Recent Current Affairs related to UN

International Moon Day

Day – July 20

Observed by – UN

Observed since – 2022

Commemorating – First human landing on the Moon (Apollo 11 mission) by Neil Armstrong in 1969

Union Minister S Jaishankar has launched India's campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term at the UN Headquarters in New York. The campaign is themed "SHANTI: Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity".

It is to be noted that the UNSC comprises 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power (China, France, Russia, UK, and USA) and 10 non-permanent members. India has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times.

The United Nations (UN) has released the Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which is the first UN-commissioned scientific assessment of AI. The report was prepared by a 40-member panel co-chaired by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.

The assessment highlights a global AI imbalance, noting that the USA leads with 75% of global compute capacity and 59 AI models.

World Youth Skills Day

Day - 15 July

Theme 2026 - "Skills for a Shared Future"

Observed since - 2015

International Day of Cooperatives

Day - 1st Saturday of July (July 4 in 2026)

Theme 2026 - 'Cooperatives for a Peaceful World'

Observed since - 1923

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN-backed agency, has launched the 'AI for Good Global Commission' in Geneva, Switzerland, to strengthen global AI governance, inclusion, and innovation frameworks.

The commission comprises 44 founding members and is co-chaired by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and Salesforce Chair and CEO Marc Benioff. India is represented on the commission by 3 founding members: Mukesh Ambani (CMD of Reliance Industries), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises Ltd), and Lakshmi N Mittal (Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal SA).

International Day of Women in Diplomacy

Day – June 24

Theme 2026 – "Diplomacy for All"

Observed since – 2023

International Day of Yoga

Day: June 21

Theme 2026: 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing'

Observed by: Ministry of AYUSH

Observed since: 2015

The Indian Army is participating in the 23rd edition of the multilateral joint military exercise 'KHAAN QUEST' 2026, hosted by Mongolia at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar.

The Indian contingent consists of 40 members, including troops from the JAT Regiment and other Arms & Services. The exercise involves personnel from 18 participating countries.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, a lawyer and diplomat, passed away at the age of 47. She was the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

World Oceans Day:

Day – 8 June

Theme 2026 – “Reimagine: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean”

Observed since – 2009

World Bicycle Day:

Day – June 3

Theme 2026 – “Cycling for a Greener Future“

Observed since – 2018

Initiated by – Leszek J Sibilski, a Polish-American social scientist

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), and Zimbabwe as non-permanent members of the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a 2-year term (2027-2028). This marks the first-ever term for Kyrgyzstan in the UNSC.

The new members will replace the outgoing members Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia, whose terms end in 2026. They will join the existing non-permanent members Colombia, Bahrain, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberia, who will serve until 2027.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers:

Day – May 29

Theme 2026 – “Invest in Peace”

Observed since – 2003

Commemorating – The 78th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping, which began in 1948 with the deployment of military observers to the Middle East under the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

Khalilur Rahman, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, has been elected as the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He will serve a 1-year term, succeeding Annalena Charlotte Alma Baerbock.

Major Abhilasha Barak, an Indian Army officer, has been conferred the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She served as the Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point within the Indian Battalion under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

She is the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this global award, after Major Suman Gawani (2019) and Major Radhika Sen (2023). It is to be noted that She is the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the history of the Indian Army.

World Football Day:

Day – 25 May

Observed by – 2024

According to the “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026” report released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), the GDP growth of India for FY27 is revised down to 6.4% from the previous projection of 6.6%. The growth forecast for FY28 is also reduced to 6.6%.

PM Narendra Modi has been conferred the prestigious FAO Agricola Medal by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The award recognises his contributions to food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.

It is one of the highest honours given by the FAO to individuals for their role in advancing global food security, improved nutrition, and agricultural development.

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War:

Day – May 08, 09

Observed since – 2005

Commemorating – The surrender of Nazi Germany in WWII

Also known in Europe as – Victory day