International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, the governments of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) announced a series of nuclear power deals. Leading US-based companies will build nuclear projects overseas. The initiative aims to accelerate advanced reactor deployment and reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel. It is named the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy. The partnership includes faster safety approvals, regulatory cooperation, and billions in private sector investment. The initiative strengthens transatlantic cooperation in nuclear energy and strategic energy security.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Labour and Employment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Government of India and International Labour Organisation (ILO). The MoU is for collaboration to develop the International Reference Classification of Occupations. This classification will improve comparability of data and promote mutual recognition of skills. It aims to address significant skill shortages faced by many countries due to demographic deficits and digitalisation. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN). The headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 for its contribution.

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying signed a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to strengthen Blue Port infrastructure in India. The Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) was created to make FAO’s technical expertise available to member countries on request. Its purpose is to improve food security and reduce poverty with lasting impact. Its goal is to solve technical problems in crop production, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, nutrition, food safety, and rural development under the Country Programming Framework (CPF). Two pilot fishing ports, Vanakbara (Diu) and Jakhau (Gujarat), will receive strategic and operational tools to design and implement investment projects.

Notes:
Indonesia suspended import of Indian groundnuts from 3 September 2025 due to Aflatoxin concerns. Suspension threatens new crop arrivals in a month, with groundnut sown on 48 lakh hectares this kharif season. Gujarat expects record 66 lakh tonnes, but prices remain below Minimum Support Price (MSP). Indonesia is India’s top buyer, importing one-third of exports — 2.77 lakh tonnes worth $280 million in 2024–25. Aflatoxins are toxic compounds from fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, linked to liver cancer and health risks.

Notes:
Brazil has become the first country to invest in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a multilateral fund for global tropical forest conservation. The fund aims to attract contributions from both wealthy and developing countries to support climate policy. TFFF is envisioned as a $125 billion fund combining sovereign and private-sector contributions, paying countries based on preserved tropical forests.

Notes:
Recently, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it a neo-colonial tool. International Criminal Court (ICC) was created by the Rome Statute in 1998, which entered into force on 1 July 2002. It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal in the world. The Court has 125 member countries, but China, India, Israel, Russia, and the United States are not parties. ICC is funded by State Parties’ contributions and voluntary donations from governments, organizations, and entities.

Notes:
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the second edition of the Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech (Maitri 2.0) in New Delhi. The programme aims to foster innovation-driven growth and strengthen collaboration between Indian and Brazilian agritech ecosystems. It builds on the 77-year-long agricultural partnership between India and Brazil and aligns with cooperation under BRICS and the G20. ICAR has grown from 74 patents in 1996 to 1,800+ annually, with 5,000 licensing agreements supporting innovations. Maitri 2.0 is a two-way learning platform for co-creation, digital technologies, value-chain development, and sustainable farming.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched its first Sovereign Mobility Cloud at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport in 2025. It is enabled by Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud and powered by Microsoft Azure. The platform ensures all transport data is hosted within the UAE and governed under national regulations. It supports high-definition mapping, telematics, fleet operations, traffic management, and digital twins. The initiative provides regulatory sandboxes and test hubs for innovation in autonomous mobility.

Notes:
The Kokrajhar–Gelephu rail line between India and Bhutan has been declared a Special Railway Project (SRP) by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). It is the first-ever railway connectivity for Bhutan, giving the project huge strategic importance. The 69 km line will connect Kokrajhar in Assam (India) with Gelephu in Bhutan. Another link, the 16 km Banarhat–Samtse line, will connect West Bengal with Bhutan. The project supports India’s Act East Policy and strengthens bilateral ties with Bhutan.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev at World Food India 2025. They discussed creating a BRICS Grain Exchange to boost agricultural trade among BRICS member countries. The exchange aims to strengthen trade ties among BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It will facilitate smoother agricultural trade flows, enable price discovery, and reduce dependence on Western-dominated commodity markets. The platform will enhance food security by ensuring stable supplies of wheat, rice, and other staples. It will promote trade diversification and reduce reliance on Chicago and London commodity benchmarks.