Second Preparatory Meeting of BRICS Women Working Group Convened by Ministry of Women and Child Development

📌 Summary:

• The Second Preparatory Meeting of the BRICS Women Working Group was held virtually on 22 May 2026 under India BRICS Chairship, convened by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
• It was chaired by Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, aligned with the theme of India BRICS Chairship — "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability"
• BRICS member countries exchanged views on strengthening multilateral collaboration and advancing consensus on key priority areas
• Priority areas included a Repository of Best Practices and a Capacity Building Framework for Women Digital and Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship
• It was announced that the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting will be held in Kochi on 8-9 July 2026
• Engagement will continue through technical consultations and collaborative initiatives leading up to the BRICS Summit

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS1 Society — women empowerment, digital and financial inclusion, and the intersection of gender priorities with India multilateral (BRICS) agenda.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• India holds the BRICS Chairship in 2026
• The BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting is scheduled in Kochi on 8-9 July 2026
• The convening ministry is the Ministry of Women and Child Development

🔑 Key Term: Women Financial Inclusion — policy focus on bringing women into formal financial systems and entrepreneurship through digital access, credit, and capacity building.