Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with the Maharashtra government, Pawan Hans and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, known as FICCI, held the 7th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit in Pune, Maharashtra. The summit promoted helicopters and small aircraft as vital for regional air connectivity, economic growth, and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. A dedicated Helicopter Directorate under Directorate General of Civil Aviation, known as DGCA, was announced to improve oversight and certification. Digital initiatives like the Heli Sewa Portal were praised for enhancing transparency.

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The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development began in Spain, focusing on the debt crisis holding back developing nations. Sovereign debt in developing countries rose from 16% of global debt in 2010 to 30% in 2023, growing twice as fast as in developed nations. Many developing nations face a debt trap dating back to 1970s oil shocks, leading to repeated borrowing to pay earlier loans. More than half of developing nations now spend 8% or more of government revenue on interest payments, limiting funds for healthcare, education, and climate goals.

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Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla inaugurated the first national conference of Urban Local Bodies chairpersons at International Centre for Automotive Technology, Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana on 3rd July 2025. The theme is “Role of Urban Local Bodies in Strengthening Constitutional Democracy and Nation Building”. It aims to showcase Urban Local Bodies as pillars of democracy, engines of growth, and architects of Viksit Bharat 2047. It focuses on women empowerment, good municipal governance, and best practices.

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Recently, the Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress (INC-WMC) held an International Conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining through Best Mine Closure Practices in Hyderabad. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, environmental experts, academia, and stakeholders from India and abroad. The focus was on sustainable mine closure and sharing global best practices.

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In July 2025, the 11th India Maize Summit was held in New Delhi, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The summit recognized progressive maize farmers for their innovation and contributions. It emphasized the vital role of agriculture in India’s economy and the need for sustainable farming for future generations. Maize is now India’s third-largest crop, but its productivity per hectare needs improvement. India does not use Genetically Modified (GM) seeds for maize, yet production has increased through research and better practices.

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Recently, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary inaugurated the Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 in New Delhi. The theme of the conference was ‘Scientific Excellence for Seamless Trade’. The event was jointly organised by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). It is the first-of-its-kind conference focused on building a modern, efficient testing framework.

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On 14 July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new HIV prevention guidelines at the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference. The 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference was held in Kigali, Rwanda. WHO recommended lenacapavir, a long-acting antiretroviral drug, for high-risk groups and areas with high HIV infection rates. Lenacapavir (LEN), developed by Gilead Sciences, is the first capsid inhibitor approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a twice-yearly injectable. Initially approved for HIV treatment in 2022, LEN showed near-complete protection in prevention trials. The WHO called it the most effective alternative in absence of an HIV vaccine.

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A two-day National Conference on “Good Governance Practices” was recently held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on July 17-18, 2025. It was jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Government of Odisha. The event aimed to showcase successful governance models awarded the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.

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India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Conference 2025 was recently inaugurated in Noida. The event focused on empowering youth to lead the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. This vision aligns with the ‘Panch Pran’ (Five Pledges) for Amrit Kaal announced on Independence Day 2022. The five pledges include: developing India, removing colonial mindsets, taking pride in heritage, strengthening unity, and fulfilling collective responsibility.

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Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi. It supports the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047 to make India a top maritime power. Container capacity rose by over 70%, and cargo via coastal and inland waterways grew. India allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in shipping and offers incentives via GIFT City IFSC. A Maritime Development Fund (MDF) was announced to boost long-term finance in shipbuilding and port infrastructure. Parliament passed the Bills of Lading Bill 2025 to simplify shipping document laws.