International Current Affairs MCQs

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Vietnam has officially joined BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) as a partner country. This makes Vietnam the 10th nation in the BRICS partner category. The partner country category was introduced during the 2024 BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia. Other BRICS partner countries include Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

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Recently, India strongly criticized the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for making “unwarranted” and “factually incorrect” remarks influenced by Pakistan, which India said uses terrorism as “statecraft.” The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental group after the United Nations (UN). The OIC works to ensure peace, security, and development in political, social, and economic areas for the Muslim world. India is not a member of the OIC. Its headquarters is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Scientists, policymakers, and activists from India have raised concerns about proposed amendments to Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The treaty was adopted on 3 November 2001 by the Thirty-First Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It recognises farmers’ contributions to global crop diversity. It sets up a worldwide system giving farmers, plant breeders, and scientists access to plant genetic materials. It ensures benefit-sharing from the use of these materials.

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Senegal has recently been declared free of trachoma by the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 15, 2025. It became the 25th country globally and the 9th in Africa to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and leads to preventable blindness. It contributes to about 1.4% of global blindness, affecting 1.9 million people. Senegal faced trachoma since early 1900s and joined WHO’s global elimination alliance in 1998.

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India’s role in global food standards was appreciated at the 88th session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC 88). The session was recently held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome from 14th to 18th July 2025. The Committee reviewed India-led work on Millets Group Standards and praised the efforts. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the global body for setting international food standards. was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Its main goal is to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in international food trade.

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A recent joint report by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that contaminated medicines have killed 1,300 people over the past 90 years. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 by merging the United Nations Drug Control Programme and Centre for International Crime Prevention. UNODC is a global leader in fighting illicit drugs, international crime, and terrorism. It educates people on drug abuse dangers and helps strengthen actions against drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. Its headquarters is in Vienna, Austria.

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Prime Minister of India gifted two BHISHM cubes to Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Maldives’ 60th Independence Day. This was a major step in healthcare diplomacy and regional cooperation. BHISHM stands for Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri. It is developed under National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the cubes are compact, portable, and self-contained. Each cube includes essential medicines, trauma care, surgical tools, and AI systems. It can handle 200 emergency cases, including trauma and minor surgeries.

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Slovenia became the first European Union (EU) country to ban all weapons trade with Israel. The arms embargo was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob after a cabinet meeting. The decision was taken due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Slovenia acted independently as the EU failed to agree on a joint position due to internal divisions. No military export permits to Israel have been issued by Slovenia since October 2023.

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India recently launched a joint initiative with the UN World Food Programme (UN WFP) to improve rice fortification and supply chain management in Nepal. The UN WFP is the food assistance branch of the United Nations, founded in 1961. It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency focused on eradicating hunger and improving food security. WFP’s work aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger by 2030. India has been a WFP member since 1963. World Food Programme (WFP) is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

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The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has created two new mechanisms to strengthen global cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance. The initiatives include the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance will serve as an inclusive platform for States and stakeholders to discuss critical AI issues affecting humanity. The Scientific Panel on AI will provide rigorous, independent scientific assessments bridging cutting-edge AI research and policymaking. The initiatives aim to harness AI benefits while mitigating risks, ensuring AI serves the common good of humanity.