For a conference, do I need a conference visa or a business visa?
A conference visa for attending a conference or seminar. It needs far less paperwork — the organisers' invitation and a letter of introduction from your employer.
In detail
The document treats these as two separate categories, and the difference in paperwork is large.
A conference visa adds just two documents to the seven common requirements: 1. An invitation letter from the organisers of the event in India 2. A letter of introduction from the organisation you work for
A business visa adds more than twelve — trade licence, chamber membership, company bank statement, letters from both sides, and more depending on the nature of the business.
So if you are simply attending a conference or seminar, the conference visa is both the correct and the easier route. Business meetings, buyer-seller discussions and trade fairs fall under the business visa.
It helps if the invitation states the conference name, dates and venue clearly, since the visa period is usually aligned with the event.