Daily Current Affairs Quiz 24th May 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs: 24 May, 2026

Q1. In May 2026, the Vice President of India released the book titled ‘The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker’. Who is the author of this book?

(a) Shashi Tharoor

(b) P. P. Sathyan

(d) Perumal Murugan

(e) Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Answer: b

Solution:

The Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan on 22 May, 2026, released the book ‘The Library Man of India: The Story of P.N. Panicker’, authored by P. P. Sathyan, at Uprashtrapati Bhavan.

Q2. For the financial year 2025–26, the Reserve Bank of India approved a record surplus transfer to the Central Government. What is the exact value of this dividend payout?

(a) ₹1.09 lakh crore

(b) ₹2.11 lakh crore

(d) ₹3.95 lakh crore

(e) ₹91.97 lakh crore

Answer: c

Solution:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the transfer of a record surplus of ₹2.86 lakh crore to the Central Government for the financial year 2025–26.
According to the RBI, its gross income increased by 26.42 per cent during FY 2025–26 compared to the previous financial year.
Expenditure before risk provisions rose by 27.60 per cent during the same period.
The RBI stated that its net income before risk provisions and transfer to statutory funds stood at ₹3.95 lakh crore in FY26, compared to ₹3.13 lakh crore in FY25.
The balance sheet of the Reserve Bank expanded by 20.61 per cent to ₹91.97 lakh crore as of 31 March 2026.
The central bank also decided to transfer ₹1.09 lakh crore to the Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) for FY26.
The Contingent Risk Buffer was maintained at 6.5 per cent of the RBI balance sheet under the revised Economic Capital Framework.

Q3. Which Indian Army officer received the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025?

(a) Suman Gawani

(b) Abhilasha Barak

(d) Priya Jhingan

(e) Punita Arora

Answer: b

Solution:

Abhilasha Barak has been honoured with the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2025 for her service with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
Major Barak is serving with the Indian Battalion as Commander of the Female Engagement Team in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
She is also recognised as the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army.
With this achievement, Major Abhilasha Barak became the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the honour.
Earlier, Suman Gawani received the award in 2019 for her service with the UN Mission in South Sudan.
Radhika Sen was honoured in 2023 for her contribution to the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The award was instituted in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs under the United Nations Department of Peace Operations.
It recognises military peacekeepers who demonstrate exceptional commitment towards promoting gender equality and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Q4. Who recently in may, 2026, took the oath of office as the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors, succeeding Jerome Powell?

(a) Kevin Warsh

(b) Janet Yellen

(d) Christopher Waller

(e) Lael Brainard

Answer: a

Solution:

In the United States, Kevin Warsh took oath as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
He succeeded Jerome Powell, who had served in the position since 2018.
The Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors plays a key role in shaping monetary policy and overseeing the central banking system of the United States.

Q5. Which country officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 26TH member country?

(a) United Arab Emirates

(b) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

(d) Brazil

(e) Kenya

Answer: b

Solution:

The International Big Cat Alliance has welcomed Saudi Arabia as its newest member(26^TH ) country on 22 May 2026.
The International Big Cat Alliance is a global platform that brings together countries that are home to the world’s seven major big cat species.
The alliance focuses on the conservation and protection of lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma populations across the globe.
With the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, the alliance now consists of 26 member countries and five observer nations.
The expansion of the alliance reflects growing international cooperation in biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection.

Q6. In May 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU for advanced consultancy support in tunnel engineering and slope stability with a premier institute based in which country?

(a) Japan

(b) Switzerland

(d) Germany

(e) Austria

Answer: c

Solution:

In May 2026, the National Highways Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute of Norway.
The agreement was signed to provide advanced consultancy support in tunnel engineering, slope stability, and capacity building.
The collaboration aims to strengthen technical expertise and improve safety and efficiency in highway and tunnel infrastructure projects in India.
MoU will remain valid for the period of five years.

Q7. In May 2026, the United States Secretary of State arrived in India for a high-profile, four-day official visit to expand cooperation in critical technology, trade, and the Indo-Pacific strategy. Who is the current US Secretary of State who made this maiden visit?

(a) Antony Blinken

(b) Lloyd Austin

(d) Sergio Gor

(e) Jake Sullivan

Answer: c

Solution:

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on 23 May 2025 for a four-day visit to India.
This marks his maiden visit to India as the US Secretary of State and is considered an important step towards strengthening bilateral relations between United States and India.
The visit is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, defence, energy security, technology, and the Indo-Pacific strategy.

Q8. World Turtle Day is celebrated annually on 23 May to raise global awareness about the conservation of turtles and tortoises. In which year was this day officially established?

(a) 1992

(b) 1995

(d) 2010

(e) 2000

Answer: e

Solution:

World Turtle Day is observed every year on 23 May to celebrate turtles and tortoises and promote awareness about their conservation.
The day highlights the importance of protecting these ancient reptiles, which have existed on Earth for more than 200 million years.
World Turtle Day was established in 2000 to encourage global awareness, conservation efforts, and protection of turtle and tortoise habitats.

Q9. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the MD & CEO of ICICI Bank. His extended tenure will now run until which year?

(a) October 3, 2028

(b) October 3, 2027

(d) December 31, 2029

(e) January 1, 2030

Answer: a

Solution:

Sandeep Bakhshi will continue as the Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Bank for another two years.
The Reserve Bank of India has approved his reappointment.
Following the approval, Sandeep Bakhshi’s tenure will now continue until 3 October 2028.
He has been leading ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest private sector bank, since 2018.

Q10. In May 2026, Haryana’s first constellation garden named ‘Nakshatra Vatika’ was developed at which of the following protected areas?

(a) Sultanpur National Park

(b) Kalesar National Park

(d) Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

(e) Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary

Answer: c

Solution:

Haryana’s first constellation garden, named Nakshatra Vatika, has been developed at the Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary in the Seonsar forest area of Pehowa.
The project has been developed by the Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board.
The Haryana Government is also planning to develop similar constellation garden projects in other districts of the state.
Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Seonsar Forest, is located in the districts of Kaithal and Kurukshetra.