Select Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18 May 2026, Top 10 Questions |

Daily Current Affairs: 18 May, 2026

Q1. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands in May 2026, India and the Netherlands agreed to establish an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers in which location?

(a) Shillong

(b) Bengaluru

(d) Kochi

(e) Jaipur

Answer: c

Solution:

During the official visit of Narendra Modi to the Netherlands on 16–17 May 2026, India and the Netherlands strengthened cooperation in the agriculture and dairy sectors.
Both countries agreed to establish an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers in West Tripura.
The two sides also decided to set up an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence on Dairy Training in Bengaluru.
The initiatives are aimed at promoting advanced agricultural practices, skill development, innovation, and cooperation in floriculture and dairy sectors between India and the Netherlands.

Q2. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands in May 2026, Tata Electronics signed an agreement with which company to support the Dholera semiconductor project?

(a) Samsung Electronics

(b) Intel Corporation

(d) ASML

(e) Foxconn

Answer: d

Solution:

During the official visit of Narendra Modi to the Netherlands on 16–17 May 2026, India and the Netherlands strengthened cooperation in the semiconductor sector.
An agreement was concluded between Tata Electronics and ASML to support the semiconductor fabrication facility being developed in Dholera.
The partnership is expected to enhance India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem and support the country’s efforts towards technological self-reliance and advanced chip fabrication capabilities.

Q3. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is celebrated annually on May 17. What is the official global theme designated for the year 2026?

(a) Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development

(b) Empowering the Least Developed Countries through ICT

(d) Connecting the Unconnected to Achieve a Digital Era

(e) Bridging the Standardisation Gap

Answer: c

Solution:

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2026 is being observed on 17 May 2026 across the world.
The day commemorates the establishment of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations agency for digital technologies, which was founded in 1865 in Paris.
The theme for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2026 is “Digital lifelines: Strengthening resilience in a connected world.”
World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969 to mark the founding of the ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
The observance was officially instituted by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973 through Resolution 46.
In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the United Nations General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day in order to highlight the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and issues related to the information society.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution in March 2006, declaring that World Information Society Day would be celebrated annually on 17 May.
In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference held in Antalya decided to combine both observances and celebrate them jointly as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
The updated Resolution 68 encourages Member States and Sector Members to organise national programmes and awareness activities to mark the occasion every year.

Q4. World Hypertension Day is observed globally on May 17. What is the official theme for the year 2026?

(a) Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer

(b) Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer

(d) Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Blood Pressure

(e) United Against the Silent Killer

Answer: b

Solution:

World Hypertension Day 2026 is being observed on 17 May 2026 across the world.
The theme for this year is “Controlling Hypertension Together: Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly, Defeat the Silent Killer.”
The observance forms part of Hypertension Awareness Month and aims to increase global awareness about high blood pressure and its health risks.
The day promotes prevention, early detection, regular monitoring, and effective control of hypertension at the individual, community, and healthcare-system levels.
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it may not show clear symptoms but can lead to serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

Q5. In May, 2026, The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) launched a major initiative aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. What is the mission slogan of this initiative?

(a) Education for All

(b) Learn and Grow

(d) Schooling for Every Child

(e) Inclusive India Mission

Answer: c

Solution:

National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has taken a major step towards advancing the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Through its mission “To Reach the Unreached,” NIOS aims to reconnect nearly two crore out-of-school children with the formal education system.
The initiative seeks to provide renewed opportunities for education, skill development, and better future prospects for children who are currently outside the schooling system.
The programme is aligned with India’s broader goal of inclusive education and aims to ensure that every child has access to quality learning opportunities and employable skills.

Q6. Elina Svitolina won the women’s singles title at the Italian Open 2026 after defeating Coco Gauff in the final. Which country does Elina Svitolina represent?

(a) Ukraine

(b) Belarus

(d) Poland

(e) Romania

Answer: a

Solution:

In tennis, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine defeated World No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States to win the women’s singles title at the Italian Open 2026 on 16 May 2026.
Svitolina won the final with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2.

Q7. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India’s first AI-powered “phygital” banking branch in May 2026. Which bank launched this initiative?

(a) AU Small Finance Bank

(b) Jana Small Finance Bank

(d) Slice Small Finance Bank

(e) Ujjivan Small Finance Bank

Answer: d

Solution:

Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India’s first AI-powered “phygital” banking branch of Slice Small Finance Bank at GS Road in Guwahati on 16 May 2026.
The next-generation banking facility combines physical and digital banking services through advanced AI-enabled technologies.
The branch includes AI-powered self-service kiosks, paperless cash deposit and withdrawal facilities, and simplified digital onboarding systems for customers.
The initiative aims to make banking services more accessible, convenient, efficient, and inclusive for people across different customer segments.

Q8. In May, 2026, Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa broke his own world record by successfully climbing Mount Everest for the how many-th time?

(a) 25th

(b) 30th

(d) 32nd

(e) 35th

Answer: d

Solution:

Kami Rita Sherpa created history by climbing Mount Everest for a record 32nd time on 17 May 2026.
The 56-year-old mountaineer broke his own world record for the highest number of successful ascents of the world’s tallest peak.
Born in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal’s Koshi Province, Kami Rita began his mountaineering career in 1992 and first scaled Mount Everest in 1994.
He had completed his 31st ascent of Everest on 27 May 2025.
Meanwhile, Lhakpa Sherpa, popularly known as the “Mountain Queen,” further extended her own record as the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest by successfully completing her 11th ascent of the peak.

Q9. Indian weightlifter Sanjana claimed three bronze medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026. In which weight category did she compete?

(a) Women’s 49 kg

(b) Women’s 55 kg

(d) Women’s 77 kg

(e) Women’s 81 kg

Answer: d

Solution:

At the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026 being held in Gandhinagar, Sanjana won three bronze medals in the Women’s 77 kg category.
The Indian weightlifter lifted 96 kg in the snatch event and 124 kg in the clean and jerk event.
With a combined total lift of 220 kg, Sanjana secured bronze medals in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total categories.

Q10. During his official visit in May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Afsluitdijk dam, a globally renowned water management and flood control structure. Afsluitdijk is located in which country?

(a) Denmark

(b) Germany

(d) Sweden

(e) Netherlands

Answer: e

Solution:

During the official visit of Narendra Modi to the Netherlands on 16–17 May 2026, he visited the iconic Dutch water management structure, the Afsluitdijk.
Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by Rob Jetten during the visit.
The Afsluitdijk is a 32-kilometre-long dam and causeway regarded as a global benchmark in flood control and land reclamation.
The structure protects large parts of the Netherlands from the North Sea while also enabling freshwater storage and efficient water management.