Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments (CSPOC) of Commonwealth Countries in 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced this at the CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting in Guernsey. The event will focus on artificial intelligence, social media, and their role in parliamentary processes. India previously hosted CSPOC in 1970-71, 1986, and 2010, showcasing its cultural heritage and modern development.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit 2025 in France from February 10 to 11. The summit will be hosted at the Grand Palais in Paris, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron. The event will bring together Heads of State, international leaders, CEOs, academics, NGOs, and civil society members. The summit will focus on five themes: public interest in AI, the future of work, innovation and culture, trust in AI, and global AI governance.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The conference, organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), aimed to address drug trafficking and its impact on national security. Amit Shah launched the Drug Disposal Fortnight and inaugurated the new office complex of the Bhopal Zonal Unit of NCB. He also extended the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories. The conference focused on tackling drug trafficking in eight northern Indian states and union territories.

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The 67th National Conference on Mission Viksit Bharat 1947-2047 was held on January 16 at the Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event aimed to promote the growth and recognition of small businesses, start-ups, individuals, and corporations across India. It featured a panel discussion on ‘Fostering Collective Action: Multi-Sector Collaboration for Promoting Ethics and Responsible Business Practices.’ The summit recognized various professionals and business leaders for their contributions, presenting them with the Business and Community Award.

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The 27th International Congress on Glass (ICG) 2025 conference was held from January 20–24, 2025 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Center in Kolkata, India. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology. The theme of the congress was “Glass: A Smart and Indispensable Material for Sustainable Society”. The conference was organized by CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI). Glass’s critical role in space, defense, and other sectors was highlighted. More than 550 delegates, including 150 international participants, attended ICG 2025.

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Karnataka is hosting the 6th edition of the international millets festival 2025 in Bengaluru from January 23. More than 300 millet product manufacturers and farmer organizations will showcase their products. A symposium on “Transformation of agrifood systems through agri-ecology” will be held, with experts from 10 countries. The event is in collaboration with GIZ Germany and FiBL Switzerland. Karnataka, a major producer of nutri cereals, grows millets on 18.37 lakh hectares. Ragi, jowar, and bajra are the major millets grown in the state, with minor millets covering 0.31 lakh hectares.

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The first Raisina Middle East Conference was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 28-29 January 2025. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was the Chief Guest. Dr. Jaishankar visited the UAE from 27-29 January 2025. This was his third visit to the UAE since his reappointment in June 2024. The Raisina Dialogue is India’s top conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. The event was organised by the Observer Research Foundation, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The conference brought together policymakers, academics, media, and business leaders to discuss regional and global integration.

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IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025 is held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from February 10-14, 2025. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the event. IIAS-DARPG stands for International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). 240 delegates from 55 countries have registered. The theme is “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Reaching the Last Mile.” The event focuses on public administration, governance, and policymaking innovations. India is hosting the IIAS Conference for the first time, making it the first South Asian country to do so.

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Sierra Leone hosted the first-ever African Urban Heat Summit on February 6, 2025. Freetown’s Heat Action Plan (HAP) was launched, marking Africa’s first comprehensive urban heat response plan. The summit was organized by Freetown and Climate Resilience for All (CRA), gathering mayors, policymakers, and climate experts. Extreme heat is affecting African cities, straining healthcare and economies. The HAP includes cooling corridors, green spaces, and protective measures for vulnerable groups. 70% of Africa’s population will live in cities by 2050, with deadly heatwaves expected by the 2090s.

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The 12th World Government Summit held in Dubai, UAE, on February 10, 2025, and runs until February 13, 2025. It gathers global leaders, experts, and decision-makers to shape the future of governments. The summit’s theme is “Shaping Future Governments.” It is organized by a non-governmental organization founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2013.