India will host the BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting and BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on August 22 and 23, 2026, respectively, under India's BRICS Chairship 2026. The ministerial engagements will bring together Ministers and Heads of Delegation from all 11 BRICS member countries including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates to strengthen cooperation in youth affairs and sports.
India's BRICS Chairship 2026 is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach. The meetings will be chaired by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, with Smt. Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, participating in the proceedings. Senior officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, including Shri Sunil Paliwal, Secretary, Youth Affairs and Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Sports will also be associated with the ministerial engagements.
The BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting on August 22 will focus on strengthening cooperation in youth development and empowerment, with discussions covering education, skills, entrepreneurship, wellbeing and sustainable development. The meeting will consider key recommendations emerging from the BRICS Youth Council Meeting and BRICS Youth Summit and identify future areas of cooperation under successive BRICS Chairships. The meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of the BRICS Youth Ministerial Joint Declaration and the BRICS Youth Cooperation Framework.
The BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting on August 23 will bring together Sports Ministers to reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in sports. The Sports Track under India's BRICS Chairship has focused on areas including traditional and indigenous sports, sports technology, sports manufacturing and the finalization of the Joint Declaration. The meeting will conclude with the adoption of the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration.
The programme will also feature the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event, country statements by representatives of all 11 BRICS member countries, bilateral meetings and cultural engagements. The official programme provides for Dr. Mandaviya's country statement and Smt. Raksha Khadse's closing remarks during the Youth Ministers' Meeting. The two ministerial engagements will provide an important platform for BRICS countries to deepen institutional cooperation, exchange experiences and best practices, and advance shared priorities in youth development and sports.