Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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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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Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, hosted a two-day national literary conference titled “How Much Has Literature Changed?” on May 29 and 30, 2025. The event was organised in collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi under the Ministry of Culture. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the conference at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and several eminent literary figures attended the event. The conference featured thematic sessions like Poets’ Meet – Straight from the Heart and Feminist Literature of India: Breaking New Grounds. Discussions reflected on literature’s role in societal change and India’s global literary voice. It concluded with a cultural session on Devi Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy.

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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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The National Agriculture-Renewable Energy Conference 2025 was held in New Delhi by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) to promote renewable energy in agriculture. A report and reference book on agriculture and renewable energy were released at the event. The conference aims to strengthen dialogue among policymakers, experts, and farmers.

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The 113th session of the International Labour Conference takes place from 2–13 June 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations agency for world of work. The conference brings together tripartite delegations from 187 member countries, including representatives of governments, employers, and workers. It serves as the ILO’s highest decision-making body and discusses global labour standards and social justice.

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Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) organized the National Conference on Agri Stack at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The event focused on turning agricultural data into efficient service delivery under the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM). Officials from the Centre, States, and key stakeholders discussed progress, challenges, and the future of Agri Stack implementation. Agri Stack is designed as a digital public good similar to Aadhaar, with a federated structure for Central and State collaboration.

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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.

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Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated a two-day National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and States and Union Territories (UTs) Legislative Bodies in Mumbai. It was highlighted that these committees play an important role in improving governance and pushing administrative reforms. Nearly 90 percent of the recommendations made by the committees for citizen welfare have been implemented. The use of modern technology was encouraged to further enhance committee functioning.

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Recently, the Indian Conservation Conference (ICCON) 2025 began on 25 June 2025 at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). ICCON was first launched in 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger and the announcement of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). ICCON 2025 features 17 themes, oral and speed talks, poster sessions, spotlight lectures, and 10 capacity-building workshops. A major highlight is TechBridge, a unique wildlife technology forum showcasing new tools for field use.

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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.