BRICS Youth Summit 2026, Gandhinagar: Yuva Shakti for Resilient Cooperation

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Policy Update
Kavin Adithya C.B.

Background 

India stepped into the BRICS presidency in January 2026, focusing on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. This theme reflects India’s belief in people-centered  approach, often summarized by the phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which means “the world is one family.”  Youth cooperation is a key part of this presidency because BRICS nations collectively represent almost half of the world’s population. A significant portion, 50%, are under 35. In India alone, 65% of the population is young(Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, 2026).

This focus on youth comes at a time when India has a large young population, which is a demographic opportunity but also presents a challenge in terms of employment. The goal is to involve young people not just as recipients of cooperation but as active builders of it. 

The BRICS framework now has eleven member countries and ten partner countries. The Department of Youth Affairs has released a calendar of activities. They started with a March Coordination Meeting. April to July will have the Serve BRICS volunteering initiative that hopes to get one million hours of service through the MY Bharat platform. An Entrepreneurship Working Group meeting is scheduled for May in Indore. A thematic session happened in June. The major events in  Gandhinagar Council and Summit on August 19-20. There was also a Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam on August 22, which expected around 75 delegates.

Table 1: Chronology of BRICS Youth Track under India’s Chairship 2026.

Date Event Location / VenueMandate / key outcomeReference
25th March 2026First BRICS Youth Coordination MeetingVirtual Launch of BRICS YouthCalendar of Activities and engagement roadmapPress Information Bureau
29th April -31st July 2026 Serve BRICS: Volunteering for a Better TomorrowPan-India via MY Bharat PlatformCommitment of one million volunteer hours for social developmentPress Information Bureau
20th May – 21st May 2026BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Working Group MeetingIndore, Madhya PradeshCooperation in digital innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship and green enterpriseBRICS 2026 Official Portal
24th June 2026BRICS Youth Thematic SessionVirtualDeliberation on four priority pillarsPress Information Bureau
19thAug – 20th Aug 2026BRICS Youth Council Meeting and BRICS Youth SummitGandhinagar, GujaratDeliberation on Draft Joint Declaration and Cooperation FrameworkPress Information Bureau
20th Aug 2026Cultural Exposure ProgrammeKevadia / Ekta Nagar, GujaratVisit to Statue of UnityPress Information Bureau
22th Aug 2026BRICS Youth Ministers’ MeetingVisakhapatnam, Andhra PradeshAdoption of Joint Statement with ten prioritiesDD India

Functioning

The event had two main parts. The Summit track focused on participation, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and volunteers around four key themes such as education and preparing for the future, inclusive growth and well-being, sustainability and environmental care, and building connections. This track used panels and networking to share new ideas. 

The Council track was about discussion and decision-making. Official representatives worked on a Draft Joint Declaration and a Cooperation Framework, drawing from successful practices in different countries to reach an agreement before ministers approved it.

Coordination between the Central Government and State Government was key for implementation. The event included Minister of State Raksha Khadse and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. Besides meetings, participants experienced Gujarat’s culture, visited the Statue of Unity symbolizing national unity, took part in the “One Tree for Mother” tree-planting in Visakhapatnam, explored Totlakonda Buddhist Monastery’s history of peace, and held talks with South Africa and the UAE about skills and entrepreneurship platforms.

Performance

Data from the Management Information System (MIS) indicates that registrations on the MY Bharat platform increased from 0.5 crore in 2023 to over 2.5 crore by August 2026. This growth aligns with the achievement of the Serve BRICS objective through the platform. Budget analysis reveals a rise in the allocation for International Cooperation, from Rs 8.5 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal year to Rs 15.2 crore in the 2025-26 Budget Estimates, including a dedicated allocation of Rs 75 crore to MY Bharat. The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights the importance of youth internationalization, a priority reflected in these development (Ministry of Finance, 2025).

The expansion spans multiple sectors, including education, entrepreneurship, environment, and people-to-people engagement. A federal approach aimed at convergence at the state level has involved Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, with participant numbers increasing from 150 in 2023 to over 210 in 2026. Additionally, the initiative has engaged 20 partner organizations.

Table 2: Performance Indicators of BRICS Youth Cooperation 

Indicator2022-20232024-20252026Reference
My Bharath Registrations0.2 Crore1.5 Crore2.5 CroreDD India
Summit Delegates120 180210 + 20 PartnersBrics 2026 Official portal 
International cooperation Budget8.5 Crore10.2 Crore15.2 CroreMinistry of youth Affairs and Sports Annual Reports
Partner countries participationNot Applicable810PIB
Volunteer Hours under serve brics NilNil1 MillionPIB

Impact

The impact of Gandhinagar culminated in the endorsement of the BRICS Youth Ministers Joint Statement on August 22, 2026 in Visakhapatnam. The Joint Statement conveys shared willingness to enhance youth cooperation and sets out ten focal points for cooperation among stakeholders in the area of youth.These focal points will serve as an institutional basis until 2030 and link youth aspects with Leaders Summit.

