Current Affairs Quiz — 16 May 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
To what level did India and the Netherlands elevate their relations on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten decided in The Hague to elevate India–Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership.
At which royal palace did King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima host PM Modi on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Huis ten Bosch, The Hague
The Joint Statement says the King and Queen hosted PM Modi at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague.
Consider the following statements about PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands in May 2026: 1. It was PM Modi's first visit to the Netherlands. 2. Under the Strategic Partnership Roadmap, a Foreign Minister-level mechanism will hold annual meetings to review progress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: it was PM Modi's second visit to the Netherlands. Statement 2 is correct as per the Roadmap.
Operation RAGEPILL, announced by the NCB in May 2026, led to India's first-ever seizure of which drug?
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Correct answer: C — Captagon
Operation RAGEPILL resulted in India's first-ever seizure of Captagon.
Under Operation RAGEPILL, about 196.2 kg of Captagon powder was recovered from a container at which port location?
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Correct answer: B — Mundra, Gujarat
The 196.2 kg of Captagon powder was recovered from a container at a CFS in Mundra, Gujarat, on 14 May 2026.
According to the NCB (May 2026), Captagon mainly contains which substances?
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Correct answer: D — Fenetylline and amphetamine
NCB said Captagon mainly contains fenetylline and amphetamine, psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act.
Which institution restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Leiden University Library
Leiden University Library returned the Chola Copper Plates in the presence of PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten.
The Chola Copper Plates returned in May 2026 record the gift of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara located in:
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Correct answer: B — Nagapattinam
The charters formalise the gift of Anaimangalam village to the Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Consider the following statements about the Chola Copper Plates restituted to India in May 2026: 1. The set consists of 21 large plates and 3 small plates. 2. The texts on the plates are written only in Tamil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the plates contain texts in both Tamil and Sanskrit.
Where will the Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers be established, as per the outcomes of PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — West Tripura
The list of outcomes includes the establishment of an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers in West Tripura.
The Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence on Training in Dairy, agreed in May 2026, will be set up at which institution?
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Correct answer: C — Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH), Bengaluru
The outcomes list the Indo-Dutch CoE on Training in Dairy at the Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH), Bengaluru.
Which statement correctly describes India's BRICS Chairship as stated in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Fourth time; earlier in 2012, 2016 and 2021
India has assumed the BRICS Chairship for the fourth time, after 2012, 2016 and 2021.
According to the Commerce Secretary (May 2026), intra-BRICS merchandise trade reached what value in 2024?
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Correct answer: C — US$1.17 trillion
Intra-BRICS merchandise trade rose thirteen-fold from US$84 billion in 2003 to US$1.17 trillion in 2024.
The 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) in May 2026 was held in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Gandhinagar
The 2nd CGETI meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat; the first was held virtually in March 2026.
ASML, which signed an agreement with Tata Electronics in May 2026, is a leading supplier of which equipment for chip-making?
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Correct answer: C — High-precision lithography equipment
PIB describes ASML as a Dutch multinational and one of the leading suppliers of high-precision lithography equipment.
The Tata Electronics–ASML agreement of May 2026 supports India's first front-end semiconductor fab at:
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Correct answer: D — Dholera, Gujarat
The agreement supports the semiconductor fab at Dholera, Gujarat – India's first front-end fab.
Which Statehood Day did Sikkim celebrate on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 51st
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed Sikkim's 51st Statehood Day celebrations in Gangtok.
At Sikkim's Statehood Day event in May 2026, the Vice President paid tribute to which person as the first Chief Minister of Sikkim?
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Correct answer: D — Kazi Lhendup Dorjee
The Vice President paid tribute to Kazi Lhendup Dorjee, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim.
The 'Mission Sikkim Organics' initiative highlighted on Sikkim's Statehood Day 2026 is worth how much and is expected to benefit how many farmer families?
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Correct answer: A — ₹360 crore; over 66,000 families
DoNER said the ₹360 crore Mission Sikkim Organics initiative, anchored in MDoNER's ₹85 crore contribution, will benefit over 66,000 farmer families.
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi in May 2026 on assuming office as the Prime Minister of which country?
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Correct answer: C — Iraq
PM Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi on assuming office as Prime Minister of Iraq.
INS Sagardhwani concluded a port call at Port Klang in May 2026. Port Klang is in which country?
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Correct answer: B — Malaysia
INS Sagardhwani departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on 15 May 2026 after engaging with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
What type of vessel is the Indian Navy's INS Sagardhwani?
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Correct answer: C — Oceanographic research vessel
The Ministry of Defence describes INS Sagardhwani as the Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel.
According to a PIB backgrounder of May 2026, what share of global jaggery production does India account for?
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Correct answer: A — Over 70%
India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, making it the world's largest producer.
By how much did the value of India's jaggery exports increase between 2015-16 and 2024-25, as per PIB (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: D — 106.5%
Jaggery exports increased by 106.5% in value between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
On which date was the Government e Marketplace Special Purpose Vehicle (GeM SPV) incorporated?
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Correct answer: D — 17 May 2017
The GeM SPV was incorporated on 17 May 2017 under the Companies Act, 2013.
What is the legal form of the GeM SPV, according to the Ministry of Commerce (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — A Section 8 non-profit company under the Ministry of Commerce
GeM SPV is a Section 8 non-profit company under the Ministry of Commerce, incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013.