Latest December Current Affairs

LEVEL 1: EASY

Q1. Which country will chair the BRICS grouping and host the 18th Summit in 2026?
A) Brazil
B) Russia
C) India
D) China

Q2. The “Fortaleza Declaration” (2014) is associated with the establishment of which institution?
A) World Health Organization
B) New Development Bank (NDB)
C) International Solar Alliance
D) SCO RATS

Q3. The African Union (AU) was admitted as a permanent member of which group?
A) G7
B) G20
C) NATO
D) ASEAN

Q4. What is the location of the Headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB)?
A) Moscow, Russia
B) Shanghai, China
C) Johannesburg, South Africa
D) New Delhi, India

Q5. The “Antalya Goal” (2015) aimed to reduce youth unemployment by 15%. Which new target replaced/updated this in 2025?
A) The Rio De Janeiro Pact
B) The Nelson Mandela Bay Target
C) The New Delhi Declaration
D) The Petersburg Goal

Q6. Which country is NOT a member of the “G4” group bidding for permanent UNSC seats?
A) Japan
B) Germany
C) Italy
D) Brazil

Q7. The “Zeroing Out” law allows which leader to potentially stay in power until 2036?
A) Xi Jinping
B) Narendra Modi
C) Vladimir Putin
D) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Q8. Which Indian space mission involves the training of astronauts at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center?
A) Chandrayaan-3
B) Aditya-L1
C) Gaganyaan
D) Mangalyaan-2

Q9. The “International North-South Transport Corridor” (INSTC) connects Mumbai to which Russian city via Iran?
A) Vladivostok
B) Moscow
C) Astrakhan (and onwards to St. Petersburg)
D) Novosibirsk

Q10. Who coined the acronym “BRIC” in 2001?
A) Vladimir Putin
B) Jim O’Neill
C) Kofi Annan
D) Manmohan Singh

Q11. The “2+2 Dialogue” format was first launched by India with which country?
A) Russia
B) Japan
C) USA
D) Australia

Q12. What is the total committed resource of the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)?
A) $50 Billion
B) $100 Billion
C) $200 Billion
D) $500 Billion

Q13. Which Middle Eastern countries became effective members of BRICS+ in 2024?
A) Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran
B) Israel, Turkey, Qatar
C) Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman
D) Iraq, Syria, Lebanon

Q14. The “Northern Sea Route” is a connectivity project primarily involving which region?
A) The Mediterranean
B) The Arctic and Russian Far East
C) The South China Sea
D) The Bay of Bengal

Q15. In the context of the G20, what does “Troika” refer to?
A) The three largest economies.
B) The three military superpowers.
C) The Past, Current, and Incoming Presidencies.
D) The Permanent Secretariat of G20.

Q16. Which Indian neighbor opposes the G4 plan for UNSC expansion?
A) Bangladesh
B) Bhutan
C) Pakistan
D) Sri Lanka

Q17. The G20 Miami Summit is scheduled for which year?
A) 2024
B) 2025
C) 2026
D) 2027

Q18. The ICC arrest warrant for Putin is NOT for the invasion, but for:
A) Using nuclear threats.
B) Unlawful deportation of children.
C) Bombing energy infrastructure.
D) Blocking grain exports.

Q19. Which country joined the SCO in 2023 as a permanent member?
A) Belarus
B) Iran
C) Turkey
D) Afghanistan

Q20. What is the primary focus of the “RATS” structure in the SCO?
A) Trade Tariffs
B) Cultural Exchange
C) Counter-Terrorism
D) Space Exploration

LEVEL 2: MEDIUM

Select the correct code:
A) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
B) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
C) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
D) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

Q22. Which of the following is correct regarding the BRICS expansion?
A) Argentina was the first South American country to join the expansion.
B) Ethiopia and Egypt represent the African continent in the new expansion.
C) Indonesia became a member in 2024.
D) The expansion reduced the group’s share of global oil production.

Q23. Identify the incorrect statement about the UNSC:
A) It has 15 members in total.
B) Non-permanent members are elected for 5-year terms.
C) P5 members have Veto power.
D) India has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.

Q24. Consider the following regarding Indo-Russia Defence cooperation:

It is moving from a “buyer-seller” relationship to “joint research and co-production.”
The S-400 system is a key import from Russia.
India has stopped exporting spare parts for Russian equipment.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Q25. Why is the “Nelson Mandela Bay Target” named so?
A) It was signed in Nelson Mandela’s hometown.
B) It emphasizes the G20’s focus on the African development agenda.
C) Nelson Mandela founded the G20.
D) It focuses solely on South African youth.

Q26. Which of the following pairs is INCORRECTLY matched?
A) SCO Secretariat – Beijing
B) SCO RATS – Tashkent
C) NDB Headquarters – Moscow
D) INSTC Key Hub – Bandar Abbas

Q27. The “Bharatiya Antriksh Station” (BAS) is related to:
A) A new missile defense system.
B) India’s own planned space station.
C) An Antarctic research base.
D) A deep-sea mining vessel.

