International Current Affairs MCQs

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The Supreme Court recently asked the Centre to decide on ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime, stressing its global relevance. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2024 to boost global cooperation against cybercrime. It aims to strengthen prevention, support capacity-building for developing countries, and promote international coordination. It will come into force 90 days after 40 countries ratify it, and India has not signed it yet. It is the first universal legally binding treaty against cybercrime, developed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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Nepal has extended the survey license deadline for the West Seti Hydropower Project and allowed a direct agreement for another project by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to support Indian power companies in developing hydropower in the Himalayan region. West Seti Hydropower Project is planned as a 750 Megawatt hydroelectric storage project on the Seti River, a tributary of the Karnali River in Nepal. It is a storage-based project, not a run-of-river project, allowing water to be stored during monsoon and electricity to be generated year-round. The project is being developed by National Hydro Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) of India under a Public-Private Partnership model.

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Seychelles has become the sixth member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). The decision was made at the 7th National Security Adviser-level meeting in New Delhi. India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval hosted the meeting. Seychelles previously participated as an observer state; Malaysia attended as a guest. The move strengthens CSC’s role in ensuring Indian Ocean Region stability. Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is a regional security grouping. Current members are India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles

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Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change joined the 11th Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Partner Countries’ Meeting. The JCM was first proposed by the Government of Japan and officially launched in 2013. It aims to spread advanced decarbonizing technologies and infrastructure through investment by Japanese entities to support sustainable development in partner countries. It is a bilateral mechanism implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It functions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and complements the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). India is one of the 31 partner countries of the JCM.

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Cyclone Fina recently hit Australia’s Northern Territory as a Category 3 cyclone, bringing wind speeds up to 205 km per hour and severely impacting Darwin. Around 19,000 residents lost electricity, with damaged property and flooded roads, though no injuries were reported. The storm reminded residents of Cyclone Tracy (1974), though Fina was less severe but strong enough to uproot trees and disrupt essential services. Fina adds to the region’s pattern of tropical storms, reinforcing the need for stronger disaster resilience and emergency infrastructure in northern Australia.

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Tata Power Company Ltd signed agreements with Druk Green Power Corporation Ltd (DGPC) for the 1,125 Megawatt (MW) Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project in Bhutan. It is a run-of-river project located in Lhuentse and Mongar districts of Bhutan on the Kurichhu River, a tributary of the Drangmechhu flowing into India. It will be Bhutan’s 2nd-largest hydropower project and the largest Public–Private Partnership (PPP) hydro project in the country. The World Bank is financing the project, and it will be developed jointly under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

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Ukraine became the first European country to activate Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellite service in partnership with Kyivstar and Veon, starting with SMS services and expanding to voice and data in 2026. Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator serving 22.5 million users, ensures communication during power outages and wartime disruptions. The Direct-to-Cell technology allows standard 4G smartphones to connect directly to low-Earth orbit satellites without ground towers.

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India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2026–27. The 34th session of the IMO Assembly was held in London, where the elections took place. India received the highest vote tally in the category of ten countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. It secured 154 out of 169 valid votes cast during the election.

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India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, to support Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah caused floods, landslides, and widespread disruption. Cyclone made landfall on 27 November 2025, causing fatalities and affecting thousands. Indian Air Force (IAF) delivered approx 12 tonnes of aid on 29 November 2025, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food to Colombo. The operation provides food, essentials, and logistical support to manage immediate crises in Sri Lanka.

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SoLAR Phase II launched on 28 November 2025 by International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to expand climate-resilient solar irrigation systems in South Asia and East Africa. SoLAR stands for Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience in South Asia. Phase II expands climate-resilient, socially inclusive solar irrigation across India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia. It builds on SoLAR Phase I (2019–2024), which tested grid-connected and off-grid solar irrigation pumps (SIP), showing technical, economic, and environmental benefits. Phase II strengthens policy, financing, institutional capacity, and launched SolaReady, a spatial decision-support platform for solar irrigation planning.