International Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
India recently addressed the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Roundtable at UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, highlighting global efforts on industrial decarbonisation. LeadIT was launched in 2019 by India and Sweden with support from the World Economic Forum. It is the first global high-level initiative targeting net-zero emissions from heavy industries by 2050. It brings together countries and companies to promote public-private partnerships, finance, and best-practice sharing for an inclusive, just transition. LeadIT 2.0 (2024-26), launched at COP28, focuses on inclusive transition, low-carbon technology transfer and financial support to emerging economies. Its secretariat is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, with 18 member countries and 27 companies.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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).

Notes:
Tanzania launched a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign targeting cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens to curb zoonotic and transboundary diseases such as anthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and Rift Valley Fever. The five-year programme (2025–2029) aims to vaccinate 19 million cattle, 17 million goats and sheep, and 40 million chickens. Tanzania has 36.6 million cattle, second largest in Africa; agriculture contributes 30% of GDP and supports 70% of rural population. Vaccination prevents livestock losses, reduces public health risks, and strengthens One Health approach linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Notes:
The Government of India recently showcased the country’s pioneering achievements in rural transformation and development leadership at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – India Day event held in Rome, Italy. The event highlighted India’s successful policies, programmes, and innovations aimed at eradicating rural poverty, strengthening livelihoods, and transforming rural economies. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its primary objective is to eradicate poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries by empowering rural communities.

Notes:
Australia has implemented the world’s first nationwide ban on social media access for children below the age of 16 years, with the objective of strengthening child online safety and protecting minors from digital harms. The law places the responsibility of enforcement on social media companies rather than on children or their parents. It aims to shield minors from addictive algorithms, cyberbullying, online predators and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, while promoting healthier boundaries between childhood, family life and the digital environment.

Notes:
United States (US) and Jordan launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria after an ISIS attack in Palmyra killed two US soldiers and injured others. The operation involved overnight airstrikes on more than 70 ISIS targets using precision-guided weapons. The objective was to weaken ISIS fighters, weapons stockpiles, and infrastructure, disrupting future attacks. It aimed to send a strong deterrent message to terror groups and reaffirm the US policy of security through strength. The joint mission also highlighted US–Jordan military cooperation and commitment to regional counter-terrorism efforts.

Notes:
Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan, and the United States — conducted their first Field Training Exercise (FTX) under the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). The exercise took place on the sidelines of Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) is a joint Quad initiative to strengthen shared logistics capabilities and enhance coordinated disaster response. The IPLN aims to enable Quad partners to respond more quickly and effectively during large-scale natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:
India will soon have over 100 tsunami-ready villages under the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme in the Indian Ocean region. It is an international community-based programme developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The programme aims to build resilient coastal communities through tsunami awareness and preparedness. Its main objective is to reduce loss of life, livelihoods, and property during tsunamis. Communities must meet 12 indicators covering risk assessment, preparedness, and response. Tsunami-ready villages show hazard mapping, evacuation plans, public display boards, 24-hour warning systems, and regular mock drills.