Current Affairs – 18 May, 2026

🌍 National & Int. Affairs • 🏛️ State Initiatives • 💰 Business • 🔬 Science • 🛡️ Defense & Security  |  20 MCQs

🔍

📌 Quick Summary — Current Affairs 18 May, 2026

🌐 National & International Affairs
  • International Treaties: India recently rejected a Court of Arbitration award concerning the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty regarding the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers.
  • Global Forums: The Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026 was hosted in Mumbai to focus on responsible diamond trade and conflict diamond prevention.
  • Infrastructure Integration: The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is set for massive modernization via the PPP model.
🏛️ State Government Initiatives
  • Infrastructure Restoration: The Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka successfully underwent restoration after its crest gate was washed away.
  • Business Deregulation: Tripura became the first Indian state to complete all priority areas identified under Deregulation Phase-I and Phase-II reforms to improve the ease of doing business.
  • Export Promotion: The ODOP ‘Baksa honey’ from Assam saw its first-ever facilitated export by APEDA.
💰 Business & Economy
  • Railway Expansion: The CCEA approved a 134-km semi high-speed double-line railway project connecting Ahmedabad to the industrial smart city of Dholera.
  • International Trade Markets: The European Union emerged as India’s third-largest seafood export market in FY26, trailing only the USA and China.
  • Agriculture Data Infrastructure: The National Jute Board, functioning under the Ministry of Textiles, expanded the Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) platform alongside ISRO.
🧪 Science & Technology
  • AI in Law Enforcement: The CBI launched the AI-based ‘ABHAY’ helpbot to assist citizens in verifying the authenticity of notices to combat cyber fraud.
  • Digital Healthcare Datasets: The Ministry of AYUSH signed an MoU with BHASHINI to integrate multilingual AI models and expand medical accessibility.
  • Energy Diversification: The Union Cabinet’s Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification aims to efficiently convert coal into Synthesis gas (syngas).
  • AI in the Judiciary: The Supreme Court of India unveiled an AI-powered assistance chatbot named ‘Su Sahay’ complementing the ‘One Case One Data’ initiative.
🛡️ Defense & Security
  • Domestic Aerospace Manufacturing: The first domestically assembled Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft rolled out of the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara.
  • Indigenous Combat Assets: India introduced the ‘Kaal Bhairava’, a newly developed Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) autonomous combat aircraft boasting a 3,000 km range.
  • Inter-Service Agreements: The Indian Army and Indian Navy signed a historic Memorandum of Association (MoA) centered heavily on Affiliation and Operational Cohesion.
🌿 Environment & Ecology
  • Endangered Species Tracking: The Red-necked Falcon, boasting a ‘Near Threatened’ IUCN status, was recently recorded in the Kawal Tiger Reserve.
  • Geological Activity: Mount Uturuncu, designated a “zombie volcano” due to fresh magma swells from its depths, is actively being monitored in Bolivia.
  • Conflict Mitigation: India’s first dedicated Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) Research Centre is breaking ground inside the Palamu Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand.
  • Wildlife Diplomacy: New Delhi has been slated to host the first-ever International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in June 2026.
Timer ⏳
15:00
Total XP 💎
0
Best Score 🏆
0
Streak 🔥
0
Score ⭐
0
Progress (0/20)

Click any card to flip and reveal the answer!

Smart Review: Questions you got wrong appear here for focused study.

Full Transcript of 18 May 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

1. Which state is home to the Tungabhadra Dam, which recently underwent restoration after its crest gate was washed away?

Answer: Karnataka

2. What is the IUCN Red List conservation status of the Red-necked Falcon, which was recently sighted in the Kawal Tiger Reserve?

Answer: Near Threatened

3. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently launched an AI-based helpbot to help citizens verify the authenticity of notices and combat cyber fraud. What is the name of this helpbot?

Answer: ABHAY

4. Mount Uturuncu, recently referred to by researchers as a “zombie volcano” due to fresh batches of hot magma rising from its depths, is located in which country?

Answer: Bolivia

5. In May 2026, the first domestically assembled Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft was completed at a Tata-Airbus manufacturing facility located in which Indian city?

Answer: Vadodara

6. India recently rejected a Court of Arbitration award concerning the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Under this treaty, which set of eastern rivers is allocated exclusively to India for unrestricted use?

Answer: Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi

7. The Union Ministry of Rural Development celebrated 25 years of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). In which state was the new PMGSY-IV phase recently launched?

Answer: Madhya Pradesh

8. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a 134-km semi high-speed double-line railway project connecting Ahmedabad to which major industrial smart city in Gujarat?

Answer: Dholera

9. In May 2026, which Indian state became the first to complete all priority areas identified under Deregulation Phase-I and Phase-II reforms to improve the ease of doing business?

Answer: Tripura

10. Where did India host the Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026, focusing on responsible diamond trade and conflict diamond prevention?

Answer: Mumbai

11. The Ministry of AYUSH recently signed an MoU with which Digital India division to strengthen multilingual access to healthcare datasets and AI models?

Answer: BHASHINI

12. What is the name of the newly developed indigenous Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) autonomous combat aircraft that boasts a range of 3,000 km?

Answer: Kaal Bhairava

13. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in FY26, which region or country emerged as India’s third-largest seafood export market after the USA and China?

Answer: European Union

14. India will host the first-ever International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit in June 2026 in which city?

Answer: New Delhi

15. The Union Cabinet’s Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects primarily aims to convert coal into which of the following products?

Answer: Synthesis gas (syngas)

16. The Supreme Court of India recently launched an AI-powered assistance chatbot alongside the ‘One Case One Data’ digital initiative. What is the name of this chatbot?

Answer: Su Sahay

17. The National Jute Board expanded the Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) platform in collaboration with ISRO. The National Jute Board functions under which Union Ministry?

Answer: Ministry of Textiles

18. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) recently facilitated the first-ever export of ODOP ‘Baksa honey’. Baksa is a district in which state?

Answer: Assam

19. The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport is set to be modernized under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. In which city is this airport located?

Answer: Nagpur

20. In May 2026, the Indian Army and Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Association (MoA) to strengthen inter-service cooperation. This agreement specifically focused on what area?

Answer: Affiliation and Operational Cohesion