Current Affairs Quiz — 18 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 Norway elevate their relations on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Green Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Støre agreed in Oslo to elevate ties to a Green Strategic Partnership.
By which year did India and Norway aim to double the value of their current bilateral trade, as agreed in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 2030
The leaders underlined the aim of doubling the value of current trade between India and Norway by 2030.
Consider the following statements about the India–Norway talks of 18 May 2026: 1. The investment commitment under the India–EFTA TEPA cited by the leaders is USD 50 billion. 2. The leaders welcomed Norway joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the TEPA investment commitment cited is USD 100 billion, with one million jobs in India. Statement 2 is correct.
Who was the Presiding Officer of the Judges Inquiry Committee that submitted its report on Justice Yashwant Varma in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Justice Aravind Kumar
Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court presided; Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and B.V. Acharya were members.
Under which law was the report of the Judges Inquiry Committee on Justice Yashwant Varma presented in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
The report was presented in accordance with the statutory requirements under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
Consider the following statements about the Judges Inquiry Committee on Justice Yashwant Varma: 1. The committee was constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker on 12 August 2025. 2. The committee was presided over by the Chief Justice of India. 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 Presiding Officer was Justice Aravind Kumar, a judge of the Supreme Court.
What is the outlay of Mission 'Coffees of Nagaland' launched in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹175 crore
PIB: the mission has an outlay of Rs. 175 crores.
Under Mission 'Coffees of Nagaland', the pilot cluster for Robusta coffee is at:
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Correct answer: C — Ghotovi village, Niuland district
Ghotovi village in Niuland district is the Robusta cluster; Tuophema in Kohima district is the Arabica cluster.
With which Norwegian research organisation did CSIR sign a Collaboration Agreement (2026–2029) on circularity and sustainability, under an existing 2014 MoU?
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Correct answer: A — SINTEF
CSIR signed a 2026–2029 Collaboration Agreement with Stiftelsen SINTEF under the framework of their 2014 MoU.
What is the title of the Joint Declaration of Intent signed by CSIR, AcSIR and NTNU in Oslo in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation for the Green Shift
The declaration is titled 'Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation for the Green Shift'.
What export target for this year did Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announce on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — $1 trillion
Goyal said India has set a target of $1 trillion in exports this year and $2 trillion over five years. $863 billion is the export level already reached.
According to Piyush Goyal (May 2026), with which country's FTA may come into force from 1 June?
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Correct answer: A — Oman
Goyal said the Oman FTA may come into force from 1 June, with other finalised FTAs to follow.
As stated by Piyush Goyal on 18 May 2026, India's exports this year reached about how much?
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Correct answer: C — $863 billion
Goyal said exports this year reached $863 billion, nearly 5% higher than the previous year.
Which honour did King Harald V of Norway confer on PM Narendra Modi on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
PM Modi received the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in Oslo.
According to PIB, the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit is Norway's highest honour for:
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Correct answer: B — foreign Heads of Government
PIB states that the award is Norway's highest honour bestowed on foreign Heads of Government.
Who assumed charge as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Saurabh Vijay
Saurabh Vijay, a 1998-batch IAS officer, assumed charge as CEO of UIDAI on 18 May 2026.
New UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay is an IAS officer of which batch and cadre?
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Correct answer: B — 1998 batch, Maharashtra cadre
PIB: he is an IAS officer of the 1998 batch of the Maharashtra cadre.
In how many cities does the Centre plan to roll out Water Metro services, as stated in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 18
Sonowal said the Centre has advanced plans to roll out Water Metro services in 18 cities.
Which of the following cities is proposed for Phase II (not Phase I) of the Water Metro rollout?
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Correct answer: D — Dibrugarh
Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam are proposed for Phase II; Guwahati, Srinagar and Varanasi are in Phase I.
Who took oath as Chief Minister of Keralam, as congratulated by the Prime Minister on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — V. D. Satheesan
PM Modi congratulated V. D. Satheesan on taking oath as Chief Minister of Keralam.
The INST Mohali study of May 2026 embedded nanogold in which polymer to boost pyroelectric performance?
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Correct answer: B — Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
The team engineered ultrathin films of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a ferroelectric polymer, with hexagonal nanogold.
'Pyroelectricity', improved in the INST Mohali nanogold films, refers to the ability of a material to:
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Correct answer: A — generate electricity from changes in temperature
PIB defines pyroelectric performance as the ability to generate electricity from changes in temperature.
The reform-linked MoUs under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 signed in May 2026 mandate which model of rural water governance?
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Correct answer: A — Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred
The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred model of rural water governance.
Which state and Union Territory signed reform-linked Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 MoUs with the Centre on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
West Bengal and the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands signed the MoUs on 18 May 2026.
How many customs ports have been digitally integrated to facilitate import of agricultural commodities, as reviewed by the Agriculture Ministry in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 649
The ministry said all 649 customs ports have been digitally integrated to facilitate import of agricultural commodities.
Under the May 2026 reforms, what replaces the physical leaflets supplied with household pesticide products?
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Correct answer: C — QR codes on product labels
Physical leaflets have been discontinued and replaced with QR codes directly on product labels.