17-18 May 2026 Current Affairs MCQ

Answer:  C) Visa
Explanation:   ICICI Bank  partnered with  Visa  to launch a USD debit card for NRIs – making offshore wealth management simpler.

10. For the first time in 10 months, central banks became net sellers of gold in March 2026, according to which organisation?
A) IMF
B) World Gold Council
C) RBI
D) Bank for International Settlements

Answer:  B) World Gold Council
Explanation:  The  World Gold Council  reported that central banks turned  net sellers of gold  in March 2026 – a surprising shift in the gold market.

11. Who received a one‑year extension as Director of the CBI?
A) Subodh Kumar Jaiswal
B) Praveen Sood
C) Rishi Kumar Shukla
D) Alok Verma

Answer:  B) Praveen Sood
Explanation:  The Central Government extended  Praveen Sood’s  tenure as CBI Director by one more year – continuity at the helm.

12. India’s first Integrated Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) field laboratory was inaugurated at:
A) IIT Delhi
B) IIT Bombay
C) IIT Kharagpur
D) IIT Kanpur

Answer:  B) IIT Bombay
Explanation:  Union Minister  Dharmendra Pradhan  inaugurated India’s first CCUS lab at  IIT Bombay  under “Bharat Innovates 2026” – a green step forward.

13. World Hypertension Day is observed annually on:
A) May 15
B) May 16
C) May 17
D) May 18

Answer:  C) May 17
Explanation:   17 May  is World Hypertension Day – a reminder to check those blood pressure numbers and stay healthy.

14. Who took oath as the new Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18, 2026?
A) Ramesh Chennithala
B) K Muraleedharan
C) V D Satheesan
D) Oommen Chandy

Answer:  C) V D Satheesan
Explanation:   V D Satheesan  of the Congress was sworn in as Kerala’s CM at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram – marking the UDF’s return to power after a decade.

15. Who has been appointed as the Speaker of the Kerala Assembly?
A) Ramesh Chennithala
B) K Muraleedharan
C) Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
D) V D Satheesan

Answer:  C) Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan
Explanation:  Alongside the new cabinet,  Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan  was appointed as Assembly Speaker – experience guiding the house.

16. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen termed the India‑EU Free Trade Agreement as:
A) "Deal of the Decade"
B) "Mother of all deals"
C) "Game Changer"
D) "New Silk Road"

Answer:  B) "Mother of all deals"
Explanation:  She called the proposed India‑EU FTA the  "mother of all deals"  and also announced joint naval exercises – a strategic leap forward.