Social impact addresses the potential of volunteerism as the force for peace and cohesion. The alignment with Mission LiFE and International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development adds normative significance to initiatives of youth. The organization of the Rising Youth Summit by BRICS Youth Alliance on International Youth Day presented an opportunity for young leaders to take the lead in climate action and governance.

Economic impact relates to the startup ecosystem. With 132,000 startups in India and 55% youth-led, the discussions in Indore regarding access to finance, cross-border cooperation, and women entrepreneurship target inclusive growth and future preparedness of the economy.

Diplomatic influence contributes to strengthening soft power and cultural knowledge. Presentation of Gujarat’s food and culture, the Statue of Unity located in Kevadia as a model of unity and growth, and Totlakonda’s Buddhist Monastery as an embodiment of peace share the civilisational variety of India. Meetings of young leaders from different countries create trust beyond formal structures and assure India’s dedication to provide meaningful platforms for youth.

Emerging Issues 

Regardless of the outcome, the existence of five persistent gaps is evident. The first sustainability gap reflects the absence of a secretariat for monitoring implementation of the Joint Declaration. The deal was exclusive to Serve BRICS, and had relevant data confined to MY Bharat for the time being. It is recommended that a secretariat be formed on a rotational basis, stationed in MY Bharat, running constantly, and preparing an annual compliance report as well, with the oversight of the Department of Youth Affairs and the BRICS Sherpa.(Chaturvedi, 2024; Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, 2026).

Secondly, the gap in mobility and financing remains. Unlike the well-funded Erasmus Plus initiative, BRICS does not have any dedicated fund, and the existing budget of Rs 15.2 crore is far short of covering the expenses of twenty-one countries(European Commission, 2023), It is proposed to establish an NDB Social Infrastructure window that will take care of the establishment of the BRICS Youth Mobility Fund located in India and manage visa facilitation under the wing of the Ministry of Finance and New Development Banks(Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, 2025).

The existence of a gap in representation becomes apparent given that there is a lack of delegates hailing from underrepresented countries or areas. As of now, with less than four delegates from every country involved, the problems with women representation remain evident, with only 28 percent of women represented earlier. It is believed that representation must constitute 50 percent of women, and 30 percent of rural youth be engaged in a discussion in various languages under the aegis of State Governments, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS), or the National Service Scheme (NSS).(Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, 2026).)

Fourthly, it cannot be ignored that in the discussion regarding the future of readiness, the issue of skill recognition remains unaddressed. Thus, there is a call for the introduction of a BRICS Skill Passport, a Green Jobs Mapping, and an Innovation Challenge.Lastly, the absence of such an important document as the BRICS composite Youth Development Index as one of the means for developing evidence-based policies poses problems as well.

Way forward 

The Gandhinagar Summit facilitated the transition of India’s G20 Y20 initiatives into the broader context of BRICS, establishing a youth agenda focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. Key outcomes included strengthening the Ministry of Youth Affairs’ central role, promoting the internationalization of the MY Bharat ecosystem, showcasing the federal cultural diversity, and advancing Vision 2047’s goal of developing 100,000 young leaders.

Upcoming priorities involve implementing the Indore Working Group’s recommendations, institutionalizing Serve BRICS as an annual campaign targeting one million hours of service, adopting Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam  (One Tree in the Name of Mother) as a BRICS tradition, finalizing deadlines for the Youth Cooperation Framework 2026-2030, and incorporating relevant outcomes into the BRICS Leaders’ Declaration. Enhanced budget allocations, financing through the New Development Bank, and outcome tracking via a dedicated dashboard contribute to a solid foundation for leveraging Yuva Shakti in fostering a sustainable future led by youth.

Selected References & Important links

Acknowledgement

The author sincerely expresses gratitude to the reviewers and the editorial team for their valuable comments, constructive suggestions, and continuous guidance throughout the preparation of this article. Their insightful feedback significantly enhanced the clarity, organisation, and analytical quality of the manuscript. The author also acknowledges the support and encouragement received during the research and writing process, which contributed to the successful completion of this work.

Reviewers: Madhuritha D and   Ayana NK. The author sincerely thank the reviewers for their valuable time, careful evaluation, and constructive comments. Their insightful suggestions have helped improve the quality, clarity, and overall presentation of this article. He greatly appreciates their thoughtful feedback and the opportunity to revise the manuscript accordingly.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.

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