Current Affairs Quiz — 19 May 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which city hosted the 3rd India-Nordic Summit on 19 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Oslo
The summit was hosted by the Prime Minister of Norway; PIB places PM Modi's margin meetings in Oslo.
Into what kind of partnership did India and the Nordic countries decide to shape their relations at the 3rd India-Nordic Summit?
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Correct answer: D — Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership
PM Modi announced that India–Nordic relations would be shaped into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership.
Consider the following statements in the context of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit (May 2026): 1. The India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement has been implemented since October 2025. 2. Sweden is a party to the India–EFTA TEPA. 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: PM Modi named Norway, Iceland and the other EFTA countries as TEPA partners, and Denmark, Finland and Sweden as partners in the India–EU FTA.
Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), whose demise was condoled by the Prime Minister on 19 May 2026, had served as Chief Minister of which state?
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Correct answer: C — Uttarakhand
PIB describes him as former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Union Minister.
Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), who died on 19 May 2026, held which Union portfolio in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government?
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Correct answer: B — Road Transport and Highways
Khanduri was Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Vajpayee government and is credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral.
Consider the following statements about Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), who died in May 2026: 1. He served two terms as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, 2007–2009 and 2011–2012. 2. The Golden Quadrilateral, executed during his tenure as Road Transport and Highways Minister, was part of Phase II of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). 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 5,846-km Golden Quadrilateral was part of the first phase of NHDP; Phase II mainly covered the North-South and East-West Corridors.
Which coal mine became the first underground mine to start production under the commercial coal auction regime in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Urtan, Anuppur
The Urtan mine in Anuppur district, MP, began production on 15 May 2026 as the first underground mine under commercial auctions. Dhirauli also began production but is not described as underground.
The Dhirauli coal mine, which began production on 17 May 2026, is in which district of Madhya Pradesh?
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Correct answer: C — Singrauli
Dhirauli is in Singrauli district and is allocated to Mahan Energen Limited.
Which of the following states is NOT a member of the Central Zonal Council, whose 26th meeting was held in Bastar in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Bihar
The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of the member states Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Bihar is not among them.
Which body organised the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs
PIB: the meeting was organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat, functioning under the MHA, with Chhattisgarh as host.
As per the Project Cheetah review of 19 May 2026, what is India's current cheetah population?
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Correct answer: D — 53
The population stands at 53, of which 33 are Indian-born. 29 is the total of founders (20) and the Botswana batch (9).
Besides Namibia and South Africa, cheetahs for Project Cheetah were also brought from which country?
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Correct answer: A — Botswana
The founder population of 20 from Namibia and South Africa was supplemented by 9 cheetahs from Botswana.
Consider the following statements about Project Cheetah (May 2026 review): 1. Habitat readiness in the Banni grasslands of Gujarat has reached satisfactory levels. 2. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is named as a new site for the next phase. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are in the PIB release: Banni preparation is satisfactory, and the next phase will develop new sites such as Nauradehi WLS in MP.
Which DRDO laboratory is the nodal lab for the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3?
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Correct answer: C — Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad
RCI Hyderabad is the nodal lab; DRDL, TBRL and HEMRL are the other contributing laboratories.
Near which place were the final development trials of ULPGM-V3 conducted in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
The trials were carried out at the DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Where will the flagship Bharat Innovates 2026 event be held in June 2026 under the India–France Year of Innovation?
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Correct answer: A — Nice
The flagship Bharat Innovates 2026 event is in Nice, France, on 14–16 June 2026.
How many deep-tech start-ups presented at the Bharat Innovates Investor Showcase in Bengaluru on 19 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 24
Twenty-four deep-tech start-ups from the Bharat Innovates cohort presented to 90+ investors.
In which field did India and Vietnam sign an MoU during Rajnath Singh's visit to Hanoi in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — AI and Quantum Technology
PIB: India and Vietnam inked an MoU in the field of AI and Quantum Technology.
Where did Rajnath Singh announce the setting up of an Artificial Intelligence Lab in Vietnam in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Telecommunications University, Nha Trang
Rajnath Singh announced an AI Lab at the Telecommunications University at Nha Trang; the Language Lab was at the Air Force Officers' College.
Which of the following states was NOT among those represented at the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Assam
The conference brought together Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. Assam was not listed.
The Kiul–Jhajha third line project approved in May 2026 lies on which railway corridor?
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Correct answer: B — Howrah–Delhi
The 54-km Kiul–Jhajha third line is on the high-density Howrah–Delhi corridor.
What is the length and cost of the Arakkonam–Chengalpattu doubling project approved in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 68 km, ₹993 crore
The Arakkonam–Chengalpattu doubling is 68 km at ₹993 crore. 54 km and ₹962 crore are the figures for Kiul–Jhajha.
Under which digital initiative of the Ministry of Ayush was the Ayush Anudan Portal launched in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Ayush Grid
The Ayush Anudan Portal was developed under the Ayush Grid initiative.
What is the main purpose of the Ayush Anudan Portal launched in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Managing funding proposals under the Ayush ministry's Central Sector Schemes
The portal streamlines the submission, processing, approval and monitoring of funding proposals under the ministry's Central Sector Schemes.
The binary system discovered by Indian astronomers in May 2026 pairs a blue straggler star with what kind of companion?
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Correct answer: A — A brown dwarf
It is the first confirmed blue straggler hosting a substellar (brown dwarf) companion, of about 0.056 solar masses.
What is the approximate orbital period of the blue straggler–brown dwarf binary reported in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 5.6 hours
The system has an exceptionally short orbital period of about 5.6 hours (0.234 days).
The MoU signed in Mumbai on 19 May 2026 to advance corporate governance, ESG and capital markets was between NISM and which institute?
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Correct answer: C — Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs
The MoU was between NISM (set up by SEBI) and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Who is the SEBI Chairman who attended the NISM–IICA MoU signing in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Tuhin Kanta Pandey
PIB: the signing ceremony was graced by SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey.
Which national initiative did Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil launch at the 14th HPRB meeting of the Brahmaputra Board in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — State Water Reforms Framework
Patil launched the State Water Reforms Framework (SWRF) to strengthen water governance reforms across states and UTs.
Where was the 14th meeting of the High-Powered Review Board of the Brahmaputra Board held on 19 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Guwahati
The 14th HPRB meeting was held at Guwahati.