Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18th August 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs: 18 August, 2026

Q1. The 15th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise MAITREE-XV (2026) is being hosted at which location?

(a) Fort Vachiraprakan, Tak Province

(b) Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani

(d) Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Bikaner

(e) Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh

Answer: b

Solution:

The Indian Army contingent departed on 17 August 2026 for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India–Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026).
The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 18 to 31 August 2026 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand.
The previous edition of Exercise MAITREE was conducted at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.
Exercise MAITREE was instituted in 2006 and serves as an important platform for the sharing of best practices and strengthening military cooperation between India and Thailand.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding and camaraderie between the two Armies, while further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Thailand.

Q2. India’s first virtual zoo, featuring a 14-D cinema theatre and virtual jungle safari, was recently opened in which city?

(a) Bhopal

(b) Indore

(d) Gwalior

(e) Ujjain

Answer: b

Solution:

India’s first virtual zoo has been started at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Along with the virtual zoo, a 14-D cinema theatre and a virtual jungle safari have also been opened at the Indore Zoo.
The 14-D cinema and virtual jungle safari have been developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost of approximately ₹4.5 crore.
The virtual jungle safari uses technology to provide visitors with an immersive experience of forests and wildlife.

Q3. Which state government launched the state-wide ‘Reel for Soil and Water Conservation’ initiative across all its districts to engage youth on social media?

(a) Gujarat

(b) Uttar Pradesh

(d) Rajasthan

(e) Maharashtra

Answer: e

Solution:

The Maharashtra Government has organised a state-level ‘Reel for Soil and Water Conservation’ competition across all 36 districts of the state.
The initiative aims to create awareness about soil and water conservation among young people as well as the wider public.
Youth aged 15 to 30 years can participate in the competition.
Participants are required to upload 30–60 second Instagram Reels based on the theme of soil and water conservation.
The competition is being conducted from 15 to 19 August 2026.

Q4. Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army in August 2026. In which year was the reciprocal practice of conferring the honorary rank of General on each other’s army chiefs instituted between India and Nepal?

(a) 1947

(b) 1971

(d) 1950

(e) 1991

Answer: d

Solution:

Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth received the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army on 17 August 2026 at Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu.
The honorary rank was conferred by Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel.
The ceremony forms part of the long-standing military protocol between India and Nepal.
India and Nepal have followed the reciprocal practice of conferring the honorary rank of General on each other’s Army Chiefs since 1950.
This tradition reflects the close military relationship between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army, which also includes training exchanges, ceremonial visits and defence cooperation.

Q5. Raja Sen, who recently passed away at the age of 71, was associated with which of the following fields?

(a) Classical Vocal Music

(b) Journalism

(d) Theoretical Physics

(e) Classical Dance

Answer: c

Solution:

Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, a three-time National Film Award winner, has passed away at the age of 71.
He was known for his significant contribution to Bengali cinema and Indian filmmaking.

Q6. What was the overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above in India for July 2026?

(a) 54.4%

(b) 52.5%

(d) 58.0%

(e) 50.4%

Answer: c

Solution:

The Monthly Bulletin for July 2026 is the sixteenth bulletin in the series. The key labour market indicators for persons aged 15 years and above, based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS), are as follows:

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) Improved

The overall LFPR increased to 55.4% in July 2026, from 54.4% in June 2026.
In rural areas, LFPR increased significantly to 58.0% from 56.6%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points.
In urban areas, LFPR increased marginally from 50.1% to 50.4%.
Compared with July 2025, overall LFPR increased by 0.5 percentage point, from 54.9% to 55.4%.
Rural LFPR increased by 1.1 percentage points, from 56.9% in July 2025 to 58.0% in July 2026, while urban LFPR declined marginally by 0.3 percentage point, from 50.7% to 50.4%.

Female Labour Force Participation Increased

Overall female LFPR increased from 32.7% in June 2026 to 34.4% in July 2026.
Rural female LFPR increased from 36.6% to 38.8%, while urban female LFPR increased from 24.8% to 25.3%.
Compared with July 2025, overall female LFPR increased by 1.1 percentage points, from 33.3% to 34.4%.
Rural female LFPR increased by 1.9 percentage points, from 36.9% to 38.8%, whereas urban female LFPR declined marginally by 0.5 percentage point, from 25.8% to 25.3%.

Worker Population Ratio (WPR) Increased

Overall WPR for persons aged 15 years and above increased to 52.5% in July 2026, compared with 51.4% in June 2026.
Rural WPR increased to 55.4% from 53.8%, registering an increase of 1.6 percentage points.
Urban WPR increased marginally from 46.8% to 47.0%.
Rural female WPR increased sharply by 2.5 percentage points, from 34.7% in June 2026 to 37.2% in July 2026.
Urban female WPR increased from 22.7% to 23.1%.
On a year-on-year basis, overall WPR increased by 0.5 percentage point, from 52.0% in July 2025 to 52.5% in July 2026.
Rural WPR increased by 1 percentage point, from 54.4% to 55.4%, while urban WPR remained at 47.0%.

Overall Unemployment Rate Declined

The overall Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 5.1% in July 2026, from 5.5% in June 2026.
Rural UR declined sharply from 5.0% to 4.5%.
Urban UR remained broadly stable at 6.7%, compared with 6.6% in June 2026.
Compared with July 2025, overall and rural UR remained broadly stable, while urban UR declined by 0.5 percentage point, from 7.2% to 6.7%.

Unemployment Rate by Gender

Overall male UR declined from 5.3% in June 2026 to 5.0% in July 2026.
Rural male UR declined from 4.9% to 4.6%, while urban male UR remained broadly stable compared with the previous month.
Urban male UR declined by 0.7 percentage point year-on-year, from 6.6% in July 2025 to 5.9% in July 2026.
Overall and rural female UR declined in July 2026 compared with June 2026 but remained above their July 2025 levels.
Urban female UR increased from 8.4% in June 2026 to 8.8% in July 2026 and remained broadly stable compared with 8.7% in July 2025.