The first informal summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 was held in which Russian city?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of important India Russia diplomatic events, specifically the first informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin in 2018. Informal summits are high level meetings without a very rigid official agenda, used to strengthen strategic and personal ties between leaders. Remembering the host city for such summits is important for current affairs and international relations questions in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question refers to the first informal summit between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin in 2018.
The summit took place in Russia and the question asks for the name of the Russian city.
The options are Moscow, Sochi, New Delhi, and St. Petersburg.
We assume the exam is asking about the widely reported informal summit held in May 2018.

Concept / Approach:
The approach to this question is based on factual recall from international current affairs. In 2018, India and Russia held an informal summit at Sochi, a resort city on the Black Sea coast. Such summits are part of a broader strategy of India to have informal leader level meetings with major partners, similar to the Wuhan and Mamallapuram summits with China. Identifying the correct city involves recognising that Sochi is a popular venue in Russia for important international events, including this India Russia informal summit.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the news that Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Russia in May 2018 for an informal summit with President Vladimir Putin.Step 2: Remember that the summit was held in a resort city on the Black Sea coast rather than in the capital Moscow.Step 3: Connect this detail with the name Sochi, which is a well known Russian resort city that has hosted major events like the Winter Olympics.Step 4: Compare the options and choose Sochi as the only option that matches the recorded venue for the informal summit.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall that multiple current affairs summaries and banking exam capsules framed the question exactly as “Informal summit held in which city of Russia” with the answer Sochi. You can also remember that Moscow and St. Petersburg are often used for formal state visits, while Sochi has become a favourite for informal or retreat style meetings of the Russian President. No reports indicate that this specific informal summit was hosted in New Delhi, since New Delhi is in India, not Russia. All these checks confirm that Sochi is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Moscow is the capital of Russia and many official summits take place there, but the 2018 informal summit with Prime Minister Modi was deliberately held away from the capital in Sochi, so Moscow is incorrect here.
New Delhi is the capital of India and clearly not a Russian city, so it cannot answer the question that specifically asks for a city of Russia.
St. Petersburg is another major Russian city that often hosts cultural and political events, but again the specific informal summit in question took place in Sochi, not in St. Petersburg.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to pick Moscow by default whenever a question mentions an international summit in Russia, due to familiarity with the capital city. Another pitfall is confusing the Sochi summit with other India Russia meetings or mixing this up with informal summits held with leaders of other countries in different cities. Candidates may also overlook the phrase “city of Russia” and wrongly consider New Delhi due to frequent India centred news. Careful reading and recall that the summit was framed in exam material as the Sochi informal summit helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The first informal summit between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin in 2018 was held in the Russian city of Sochi.