] to welcome BRICS delegates to Puri, the sacred seat of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath.

Policy Backdrop

Odisha's credentials in disaster management trace back to the devastating 1999 super cyclone, which prompted the state to build dedicated early-warning systems, evacuation infrastructure, and a professional disaster management authority. Successive storms since then have recorded sharply lower fatalities, drawing international attention to the state's preparedness model. The broader institutional framework was reinforced by India's National Disaster Management Act of 2005, which enabled states like Odisha to professionalise their response mechanisms.

The BRICS grouping — which has expanded well beyond its original economic coordination mandate — formalised the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group in the mid-2010s to address shared developmental challenges such as resilience against floods, cyclones, and other natural hazards. Hosting the meeting in Puri aligns with New Delhi's broader approach of encouraging state governments to host sectoral meetings of plurilateral forums, allowing sub-national expertise to be showcased internationally.

Stakeholders and Impact

The meeting brings together technical delegations from BRICS member states, state disaster management agencies, and practitioners working on coastal and climate resilience. For Odisha's coastal communities — among the most cyclone-exposed populations in South Asia — international recognition of the state's preparedness model carries both symbolic and practical significance. It can attract technical cooperation, funding, and knowledge exchange that further strengthens local resilience infrastructure.

Chief Minister Majhi framed the event as a platform to display not just disaster management expertise but also Odisha's 'rich culture and sustainable infrastructure' to a global audience, signalling a dual agenda of diplomatic visibility alongside technical collaboration.

What's Next

The three-day technical meeting in Puri from June 3 to 5, 2026 will be closely watched for any joint statements, cooperation frameworks, or follow-on mechanisms that emerge among BRICS member states. Any formal outcomes could position Odisha — and by extension India — as a reference model within the BRICS disaster resilience agenda. The event also sets a precedent for future editions of the working group meeting being hosted in India, reinforcing the country's sub-national diplomacy strategy on climate and disaster preparedness.