International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Border clashes recently erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan along the Durand Line. The Durand Line is the 2,640-kilometer international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was established in 1893 through an agreement between Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, Emir of Afghanistan. The border has been disputed historically, contributing to tensions and periodic clashes. The recent clashes highlight the ongoing security and diplomatic challenges in the region. The Durand Line remains a key geopolitical flashpoint affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

Notes:
Recently, India and Brazil agreed to significantly expand their existing trade agreement with the MERCOSUR bloc. MERCOSUR stands for the Southern Common Market (Spanish initials). It is a South American regional economic organization and the fourth largest integrated market after the European Union (EU), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). MERCOSUR was created in 1991 by signing the Treaty of Asunción. Its objective is the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people, becoming a customs union in January 1995.

Notes:
United States President Donald Trump recently criticized the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for considering a carbon emissions price on global shipping, calling it a “Global Green New Scam Tax.” The IMO is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency responsible for shipping safety, security, and prevention of marine pollution. It has 176 Member States and 3 Associate Members, headquartered in London. IMO sets global standards for shipping safety, security, and environmental performance, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14. Its Assembly and Council govern the organization, while five major committees, including the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), develop policies and regulations.

Notes:
Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, won Bolivia’s presidential election. He defeated conservative rival Jorge Tuto Quiroga amid the country’s worst economic crisis. Paz secured 54.5% of the vote, while Quiroga got 45.5%, according to Bolivia’s Electoral Tribunal. His victory ends nearly two decades of leftist rule by Movement to Socialism (MAS). Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in western-central South America. The constitutional capital is Sucre, while the seat of government and executive capital is La Paz.

Notes:
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is currently holding meetings in Paris to discuss state-sponsored terrorism and funding of banned outfits operating in Pakistan. FATF is an independent intergovernmental body that sets global standards against Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorist Financing (TF). It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris and expanded in 2001 to include terrorism financing. FATF headquarters is in Paris, France. India became a FATF member in 2010.

Notes:
India and the United Kingdom (UK) launched the Ramanujan Junior Researchers Programme to foster collaboration between young scientists. The programme was named after Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. It honors his 1913 collaboration with British mathematician G.H. Hardy. The programme is supported by India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and announced after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India. Young Indian physicists and mathematicians can conduct joint research at the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS). LIMS, at the Royal Institution, London, is renowned for full-time theoretical research and associations with Nobel Prizes and major discoveries. The initiative emphasizes international scientific dialogue and exchange of talent between India and the UK

Notes:
Saudi Arabia has officially ended the Kafala System, giving millions of migrant workers more rights and freedom. The Kafala System was a sponsor system tying migrant workers to a single employer, requiring employer consent to switch jobs or exit the country. Saudi Arabia will replace it with a contractual model under Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program. The new system allows job mobility, contract-based transfers, and exit/return rights without employer approval. Bahrain abolished Kafala in 2009; UAE partially reformed it in 2015; Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman still have strict Kafala rules.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared 2026 as the “Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation” during the 22nd ASEAN Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The decision highlights growing collaboration in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, and the blue economy. The summit’s theme was “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, aligning with India’s focus on digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains. ASEAN remains the main pillar of India’s Act East Policy, advancing shared goals under ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Viksit Bharat 2047.

Notes:
Catherine Connolly, an independent left-wing politician, has been elected as Ireland’s 10th President. She won by a landslide victory, defeating her rival Heather Humphreys. Connolly has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2016 representing the Galway West constituency. She also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Irish Parliament. The presidency in Ireland is a largely ceremonial role, but her win reflects strong voter support for her independent and progressive stance.

Notes:
Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to join the United Nations (UN) Water Convention. The UN Water Convention is officially called the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. It was adopted in Helsinki in 1992 and came into force in 1996. Initially designed for the pan-European region, it became open to all UN Member States after March 2016. It is a legally binding treaty promoting sustainable management of shared water resources. It helps prevent conflicts, promote peace, and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).