Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ministry of Ayush hosted the global summit ‘Yoga Connect’ on 14th June 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi as a key event before the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY). It was held in a hybrid format, with over 1,000 in-person participants and virtual attendees from top yoga institutions and wellness groups worldwide. The event was coordinated by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), India’s main yoga research body.

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Recently, the 2025 United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference ended with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration for urgent ocean protection. The declaration, titled Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action, urges immediate steps to conserve and use oceans sustainably. The 2025 UN Ocean Conference is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The next and fourth UN Ocean Conference in 2028 will be co-hosted by Chile and South Korea.

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United Nations (UN) Member States have agreed on the outcome document called the Compromiso de Sevilla or Seville Commitment for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4). This document will be officially adopted at the upcoming summit in Sevilla, Spain. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) will be hosted by Spain in Seville, from June 30 to July 3, 2025. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) aims to build a stronger global framework to finance sustainable development. This is the fourth major conference following Monterrey (2002), Doha (2008), and Addis Ababa (2015).

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Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) announced a three-day international conference from August 20 to 22, 2025, in Greater Noida to focus on deciphering the Indus Valley script. The event, titled ‘Decipherment of the Indus Script: Current Status and the Way Forward’, will include experts from India and abroad working on Harappan civilisation and script. This comes after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin offered a $1 million prize for anyone who successfully deciphers the Indus script. ASI may also introduce fellowships for scholars dedicated to this research.

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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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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 third National Conference on Responsible Business Conduct (NCRBC) 2025 was inaugurated by Shri Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport & Highways, at Taj Palace, New Delhi. It was organised by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), the two-day event focused on “Integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for Viksit Bharat.” The event highlighted India’s shift from regulatory prosecution to trust-based corporate governance with ESG at the centre of business strategy.

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Recently, Brazil hosted the BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. Leaders of BRICS gathered for a two-day summit to discuss stronger cooperation. The summit was overshadowed by new tariff policies of United States President Donald Trump. BRICS leaders presented the group as a defender of multilateralism. The group expressed concerns about Western dominance in global affairs. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It brings together mainly developing nations to promote fair global cooperation. The summit aims to boost partnerships and address common challenges.

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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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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.