Bhubaneswar: Odisha has stepped up preparations to host the BRICS-India Chairmanship Education Track Meeting in Bhubaneswar from August 5 to 7, with Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Friday reviewing arrangements for the three-day international event expected to bring together education ministers, senior officials and delegates from BRICS member countries.
A high-level preparatory meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary was held at Lok Seva Bhawan to review logistical, security and administrative arrangements for the event, which will be hosted at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon.
More than 200 delegates are expected to participate, including education ministers from eight of the 11 BRICS member nations, around 40 senior officials, representatives of the Union Ministry of Education and other dignitaries.
According to the schedule, the third BRICS Education Senior Officials’ Meeting will be held on August 5, followed by discussions involving education ministers and senior officials on August 6. The 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting will take place on August 7. Delegates are also scheduled to visit the World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar during their stay.
The meetings are being organised under India’s BRICS Chairmanship with the theme, “Strengthening resilience, innovation, mutual cooperation and sustainable development to address global challenges based on a people-centric and human welfare-priority approach.”
Key issues on the agenda include strengthening early childhood care and education systems, enhancing cooperation in technical and vocational education and training under the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance, promoting collaborative research, innovation and start-ups, advancing mutual recognition of academic qualifications, and building capacity in educational leadership.
During the preparatory meeting, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Education Dr. K.M. Prafulchandra Sharma joined virtually and briefed officials on the programme while seeking cooperation from the Odisha government for the successful conduct of the event.
The review covered arrangements related to protocol, security, transportation, liaison officers, airport reception, coordination with embassies, accommodation, medical support, ambulance services and coordination among various departments. Plans for cultural programmes and visits to tourist destinations for the international delegates were also discussed.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg assured full support from the Odisha government for the successful conduct of the international event and directed all departments concerned to work in close coordination to ensure seamless execution of the programme.
The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Higher Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arvind Agrawal, Health Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aswathy S., Skill Development, Technical Education and Sports Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Punia, Home Department Special Secretary R.K. Sharma and senior officials from various departments.
India is hosting the BRICS Summit in 2026 as part of its chairmanship of the grouping, whose members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier this year, Odisha hosted the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group’s technical meeting in Puri from June 3 to 5, where member countries deliberated on strengthening international cooperation in disaster management.
