Summits and Conferences in Current Affairs MCQs

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The 2024 Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), an annual Indian Navy conference, held in New Delhi. The conference’s theme is “Resource Geopolitics and Security in the Indo-Pacific.” IPRD is the Indian Navy’s key platform for international strategic engagement, discussing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. This year’s conference highlights the impact of traditional and new marine resources on geopolitics, with a focus on offshore energy resources like hydrocarbons shaping future geopolitics.

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The World Green Economy Forum launched in Dubai, bringing together global leaders to address environmental challenges.
Under Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s patronage, the theme was “Empowering Global Action: Unlocking Opportunities and Advancing Progress.” Sessions focused on international cooperation for climate mitigation and integrated approaches to meet sustainable development goals. Strategies for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries were discussed, emphasizing public-private partnerships and philanthropists’ roles in climate solutions. The forum highlighted AI’s importance in sustainability and the future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), along with youth’s critical role in environmental progress.

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The Conference on Maritime Decarbonization in India, co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports and the Asian Development Bank, concluded in New Delhi. It emphasized the importance of green shipping and sustainable port operations. It aimed to align India’s maritime sector with global climate goals, discussing initiatives like the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines and the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. This reflects India’s commitment to transforming its maritime industry for a sustainable future.

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A parliamentary delegation attended the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva. The assembly focused on harnessing science, technology, and innovation for a peaceful and sustainable future. The delegation participated in meetings of the IPU’s governing council, the highest decision-making body. They met counterparts from other parliaments during the assembly. The delegation also interacted with the Indian diaspora in Geneva. The IPU included 180 member parliaments and 15 associate members from both large and small countries.

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India recently hosted the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 in New Delhi, marking the first time this pivotal event is held in India and the Asia-Pacific region. The WTSA brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and tech experts from over 190 countries to discuss and establish future standards for technologies like 6G, Artificial Intelligence, and cybersecurity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s role as a dynamic player in digital technology, highlighting its advancements in telecom and digital infrastructure, including a significant increase in mobile manufacturing and connectivity initiatives.

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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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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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An Indian delegation led by Union Minister Nityanand Rai attended the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 in Manila. The conference was inaugurated by Philippine President Bongbong Marcos. The theme was “Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction.” APMCDRR is the key platform for the Asia-Pacific region to monitor and enhance cooperation on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It involves governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to speed up disaster risk reduction efforts.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) inaugurated the 2024 Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The Hand-in-Hand Initiative, launched in 2019, focuses on partnerships and investments to improve food security, reduce poverty, and promote economic growth in low- and middle-income countries. The initiative aims to achieve three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): eradicating poverty (SDG 1), ending hunger (SDG 2), and reducing inequalities (SDG 10). India has not joined the Hand-in-Hand Initiative.

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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.”