**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Women and Child Development convened the first virtual preparatory meeting of the BRICS Women’s Working Group on April 30, 2026, under India’s BRICS Presidency. The meeting aimed to establish a framework for women-led development and identify priority areas for global cooperation. These discussions serve as the foundation for the upcoming BRICS Women Working Group Meeting (July 6–7, 2026) and the Ministerial Meeting (July 8–9, 2026) in Kochi, Kerala.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Core Objectives and Theme**
* Guided by the theme: ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.’
* Reaffirms India’s commitment to recognizing women as primary drivers of governance, social transformation, and economic growth.
* Focuses on transitioning toward "women-led development" rather than just women’s development.
**Priority Areas of Discussion**
* **Governance and Leadership:** Enhancing the role of women in decision-making and leadership positions.
* **Economic Inclusion:** Promoting financial and digital inclusion to bridge the gender gap in the modern economy.
* **Entrepreneurship:** Supporting women’s entrepreneurship and specialized skill development.
* **Sustainability and Security:** Strengthening women’s roles in climate action, food security, and nutrition.
**Participation and Cooperation**
* Attended by representatives from BRICS member nations and various Indian government departments.
* Involved key knowledge partners including UN Women and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
* Member nations expressed support for India’s chairship and the proposed priority areas, emphasizing mutual learning and cooperation.
**Impact Analysis**
**BRICS Member Countries**
**Impact**
Member nations are brought into alignment on a shared agenda for gender-focused policy-making and regional cooperation.
**Action Required**
Prepare for and attend the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting on July 6–7 and the Ministerial Meeting on July 8–9, 2026, to culminate the discussed outcomes.
**Ministry of Women and Child Development (India)**
**Impact**
As the convening body under India’s Presidency, the Ministry is responsible for steering the international discourse on women’s economic and social roles.
**Action Required**
Coordinate the transition of preparatory discussions into finalized outcomes and organize the upcoming high-level meetings in Kochi, Kerala.
**Knowledge Partners (UN Women and FICCI)**
**Impact**
These organizations act as expert contributors, ensuring that the discussions are backed by technical expertise and private sector insights.
**Action Required**
Continue providing support and expertise to help refine the four priority areas leading up to the July 2026 summits.
Key Entities Referenced
BRICS Women’s Working Group: A focused group within the BRICS framework dedicated to advancing women's leadership, financial inclusion, and social transformation.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The nodal Indian ministry responsible for convening the preparatory meeting and steering the women-led development agenda under India's BRICS Presidency.
UN Women: An international organization serving as a key knowledge partner to provide global perspectives on women's issues during the meeting.
Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI): An industry-led knowledge partner involved in discussions regarding women's entrepreneurship and economic participation.
Kochi, Kerala: The designated location for the upcoming high-level BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in July 2026.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
First Preparatory Meeting of BRICS Women’s
Working Group convened by Ministry of Women
and Child Development
Meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to encouraging
women-led development, recognising women as key drivers
of economic growth, governance, and social transformation
Posted On: 01 MAY 2026 10:18AM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Women and Child Development convened the first Preparatory Meeting of the BRICS
Women’s Working Group on 30th April ,2026 in virtual mode under India’s BRICS Presidency.
The meeting was attended by representatives of BRICS member countries. The meeting was also attended
by various Ministries and Departments of Government of India and knowledge partners including UN
Women and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).Ms. Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development,
welcomed all delegates and set the tone for the discussions.
Guided by the theme of India’s BRICS chairship: ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and
Sustainability,’ the meeting had intensive discussions on key themes and common concerns of women
globally, distilled into four priority areas. These include women in governance and leadership; financial
and digital inclusion; women’s entrepreneurship and skill development; and women’s role in climate
action, food security, and nutrition.The meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to encouraging women-led development, recognising women
as key drivers of economic growth, governance, and social transformation.
BRICS member nations, in their interventions, congratulated India on its chairship, welcomed and
supported the priority areas, imbibing the spirit of cooperation and learning.
The discussions will contribute towards key outcomes to be culminated in the BRICS Women Working
Group Meeting (6–7 July 2026) and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting (8–9 July 2026) to be held in
Kochi, Kerala.
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