Q28. Arrange the following “2+2 Dialogues” of India in chronological order of their commencement:

United Kingdom
USA
Russia
Australia
Select the correct code:
A) 2 →→ 4 →→ 3 →→ 1
B) 2 →→ 3 →→ 4 →→ 1
C) 1 →→ 2 →→ 3 →→ 4
D) 2 →→ 1 →→ 3 →→ 4

Q29. Which group of countries constitutes the “Troika” for the G20 in 2024 (Brazilian Presidency)?
A) Brazil, Russia, India
B) India, Brazil, South Africa
C) USA, UK, France
D) China, Brazil, South Africa

Q30. The term “Three Evils” in the context of SCO refers to:
A) Terrorism, Separatism, Extremism.
B) Inflation, Corruption, Nepotism.
C) Cybercrime, Drug Trafficking, Piracy.
D) Nuclear war, Chemical war, Biological war.

Q31. Regarding the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor), which statement is true?
A) It explicitly includes Iran to ensure energy security.
B) It is seen as a direct counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
C) It has been fully operational since 2023.
D) It connects India to Europe via the Cape of Good Hope.

Q32. Which feature distinguishes the G4 from the P5?
A) G4 members are all from Europe.
B) G4 members do not currently hold Veto power.
C) G4 members are not UN members.
D) P5 members are elected annually.

Q33. Which currency difficulty is specifically mentioned in Indo-Russia trade?
A) High volatility of the Euro.
B) Struggles with the Rupee-Rouble mechanism.
C) Ban on using the Yuan.
D) Over-dependence on Bitcoin.

Q34. The “Uniting for Consensus” (UFC) group is primarily known for:
A) Supporting G4’s bid for permanent seats.
B) Opposing the expansion of permanent seats in the UNSC.
C) Demanding Veto power for all UN members.
D) Focusing solely on climate change.

Q35. What is the key advantage of the Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor?
A) It is the only route that passes through the Suez Canal.
B) It connects India to the resource-rich Russian Far East.
C) It is exclusively for military use.
D) It is a rail-only corridor.

Q36. Who is the “Incoming Presidency” of the G20 after South Africa (2025)?
A) India
B) United States
C) China
D) Germany

Q37. Which Russian company is a subsidiary of Roscosmos and deals with the Gaganyaan equipment?
A) Gazprom
B) Glavkosmos
C) Sukhoi
D) Kalashnikov

Q38. “Programme 2030” between India and Russia includes cooperation in all EXCEPT:
A) Energy
B) Connectivity
C) Technology
D) Promotion of NATO expansion

Q39. What is the status of Belarus in the SCO as of the 2024-25 timeline?
A) It has been expelled.
B) It is in the process of becoming a full member.
C) It is a Dialogue Partner only.
D) It refused to join.

Q40. Which statement regarding India’s role in UNSC is correct?
A) India is a permanent member with Veto power.
B) India acts as a voice for the Global South and claims a permanent seat.
C) India has never been a non-permanent member.
D) India supports the abolition of the UNSC.

LEVEL 3: DIFFICULT

Q41. Assertion (A): The IMEC project has faced delays despite being signed at the G20 Summit in 2023.
Reason (R): The explicit exclusion of Iran and Russia made the project economically unviable.
A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

Q42. Consider the following statements about the BRICS “Contingent Reserve Arrangement” (CRA):

It aims to provide protection against global liquidity pressures.
It acts as an alternative to the World Bank for infrastructure lending.
It has a capital of $100 Billion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Q43. Which of the following best explains the “Strategic Autonomy” India derives from BRICS?
A) It allows India to buy weapons from China.
B) It provides a platform to engage with non-Western powers without severing ties with the West.
C) It guarantees India a Veto in the UN Security Council.
D) It creates a military alliance against NATO.

Q44. With reference to the “Troika” system in G20, consider the composition for the year 2025:

Brazil (Previous Presidency)
South Africa (Current Presidency)
USA (Incoming Presidency)
Is this composition correct?
A) Yes, completely correct.
B) No, India should be the Previous Presidency.
C) No, China is the Incoming Presidency.
D) No, the Troika was abolished in 2024.

Q45. Analyze the trade imbalance between India and Russia:

India imports high-value items like oil and defense systems.
India’s exports are limited to a narrow basket of tea, coffee, and pharma.
The trade balance is positive (surplus) for India.
Which statements are true?
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) All are true

Q46. Regarding the SCO and its membership timeline:
Statement I: India and Pakistan joined simultaneously in 2017.
Statement II: Iran joined before India.
Statement III: The “Shanghai Five” existed before the SCO was formally established in 2001.
Which options are correct?
A) I and II only
B) II and III only
C) I and III only
D) I, II and III

Select the correct code:
A) 1-Q, 2-P, 3-R, 4-S
B) 1-P, 2-Q, 3-S, 4-R
C) 1-Q, 2-S, 3-R, 4-P
D) 1-R, 2-P, 3-Q, 4-S

Q48. Consider the following statements about the G4 and UFC:

Italy is a member of G4.
Germany is a member of UFC.
China supports UFC’s stance to block Japan’s bid.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) 3 only
D) 1 and 2

Q49. “Zeroing Out” in the context of Russian politics refers to:
A) Eliminating nuclear weapons by 2030.
B) Resetting the Presidential term count to allow Putin to run again.
C) Reducing the trade deficit with India to zero.
D) Wiping out all foreign debt.

Q50. Which of the following is a “Key Exclusion” difference between INSTC and IMEC?
A) INSTC excludes China; IMEC excludes USA.
B) INSTC excludes Pakistan; IMEC excludes Iran and Russia.
C) INSTC excludes India; IMEC excludes Saudi Arabia.
D) INSTC excludes Europe; IMEC excludes Africa.

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