Current Affairs — 18 May 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 18 May 2026
India and Norway elevate ties to a Green Strategic Partnership; aim to double trade by 2030
On 18 May 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held talks in Oslo, elevated India–Norway ties to a Green Strategic Partnership and set a goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
Judges Inquiry Committee on Justice Yashwant Varma submits report to Lok Sabha Speaker
On 18 May 2026 the Judges Inquiry Committee investigating allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
Scindia launches ₹175-crore Mission 'Coffees of Nagaland' with Arabica and Robusta pilot clusters
On 18 May 2026 DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the ₹175-crore Mission 'Coffees of Nagaland', a cluster-based coffee value-chain mission with pilot clusters at Tuophema (Arabica) and Ghotovi (Robusta).
CSIR signs five agreements with Norwegian institutions in Oslo on clean energy, offshore wind and geosciences
On 18 May 2026 CSIR/DSIR, led by Director General Dr N. Kalaiselvi, signed five agreements in Oslo with the Research Council of Norway, SINTEF, NTNU and Emerald Geomodelling covering clean energy, offshore wind, sustainability, geosciences and academic exchange.
Goyal sets $1 trillion export target for this year and $2 trillion in five years; exports at $863 billion
On 18 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India is targeting exports of $1 trillion this year and $2 trillion over five years, after exports reached $863 billion, nearly 5% higher than the previous year.
PM Modi receives the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit from King Harald V
On 18 May 2026 King Harald V of Norway conferred the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Norway's highest honour for foreign Heads of Government, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo.
Saurabh Vijay takes charge as CEO of UIDAI
On 18 May 2026 Saurabh Vijay, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, assumed charge as Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Draft National Water Metro Policy 2026 circulated; Water Metro planned for 18 cities, Guwahati in Phase I
On 18 May 2026 Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 has been circulated for inter-ministerial consultation, with Water Metro services planned in 18 cities and Guwahati, Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj in Phase I.
V. D. Satheesan takes oath as Chief Minister of Keralam
V. D. Satheesan took oath as Chief Minister of Keralam, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on 18 May 2026, assuring Central support to the newly formed state government.
INST Mohali's nanogold-PVDF ultrathin film boosts pyroelectricity for self-powered sensors
Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, reported on 18 May 2026 that adding a small amount of nanogold to ultrathin PVDF films sharply improves their ability to turn small temperature changes into electricity.
Centre signs reform-linked Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 MoUs with West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
On 18 May 2026 West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands signed reform-linked MoUs with the Centre under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, committing to a Gram Panchayat-led model of rural water supply.
Agriculture Ministry simplifies household pesticide licensing and fertiliser registration under 'Reform Express'
On 18 May 2026 the Agriculture Ministry reviewed reforms under the 'Reform Express', including a one-page licence form for selling household pesticides, QR codes in place of paper leaflets and digital integration of all 649 customs ports for farm imports.