International Current Affairs MCQs

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Adani Power signed a pact with Bhutan’s Druk Green Power to build the 570 MW Wangchu Hydroelectric Project. Project will follow a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) model with power purchase and concession agreements signed. It is a run-of-river project on Wangchu River (Raidāk River in India) in Chukha District, Bhutan. Construction will start in first half of 2026 and complete within five years. It will meet Bhutan’s peak winter electricity demand and export surplus power to India in summer.

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Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has been re-elected for a second five-year term with 55 percent of the 65-seat parliament, as announced by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Ali’s government, in power since 2020, used 7.5 billion oil revenue to build roads, schools, hospitals, and made state university education free. Guyana, with the largest oil reserves per capita, currently produces 650,000 barrels daily, expected to reach 1 million by 2030. The nation recorded 43.6 percent GDP growth in 2024, with a state budget expected at 6.7 billion in 2025.

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Bangladesh recently announced export of hilsa fish to India ahead of Durga Puja as a mark of “enduring Bangladesh-India friendship.” Earlier in September 2024, Bangladesh had banned hilsa export to India but relaxed it after appeals from traders. Hilsa, also called Ilish fish, is culturally significant in Bengali traditions, offered during pujas, weddings, and to Goddess Lakshmi. It lives in both saltwater and freshwater, spending most life in the ocean but migrating to rivers like Padma, Meghna, Ganges, and Godavari for breeding. Bangladesh produces about 70% of the world’s hilsa and it is the national fish of Bangladesh. Hilsa contributes 12% of Bangladesh’s total fish catch and nearly 1% of GDP.

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The U.K.-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB), launched in September 2024, marked its first anniversary on September 8, 2025, in London. It is a joint initiative led by NITI Aayog of India and the City of London of the United Kingdom. The bridge was created under the UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD). It aims to channel sustainable infrastructure investments into India using the U.K.’s expertise in structuring large-scale projects. Focus areas include national highways, regional rapid transport, and renewable energy projects. Stakeholders will build a long-term, stable, and sustainable financing system with manageable risks. It prioritizes green projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveiled the UPI–UPU Integration project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai. The initiative integrates India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Interconnection Platform. It is developed jointly by the Department of Posts, NPCI International Payments Limited, and UPU, it aims to transform cross-border remittances and expand financial inclusion. The project allows instant, secure, and low-cost money transfers for families across borders. India will contribute USD 10 million for innovation, e-commerce, digital payments, training, and capacity building. India aims for the UPU Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council membership.

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Union Education Minister inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus during a two-day UAE visit on September 10-11. The visit aims to deepen India-UAE cooperation in education, innovation, and academic excellence. Two academic programs were launched: Ph.D. in Energy and Sustainability and B.Tech in Chemical Engineering. The initiative is under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), India’s flagship program for innovation and entrepreneurship. The centre will promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and strengthen the Indian diaspora’s access to quality education in the UAE.

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The Philippines strongly objected to China’s announcement of creating a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Scarborough Shoal is a disputed atoll located 220 km west of the Philippines’ Luzon Island and is the largest atoll in the South China Sea. It remains mostly submerged at high tide, with only a few rocks above sea level. China calls it Huangyan Island and claims historical ownership tracing back to the Yuan Dynasty of the 1200s. The Philippines claims it lies within its 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The shoal is commercially significant due to rich fishing grounds, valuable shellfish, and sea cucumbers.

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An Indian migrant became the first person deported from the UK under the new One-In, One-Out migration deal with France. The One-In, One-Out Scheme is a migration agreement between the United Kingdom (UK) and France. The deal aims to deter dangerous crossings of the English Channel in small boats by migrants without visas or permits. Many migrants pay gangs in northern France to make these risky journeys, which have led to deaths. Under the agreement, France takes back asylum seekers who crossed illegally without family connections in the UK. For each migrant returned to France, the UK grants asylum to one eligible migrant from France with proven family ties. The scheme targets safe and legal migration while discouraging illegal attempts.

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The Taliban government recently rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to retake Bagram Air Base, four years after the U.S. withdrawal. Bagram Air Base is the largest airbase in Afghanistan, located north of Kabul. It holds a strategic position near Iran, Pakistan, China’s Xinjiang, and Central Asia. Originally built by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it supported Soviet operations until the late 1980s. The United States later revamped it and used it as a hub for war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda since 2001. It served as the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan for air operations, intelligence, and logistics.

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Britain, Canada, and Australia formally recognized Palestinian statehood on 22 September 2025, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York. Portugal also confirmed recognition, while France pledged to vote for Palestinian state recognition at the UN this week. The move increases diplomatic pressure on Israel and isolates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu internationally. Recognition is largely symbolic, supporting Palestinian self-determination but not immediately affecting Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Tens of thousands have died in Gaza, and humanitarian conditions remain dire. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized sustaining hope for a two-state solution despite challenges.