📚 Odisha PSC – General Awareness & Current Affairs
International Events – Study Notes
Why International Events Matter
PSC exams test not only what happened but why it matters.
- Diplomacy & Global Governance – Understanding the role of multilateral bodies helps answer policy‑related questions.
- Pattern Recognition – Many questions ask you to match year → host city → event.
- Current Affairs – The latest meetings (e.g., 2024 G20 in Brazil) often appear in the “current” section of the question bank.
1. Quick Reference Table
| Event | Abbreviation | Frequency | Typical Host | Key Focus | 2023–2024 Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations General Assembly | UNGA | Annual | Any UN member country (rotates) | Global peace & development | 78th Session – Sept 2023, New York |
| UN Climate Action Conference | COP | Annual | Rotating | Climate change | COP28 – Dubai, Dec 2023 |
| G20 Summit | G20 | Annual | Rotating | Global economic policy | 2024 – Brasília, Brazil |
| BRICS Summit | BRICS | Annual | Rotating | Emerging economies | 2024 – Jakarta, Indonesia |
| SCO Summit | SCO | Annual | Rotating | Eurasian security & economics | 2024 – Chongqing, China |
| Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting | CHOGM | Biennial | Rotating | Commonwealth nations | 2022 – Sri Lanka (completed) |
| ASEAN Summit | ASEAN | Annual | Rotating | Southeast Asian cooperation | 2023 – Jakarta, Indonesia |
| World Economic Forum | WEF | Annual | Rotating | Global economy | 2024 – Davos, Switzerland |
| International Labour Organization | ILO | Annual | Rotating | Labour standards | 2023 – Geneva, Switzerland |
| International Monetary Fund | IMF | Annual | Rotating | Global finance | 2023 – Washington, D.C. |
| World Bank | WB | Annual | Rotating | Development finance | 2023 – Washington, D.C. |
| International Criminal Court | ICC | As needed | Rotating | International criminal justice | 2023 – The Hague |
Tip: Memorize the first letter of each acronym and the typical frequency (Annual vs. Biennial). This reduces recall time during exams.
2. In‑Depth Overview of Major International Events
2.1 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1945 (post‑WWII) |
| Agenda | All UN member states discuss global issues (peace, security, development, human rights). |
| Key Documents | General Assembly Resolutions (e.g., 1970s land‑mine resolution). |
| Tricky Point | The UN Security Council is separate; its decisions are binding on all members. |
| 2023 Session | 78th General Assembly – 18 Sept – 7 Oct 2023, New York. |
| Highlight | 2023 resolution on climate‑action finance from developing countries. |
Why It Matters
- Decisions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Platform for global leadership (e.g., UN Secretary‑General’s addresses).
2.2 UN Climate Action Conference (COP)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annual (Climate Change Conference). |
| Key Milestone | Paris Agreement (2015) – all countries commit to limiting warming to < 2 °C. |
| 2023 | COP28 – Dubai, 30 Nov – 12 Dec 2023. |
| 2024 | COP29 – scheduled in Baku, Azerbaijan. |
| Tricky Point | COP is a conference under the UNFCCC, not the same as the UNGA |