Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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India, Singapore, and Oman are hosting the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Oman. The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) is an annual platform for regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean. It brings together leaders, officials, private sector representatives, and experts to discuss key issues. The Indian Ocean was historically a major trade route, influenced by Indian merchants and dynasties like the Pallavas, Cholas, and Andhras. The Indian Ocean handles 70% of global container traffic and 90% of India’s energy trade.

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Brazil will host the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. As the 2025 chair, Brazil aims to focus on global governance reform and stronger cooperation among Global South nations. BRICS was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. The bloc now has 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia.

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A joint regional official language conference was recently held in Jaipur. It is organized by the Official Language Department of the Home Ministry. Around 3,000 participants from Central Government offices, nationalized banks, PSUs, and Town Official Language Implementation Committees attended. Best-performing institutions were honored for promoting the use of Hindi in government work. The main objective was to encourage Hindi usage in government departments.

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Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change inaugurated the ‘Waste Recycling and Climate Change 2025’ conference. It is organized by Recycling and Environment Industries Association of India (REIAI). India generates 62 million tonnes of waste annually, with plastic, electronic, and hazardous waste rapidly increasing. The program aims to encourage product redesign, invest in recycling technologies, strengthen supply chains, and increase consumer awareness.

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The 2nd All India State Water Ministers Conference was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on 18-19 February 2025. It was organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The conference aimed to adopt effective water management strategies and ensure water security. The theme was “India@2047 – Water Secure Nation”, aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed and water-secure India.

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A two-day conference on women peacekeepers in UN missions began in New Delhi, titled “Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective.” The event is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Defence, and the Centre for UN Peacekeeping. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered the keynote address. The UN was represented by Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Christian Saunders. Women peacekeepers also met with President Droupadi Murmu. The conference focused on peacekeeping technology, training, and regional collaboration from the Global South’s viewpoint.

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Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), the Delhi based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is hosting the International Radio Biology Conference in Delhi from 27th Feb to 1st March 2025. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, inaugurated the event. Dr. Samir V. Kamat, DRDO Chairman, was the Guest of Honour. The conference focuses on space radiation risks for astronauts during long missions. Experts from various fields are discussing biomedical countermeasures to protect astronauts. Topics include radiation effects, stress factors, carcinogenesis, muscle & bone loss, and medical countermeasures. The goal is to develop innovative technologies for future deep-space missions.

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Union Minister or Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated the ‘Bharat Calling Conference 2025’ in Mumbai. The event was organized by IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The theme was ‘Path to Viksit Bharat 2047: Pioneering Prosperity for All’. The conference emphasized India’s position as a leader in global economic growth. India offers unmatched investment opportunities in various sectors. The country has a strong economy, a large consumer market, and government policies that support business growth. India is set to become one of the world’s top investment destinations.

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Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel inaugurated the India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End Tuberculosis (TB) at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, New Delhi. The summit is jointly organized by the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). It aims to accelerate India’s goal of TB elimination by 2025. Over 200 innovations, including handheld X-ray devices, AI-powered diagnostic tools, and molecular testing technologies, are showcased.

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The Indian Prime Minister will visit Bangkok, Thailand, from 3rd to 4th April 2025 for the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit. He will also hold discussions with the Prime Minister of Thailand. The theme of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit is “BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient and Open.” In November 2019, he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summit in Thailand. India and Thailand share strong historical, cultural, and religious ties. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) connects South and Southeast Asia, promoting regional progress. BIMSTEC members include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.