Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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The 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit are being hosted by Lao PDR, the current ASEAN Chair. India is celebrating a decade of its Act East Policy, with ASEAN relations as a key focus. The ASEAN-India Summit will assess the progress of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss future cooperation. The East Asia Summit fosters strategic trust and allows leaders to discuss important regional issues. Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings during the summits.

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The 19th ICDRA, hosted by India, brings together global regulatory authorities to enhance cooperation in drug regulation, share knowledge, and address challenges like antimicrobial resistance and AI’s role in healthcare. The conference underscores India’s commitment to global health standards, recognizing its position as the “Pharmacy of the World” by ensuring access to quality medicines and vaccines, especially post-COVID-19. Key discussions also focus on regulatory preparedness for future health emergencies.

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The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) hosted the ‘India Leadership Summit 2024’ in New Delhi. It focused on boosting bilateral trade, supply chains, semiconductor investment, AI, and next-gen technologies. The summit followed PM Modi’s recent US visit for the Quad Summit and UNGA. It aimed to strengthen defence ties, promote clean energy, and ensure a free Indo-Pacific. Key speakers included Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Jyotiraditya Scindia. The summit emphasized collaboration between the US and India to fortify India’s manufacturing economy and realign global supply chains.

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Islamabad hosted the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government on October 16, 2024. Pakistan chaired the meeting, focusing on trade and economic cooperation. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation. It marks a crucial diplomatic event with leaders from India, China, Russia, and Central Asian nations. The summit aims to address ongoing tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, while promoting multilateral dialogue. Established in 2001, the SCO has evolved into a major platform for addressing security and economic issues across Eurasia, making this summit particularly significant for participating nations.

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Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud inaugurated the AROHA-2024 conference in New Delhi, focusing on advancements in Ayurveda. The three-day event aims to establish Ayurveda as a key pillar of global health and wellness. CJI emphasized the importance of Ayurveda in medicine, hoping it will gain recognition as a legitimate treatment method. The government plans to open ten new Ayurveda centers to meet rising demand. The conference will cover various topics, including quality control, standardization, and globalization of Ayurveda.

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organized a function and national conference on the rights of older persons for its 31st Foundation Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The NHRC was established on 12th October 1993. Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, was the Chief Guest. He stated that India’s human rights record is unmatched, especially for minorities, marginalized, and vulnerable groups. The growing ageing population presents both opportunities and challenges. The Commission has taken steps to protect elderly rights, including forming a core group and issuing guidelines.

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The 15th ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference began on 21 October at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. ITU Kaleidoscope 2024 is an international conference organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It fosters dialogue between academics, researchers, and industry in information and communication technologies (ICT) to promote innovation and collaboration. The event gathered global researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore ICT solutions and discuss emerging trends. The focus is on future technologies that impact global communication networks and standardization. The theme of the conference is “Innovation and Digital Transformation for a Sustainable World.”

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The 16th annual BRICS summit took place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. BRICS originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024, BRICS admitted four new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. BRICS now represents nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of the global economy. The group acts as a counterbalance to institutions like the World Bank and IMF, dominated by Western countries. The term “BRIC” was first used in a 2001 Goldman Sachs paper predicting their rise among the world’s largest economies.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 14th All India Civil Defence and Home Guards conference at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The conference was held after 19 years. More than 60 senior officials and 1,200 members from different states participated in this event. The focus was on discussing the draft Civil Defence Bill and Model Home Guard Bill. The conference aims to enhance efficiency through modern technology in civil defense and home guard operations across India.

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The 11th Asia Clean Energy Summit (ACES) took place in Singapore from October 22-24, 2024, as part of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). It was co-organized by Nanyang Technological University (NTU’s) Energy Research Institute (ERI@N) and Singapore’s Solar Energy Research Institute (SERIS). Supported by key organizations like the Asian Development Bank, Singapore Economic Development Board, Energy Market Authority, and Enterprise Singapore. ACES 2024 aimed to unite global leaders to promote clean energy, accelerate net-zero goals, and encourage innovative energy solutions. The summit emphasized the integration of policy, finance, and technology for advancing climate action and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific.