International Current Affairs MCQs

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The United States of America (USA) conducted its first air transport of a micro nuclear reactor using a C-17 military aircraft. The Departments of Energy (DOE) and Defense (DOD) transported the Ward microreactor developed by Valar Atomics from California to Hill Air Force Base without nuclear fuel. This shows rapid nuclear deployment capability for military and civilian use. The reactor can generate up to 5 megawatts, enough for about 5,000 homes. It will start at 100 kilowatts and gradually scale to full capacity.

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Scotland became the first country in the United Kingdom to allow water cremation, also called hydrolysis. The new rules were approved by the Scottish Parliament, marking the biggest funeral law reform since 1902. Hydrolysis uses water and potassium hydroxide at about 150 degree Celsius to break down soft tissues, leaving only bones, which are dried and turned into ashes. In 2023 public consultation, 84 percent supported hydrolysis. The method is already legal in 28 United States states and countries like Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

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Jose Antonio Kast became the 38th President of Chile in March 2026 after winning the 2025 presidential election. He is the founder and leader of the Republican Party of Chile. He assumed office after receiving the Piocha de O’Higgins, the traditional presidential symbol. The symbol was handed over by outgoing president Gabriel Boric. Kirti Vardhan Singh represented the Government of India at the inauguration. He will serve a four-year presidential term.

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India hosted the BIMSTEC Young Professionals Exchange Programme in Maharashtra from 9–15 March 2026. The programme was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to promote knowledge exchange, cooperation and innovation exposure. It brought together 30 young innovators, technology developers, entrepreneurs and professionals from BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) member countries. The programme provided exposure to India’s start-up, research and technology model and encouraged collaboration.

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The West Asian conflict escalated after Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field and retaliatory Iranian missile attacks on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facilities. Ras Laffan Industrial City is the world’s largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export hub, located in northeastern Qatar along the Persian Gulf coast, developed by QatarEnergy. It houses liquefaction plants, storage tanks, and export terminals, with an annual production of 77–80 million tonnes of LNG, supplying nearly 20% of global LNG. Ras Laffan is a critical LNG supplier to countries like India, Japan, and Europe, supplying ~40% of India’s LNG imports and serving as a key node in global gas supply chains.

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Min Aung Hlaing was elected President of Myanmar, consolidating his political power five years after the Myanmar coup 2021. His rise follows a controversial election dominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party, widely criticised as a sham by Western nations. He overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, triggering protests that escalated into a nationwide civil war. He secured victory with 429 votes against rival Nyo Saw, backed by military-appointed lawmakers. His presidency is seen as an attempt to legitimise military rule under a civilian façade.

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Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting over one million children due to a fast-spreading measles outbreak. Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral disease caused by a virus from the paramyxovirus family. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with infected respiratory secretions, and the virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. The infection begins in the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body, potentially causing severe complications and death.

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Nizar Amedi has been elected as the new President of Iraq by the Iraqi Parliament. He is a Kurdish leader, former environment minister, and has headed the political office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Baghdad since 2024. The election follows parliamentary polls held in November last year. Under Iraq’s sectarian power-sharing system, the President is a Kurd, the Prime Minister is a Shi’ite Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament is a Sunni Muslim.

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The European Commission has proposed expanding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover about 180 additional products from January 1, 2028. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a European Union tool to impose a carbon price on imports of carbon-intensive goods, ensuring fair competition with EU industries. It is part of the EU Green Deal, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. The expansion will include manufactured and semi-finished goods like metal products, pipes, machinery parts, and aluminium containers.

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Excavations at Tell el-Farama in northern Sinai revealed a rare round temple in the ancient city of Pelusium. Pelusium was located at the easternmost mouth of the Nile, about 32 km southeast of Port Said in Egypt. It was originally known as Sainu or Per-Amun and served as a key fortress and customs post on Egypt’s eastern frontier. The city was famous for flax production and held strong economic importance.