India's BRICS Chairship Highlights Women Empowerment and Clean Energy Initiatives

India inaugurated the BRICS Women’s Working Group meeting in Kochi, Kerala, under its 2026 BRICS Chairship. Senior officials from the five BRICS member states gathered for a two‑day dialogue on women’s empowerment, leadership and cooperation. The agenda emphasized four priority areas – women’s governance and leadership, financial and digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and skill development, and women’s contributions to climate action, food security and nutrition. The meeting will be followed by a BRICS Ministerial gathering in Kochi on 8‑9 July.

At the same summit, India outlined practical pathways for clean‑energy deployment across developing economies. Citing its own experience with rural electrification (28.6 million households under the SAUBHAGYA programme) and clean‑cooking (105 million LPG connections to women), the briefing stressed people‑first approaches, renewable capacity now exceeding 288 GW, and the expansion of distributed solar and wind systems. Initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, benefitting four million households, were highlighted alongside the need for affordable long‑term financing, with the New Development Bank positioned to support these efforts.