Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Ministry of Culture announced India’s first-ever global conference on manuscript heritage to preserve and promote ancient knowledge. The three-day conference titled ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage’ will be held from 11 to 13 September at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was announced on Guru Purnima, honoring India’s guru–śiṣya tradition and age-old knowledge systems. It commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s iconic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions on September 11, 1893.

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Recently, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the two-day BIMSTEC Ports Conference in Visakhapatnam. BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. The conference aims to strengthen maritime connectivity and cooperation among Bay of Bengal nations. It reflects India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and its leadership in regional maritime development. The theme is Blue Economy, Innovation, and Sustainable Partnerships. Nations participating include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

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On Sushruta Jayanti (15th July 2025), Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, inaugurated Shalyacon 2025 in New Delhi. Shalyacon 2025 is the 3rd National Conference on Shalya Tantra, hosted by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). The theme is Innovation, Integration, and Inspiration, blending tradition with technology. It aims to showcase Ayurvedic surgical progress and promote collaborative learning and innovation.

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The Department of Hospital Administration at Army Hospital Research & Referral (AHRR), New Delhi, recently organised SHAPE 2025, the first-ever Armed Forces National Conference on Sustainable Hospital Architecture, Planning, Infrastructure and Equipment, on July 26–27, 2025. SHAPE 2025 aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, marking a step toward future-ready and resilient healthcare infrastructure. The conference stressed the shift from traditional hospital design to environmentally conscious, technology-enabled, and patient-friendly planning. It called sustainability a strategic need for health equity, disaster readiness, and national preparedness.

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The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) was held in Awaza, Turkmenistan from 5–8 August under the theme “Driving Progress through Partnerships.” It addressed challenges faced by 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) with over 600 million people. LLDCs represented 7% of the world’s population but only about 1% of the global economy and trade. The conference aimed to unlock development potential through cooperation, trade facilitation, and infrastructure investment. The Awaza Programme of Action (APoA) 2024–2034 was adopted to tackle trade, infrastructure, climate resilience, and financing barriers.

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India has been elected as chairman of the Executive Board of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) with the highest votes at the 23rd AIBD General Conference in Phuket, Thailand (19–21 August 2025). India last held this position in 2016, and this strengthens its leadership role as it also serves as President of AIBD General Conference until August 2025. AIBD, founded in 1977 under UNESCO, has 92 member organizations from 45 countries. The conference theme was “Media for People, Peace & Prosperity,” highlighting India’s growing global influence in broadcasting.

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The two-day All India Speakers’ Conference was inaugurated at the Delhi Assembly in the National Capital New Delhi. It marked the centenary of the election of the first Indian Speaker of a legislative body, Veer Vitthalbhai Patel. He was the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly. The conference brings together Speakers and Deputy Speakers from State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils across India. It marks a historic moment in India’s parliamentary journey and celebrates the legacy of democratic traditions.

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The First International Pali Conference was organized at Kandy, Sri Lanka, by India’s Assistant High Commission in Kandy in partnership with the University of Peradeniya, in August 2025. The conference focused on “The Future of the Pali Language”. The event brought together scholars from Sri Lanka, India, and other countries. Discussions focused on Theravada traditions, manuscript studies, and Pali’s journey from a classical medium to a living language. It was the first international Pali conference hosted by the University of Peradeniya. Pali is recognised as a classical language in India by the Government of India.

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The third International Conference of Young Buddhist Scholars was held in New Delhi. The theme is “Wisdom Transmission in Buddha Dhamma in the 21st Century.” It was hosted at Dr Ambedkar International Centre by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). Young scholars emphasised establishing a powerful ethical framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI). They suggested building machines with a digital mind and a heart, blending intelligence with ethical values. The conference aimed to connect Buddhist wisdom with modern technological and ethical challenges.

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Special Chief Secretary, Department of Tourism, Ajay Jain announced that the 41st Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Convention will be hosted by Andhra Pradesh in Visakhapatnam in 2026. The announcement was made during the 40th IATO annual convention held in Puri, Odisha from August 22 to 24, 2025. The three-day event followed the theme ‘Rejuvenate Inbound@2030’. Andhra Pradesh government has granted industry status to the tourism sector. Focus is on world-class infrastructure, including new airports, to boost tourism. All participants were invited to attend the 41st IATO Convention in Visakhapatnam in 2026.