Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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On May 15, 2025, the Inclusive India Summit was held at India International Centre, New Delhi, to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The event was conducted in hybrid mode and organized with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It was supported by the State Bank of India (SBI) Foundation, National Association for the Blind (NAB), Association of People with Disability (APD), and Mission Accessibility. The summit highlighted that accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities is a shared duty of all society. It focused on three key areas of life for Divyangjan: Life, Learning, and Livelihood. The importance of using technology to ease daily challenges for persons with disabilities was stressed, with a call to make it more accessible.

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The Department of Fisheries (DoF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), held the Fisheries Secretaries Conference 2025 and National Workshop on 23rd May 2025 in New Delhi. The meeting reviewed progress of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY). A pilot project was announced to use drones for transporting live fish in remote areas, with a 70-kg payload drone under development. Satellite technology will be used soon for improving fisher safety, mapping fish resources, and doing biometric verification. Plans were shared to upgrade fishing harbours and fish markets using smart and sustainable infrastructure.

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The 46th ASEAN Summit took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 26 May-27 May. Leaders from across the region gathered to discuss important issues like U.S. tariffs, the Myanmar conflict, and South China Sea disputes. ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is a regional group that promotes political, economic, and security cooperation. It was established in 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its headquarters is in Jakarta, Indonesia, showing Indonesia’s key role in the group.

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The Agri-Industry Summit 2025 was inaugurated on May 26, 2025, in Narsinghpur district, Madhya Pradesh. The summit highlights agriculture as the backbone of India’s economy and promotes its transformation into an industry. Farmers were encouraged to explore food processing, trade, and marketing alongside crop production. Support from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is being emphasized to integrate technology with farming. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, ₹3.46 lakh crore has been transferred to 10 crore farmers. The summit aims to boost farmer income and rural development, positioning Madhya Pradesh as a model agricultural state.

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In 2025, the International Year of Glacier Preservation is observed through a United Nations (UN)-backed summit called the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation – 2025. The conference is held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. It is a high-level global summit focused on urgent action to stop glacier retreat and protect freshwater from cryospheric sources. It is organised by the Republic of Tajikistan with support from United Nations (UN) agencies. The event is declared under the UN Resolution that made 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. It aims to raise awareness on glacier melt, promote climate-resilient water management, and push for strong global action as per the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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The National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Empowering Persons with Disabilities was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 30 May 2025. It brought together experts, technologists, officials, and disability advocates to explore how AI can improve accessibility and inclusion. Four major initiatives were launched: Mission AI Accessibility, Mission AI for Assistive Technologies, National Disability Support AI Chatbot, and United Benefits Interface (UBI). These initiatives aim to use AI to create inclusive digital tools and support systems. The event was organised by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO).

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Recently, during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025 in Geneva, India expressed full support for the Second World Health Organization (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Summit, which will be hosted in New Delhi in December 2025. This summit, organized by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, aims to align stakeholders, share evidence, and accelerate learning in the field of traditional medicine. The summit will explore how traditional medicine can restore balance in an era of instability, focusing on scientific innovations, including AI and biodiversity protection.

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The seventh edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) was held on June 6 and 7, 2025, in Nice, France. It was organised by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which is headquartered in New Delhi. This was the first time the ICDRI conference was held in Europe. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global platform launched by India in 2019 to strengthen infrastructure against climate and disaster risks.

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The 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) was held in Geneva from 2 to 13 June 2025, with over 5,400 delegates from governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations. ILC is the annual meeting of the 187 Member States of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency for the world of work. The conference adopted Convention No. 192, the first global treaty addressing biological hazards in the workplace. It also approved an amendment to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, ensuring rights like shore leave and repatriation for seafarers.

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The first International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit Africa was held on 17 June 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. It was organised by Pepperdine University and the Religious Freedom Institute, and hosted by the Global Peace Foundation. The summit brought together policymakers, religious leaders, and civil society groups from across Africa. The aim was to discuss both the challenges and the opportunities related to promoting religious freedom on the continent. This event marks a significant step in uniting global efforts to protect the right to religious belief and practice in Africa.