India hosted the 8th BRICS Summit during its chairmanship, which took place on 15–16 October 2016 in which Indian city?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines knowledge of important international summits and India's role as a host nation. BRICS is a grouping of five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. When India held the BRICS chairmanship in 2016, it hosted the 8th BRICS Summit, an event that attracted global attention. Remembering the host city and dates of such high-level summits is a recurring theme in general knowledge and current affairs sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The summit in question is the 8th BRICS Summit.
• It was hosted by India during its BRICS chairmanship.
• The dates were 15–16 October 2016.
• The options list four major Indian cities: Goa, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Concept / Approach:
To answer, you must recall which Indian city was selected as the venue for the 8th BRICS Summit in 2016. Unlike many international summits that are held in New Delhi, this particular summit was organised in Goa, reflecting the trend of using diverse cities as global meeting points. Keeping track of where key summits—BRICS, G20, SCO and others—are held is vital for candidates preparing for government, banking and civil services examinations.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the summit: the 8th BRICS Summit in 2016 under India’s chairmanship. Step 2: Recall that India decided to host the 2016 BRICS Summit in Goa, a coastal state known for its tourism infrastructure and convention facilities. Step 3: Compare this memory with the options given and spot 'Goa' in option A. Step 4: Recognise that other cities—New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore—are often used for events, but not for this particular BRICS Summit. Step 5: Select 'Goa' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the location of the 8th BRICS Summit by consulting Ministry of External Affairs press releases or reputable news summaries from October 2016. They clearly state that the summit was held in Goa on 15–16 October 2016. Many exam-oriented current affairs compilations also list '8th BRICS Summit – Goa, 2016' as a key fact, making it easy to cross-check. Some summaries also note that Goa hosted both the BRICS Summit and the BIMSTEC Outreach Summit around the same time.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Bangalore: While it is a major IT hub, it was not the venue for the 8th BRICS Summit in 2016.
• New Delhi: Frequently hosts international meetings, but in this special case, the BRICS Summit was consciously taken to Goa.
• Mumbai: India’s financial capital, but not the chosen host city for this particular summit.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to automatically choose New Delhi for any international summit in India because it is the national capital. Some candidates may also confuse the 2016 BRICS Summit with other conferences held in different cities or with later BRICS summits held in other countries. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to maintain a simple list pairing summit names with their host cities and years, and to review this periodically. Paying close attention to the specific year and edition of the summit reduces the risk of mixing up details.

Final Answer:
The 8th BRICS Summit held on 15–16 October 2016 during India’s chairmanship took place in Goa.