It was in December 1896, that the Acting President of YWCA of Calcutta Ms. Alice M. Bethune sent out an invitation to all YWCAs in India (Branches 109 total) to assemble in Calcutta for a conference and prayer for such action as the needs of work in India demand. Ms, Minnie L. Collins was the then General Secretary of YWCA of Calcutta and Bengal. This Conference was on the same day as the Biennial Convention of the Young Men’s Christian Association ( December 26^th-31^st) where Mr James Stokes Esq a delegated representative of the YMCA in London was also to be present. The First session of The Conference was held at the Young Women’s Christian Association Home 31,Free School Street Calcutta. McConnaughy Esq National Secretary of the YMCAs of India was chosen as Chairman and Ms. A.G. Hill of Madras Secretary of the Conference. Mr Stokes, who had experience in working both with the YMCA and YWCA in London, mentioned that it was the desire of the World Committees that National Associations be found around the world. As there was a great need for the formation of National organizations in India, Burma and Ceylon, he suggested a simple union between YWCAs in India. Taking his suggestion the YWCA of India unanimously seriatim and as a whole resolved that:

1. A National Association of YWCAs in India be effected on principle of World’s YWCA. (It was at that time named as YWCA of India Burma and Ceylon)
2. That for present Calcutta to be made National Headquarters.
3. Monday February 1st be set apart as a special day of praise and prayer to mark the inauguration of the National association.

The Headquarters since then has moved to Lucknow, Bombay and then to New Delhi in 1958 where it became YWCA of India. In 1896 when the National Association came into being there were

• 68 English branches ( Calcutta, Bombay, Madras has several branches within the cities)
• 2 Vernacular Branches
• 27 Hindustani Branches (Some scattered)
• 1 Marathi Branch
• 6 Malayalam Branches
• 5 Tamil Branches

In December 1896 partly due to the efforts of Ms Hill and other YMCA leaders, the forty Indian language branches and fifty English speaking branches with twenty secretaries from abroad were united by a National Committee. Ms Hill left Madras for Calcutta to become the first National General Secretary.This new National Association was affiliated with the World YWCA in 1897. In 1898 this National Association in India sent nineteen delegates to the first world Conference in London. In 1899 Burma joined as the Association and the National Association became to be officially known as the National YWCA of India, Burma and Ceylon. By 1938 131 associations came into being. In 1947 India got freedom from the 150 years of British rule and became an independent country. This also resulted in the formation of Pakistan as a separate entity and also the breaking away of Ceylon and Burma to become independent bodies. In the Quadrennial National Conference in 1951 decision was taken to exist as a separate National Association and in 1951 World Council meeting the four independent National movements affiliated directly with the World YWCA.