PMA Graduate Course Current Affairs Syllabus

What is the BRICS group, and which countries founded it?

BRICS is an intergovernmental bloc of major emerging economies. Its founding members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (the latter joined in 2010).

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and is Pakistan a member?

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance led by China and Russia. Pakistan became a full member in 2017, alongside India.

What was the Abraham Accords?

A series of US-brokered agreements from 2020 normalising relations between Israel and Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

What is NATO and what is the core mutual-defence provision of its treaty?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a transatlantic military alliance. Article 5 of its 1949 treaty holds that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

What are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power?

China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (the P5).

What does the COP series of summits address, and what landmark agreement came from COP21?

COP (Conference of the Parties) summits address climate change under the UNFCCC. COP21 (Paris, 2015) produced the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2°C, aiming for 1.5°C.

On what principle is Pakistan's foreign policy toward Kashmir based?

Pakistan supports the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination through a UN-supervised plebiscite, as called for in UN Security Council resolutions of 1948-49.

What is the OIC, and what is Pakistan's status within it?

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is the world's second-largest intergovernmental body, representing 57 Muslim-majority states. Pakistan is a founding member (established 1969).

What is Pakistan's stance described by the term 'strategic depth' regarding Afghanistan?

A doctrine seeking a friendly, stable Afghanistan to provide Pakistan defensive and political depth against India and to secure its western border.

What characterises Pakistan's 'all-weather' relationship with China?

A long-standing strategic partnership marked by deep defence, economic (CPEC), and diplomatic cooperation, often described as 'higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans.'

What is the Durand Line?

The 2,640-km border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, demarcated in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand; Afghanistan has historically disputed its status.

Which multilateral forum does Pakistan use with India for regional cooperation, and where is its secretariat?

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC); its secretariat is in Kathmandu, Nepal.

What was Operation Swift Retort (2019)?

Pakistan Air Force's retaliatory operation in February 2019 after the Balakot airstrike, during which it shot down an Indian aircraft and captured pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, later returned as a goodwill gesture.

What is the role of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) in Pakistan?

It is the highest military body coordinating the three armed services (Army, Navy, Air Force) and advising the government on defence; it is headed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

What is the function of Pakistan's National Command Authority (NCA)?

It is the apex body that controls and oversees Pakistan's nuclear weapons and strategic assets, responsible for policy, development, and deployment of the nuclear arsenal.

What is the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in Pakistan?

A civil-military body established in 2023 to fast-track foreign investment in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, IT, energy, and defence production.

What is the Shaheen series of missiles in Pakistan's arsenal?

A family of solid-fuelled, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles; Shaheen-III is the longest range at about 2,750 km, capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

What is the Babur missile?

Pakistan's indigenous subsonic land-attack cruise missile capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads, with a range of around 700 km and terrain-hugging flight.

What is the JF-17 Thunder?

A lightweight, single-engine multirole combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, manufactured at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra; its Block III variant features an AESA radar.

What advanced fighter jet did Pakistan induct from China in 2022, and what generation is it?

The J-10C (Vigorous Dragon), a 4.5-generation multirole fighter armed with the long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile.

What is the Nasr (Hatf-IX) missile, and what role does it play in Pakistan's doctrine?

A short-range (~60-70 km) tactical/battlefield ballistic missile designed to deliver nuclear warheads, central to Pakistan's 'full-spectrum deterrence' against conventional threats.

What distinguishes a ballistic missile from a cruise missile?

A ballistic missile follows a high, unpowered arcing trajectory after boost and re-enters at high speed. A cruise missile flies low, powered, and guided throughout, like an unmanned aircraft, allowing terrain-hugging precision.

What is the S-400 air defence system?

A Russian long-range surface-to-air missile system that can engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at ranges up to about 400 km; it is operated by countries including India, China, and Turkey.

How often are the Summer Olympic Games held, and where were the 2024 Games staged?

Every four years. The 2024 Summer Olympics were held in Paris, France.

Which Pakistani athlete won the country's first individual Olympic gold medal, and in what event?

Arshad Nadeem, in the men's javelin throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting an Olympic record of 92.97 metres.

Which nations contested the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, and who won?

Argentina and France contested the final in Qatar; Argentina won on penalties after a 3-3 draw, claiming its third World Cup, led by Lionel Messi.

Which team won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and where was it held?

Australia won, defeating India in the final at Ahmedabad, India, claiming their sixth ODI World Cup title.

What is the highest civilian award of Pakistan, and what is its name?

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence), conferred for the most distinguished service to the nation.

What is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan?

Nishan-e-Haider (Mark of the Lion), awarded posthumously for the highest acts of bravery; it has been conferred on a small number of recipients such as Captain Raja Sarwar and Major Aziz Bhatti.

In which categories are Nobel Prizes awarded, and which Pakistanis have won them?

Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Dr Abdus Salam won the 1979 Physics prize and Malala Yousafzai shared the 2014 Peace Prize.

What does the Ramon Magsaysay Award recognise, and why is it notable?

It honours outstanding contributions in public service and social change in Asia and is often called 'Asia's Nobel Prize'; recipients include Pakistanis such as Abdul Sattar Edhi.