Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Ministry of Culture announced India’s first-ever global conference on manuscript heritage to preserve and promote ancient knowledge. The three-day conference titled ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage’ will be held from 11 to 13 September at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was announced on Guru Purnima, honoring India’s guru–śiṣya tradition and age-old knowledge systems. It commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s iconic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions on September 11, 1893.

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Recently, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the two-day BIMSTEC Ports Conference in Visakhapatnam. BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. The conference aims to strengthen maritime connectivity and cooperation among Bay of Bengal nations. It reflects India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and its leadership in regional maritime development. The theme is Blue Economy, Innovation, and Sustainable Partnerships. Nations participating include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

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On Sushruta Jayanti (15th July 2025), Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, inaugurated Shalyacon 2025 in New Delhi. Shalyacon 2025 is the 3rd National Conference on Shalya Tantra, hosted by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). The theme is Innovation, Integration, and Inspiration, blending tradition with technology. It aims to showcase Ayurvedic surgical progress and promote collaborative learning and innovation.

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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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A national conference on Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/NT/SNTs) was held in New Delhi recently. Community leaders demanded the formation of a permanent national commission for their welfare. The demand follows the Idate Commission’s 2018 report, which recommended permanent support structures. These communities lack land rights, remain highly marginalised, and face economic deprivation. The Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) was formed in 2019 to support them. The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) offers free coaching, housing, health insurance, and livelihood aid to poor families.

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The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) was held in Awaza, Turkmenistan from 5–8 August under the theme “Driving Progress through Partnerships.” It addressed challenges faced by 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) with over 600 million people. LLDCs represented 7% of the world’s population but only about 1% of the global economy and trade. The conference aimed to unlock development potential through cooperation, trade facilitation, and infrastructure investment. The Awaza Programme of Action (APoA) 2024–2034 was adopted to tackle trade, infrastructure, climate resilience, and financing barriers.

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India has been elected as chairman of the Executive Board of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) with the highest votes at the 23rd AIBD General Conference in Phuket, Thailand (19–21 August 2025). India last held this position in 2016, and this strengthens its leadership role as it also serves as President of AIBD General Conference until August 2025. AIBD, founded in 1977 under UNESCO, has 92 member organizations from 45 countries. The conference theme was “Media for People, Peace & Prosperity,” highlighting India’s growing global influence in broadcasting.

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The third International Conference of Young Buddhist Scholars was held in New Delhi. The theme is “Wisdom Transmission in Buddha Dhamma in the 21st Century.” It was hosted at Dr Ambedkar International Centre by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). Young scholars emphasised establishing a powerful ethical framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI). They suggested building machines with a digital mind and a heart, blending intelligence with ethical values. The conference aimed to connect Buddhist wisdom with modern technological and ethical challenges.

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On the sidelines of the annual Chiefs of Defence Conference (CHODs) 2025, India’s Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) held meetings with senior defence officials from Vietnam, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Discussions focused on broadening defence cooperation, advancing maritime collaboration, professional military exchanges, and exploring technology partnerships. The CHODs 2025 conference was held at Dusit Thani Hua Hin, Thailand. The theme was “Peace through Strength – Ensuring Security and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” The conference highlighted the importance of collaboration among nations to address complex and evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Special Chief Secretary, Department of Tourism, Ajay Jain announced that the 41st Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Convention will be hosted by Andhra Pradesh in Visakhapatnam in 2026. The announcement was made during the 40th IATO annual convention held in Puri, Odisha from August 22 to 24, 2025. The three-day event followed the theme ‘Rejuvenate Inbound@2030’. Andhra Pradesh government has granted industry status to the tourism sector. Focus is on world-class infrastructure, including new airports, to boost tourism. All participants were invited to attend the 41st IATO Convention in Visakhapatnam in 2026.