Daily Current Affairs: 18 May 2026

India

01
India launches its first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell bus
The bus was unveiled by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in New Delhi. It uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to produce electricity with water as the only byproduct, marking a step towards India's green mobility goals.
02
Cabinet approves National Logistics Policy 2.0
The policy aims to reduce logistics costs from 13-14% of GDP to single digits by 2030. It focuses on digitization, multimodal transport, and skill development to improve supply chain efficiency.
03
Supreme Court upholds validity of Aadhaar for welfare schemes
A five-judge bench ruled that Aadhaar remains mandatory for accessing government subsidies and benefits, citing its role in preventing leakages. The judgment reaffirmed privacy safeguards under the Aadhaar Act.

01
G7 summit concludes with pledge to phase out coal by 2035
Leaders of the G7 nations agreed to end the use of unabated coal power by 2035, a significant step in climate action. The decision aligns with the Paris Agreement goals and pressures other major emitters.
02
WHO declares end of Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda
The outbreak, which began in March, was contained with 15 confirmed cases and 5 deaths. The WHO praised Rwanda's rapid response and vaccination efforts, highlighting global health security.
03
IMF approves $3 billion loan for Pakistan
The loan under the Extended Fund Facility aims to stabilize Pakistan's economy amid balance-of-payments crisis. Conditions include fiscal reforms and energy sector restructuring.

01
ISRO successfully tests reusable launch vehicle prototype
The test of the Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) was conducted at Sriharikota. It demonstrated autonomous landing capability, a key step towards reducing space launch costs.
02
NASA's James Webb Telescope discovers new exoplanet with water vapor
The exoplanet, named LHS 1140 b, is located in the habitable zone of its star. The discovery of water vapor in its atmosphere boosts prospects for finding habitable worlds beyond Earth.

01
India wins Thomas Cup for the first time
The Indian men's badminton team defeated Indonesia 3-0 in the final held in Bangkok. This historic victory marks India's first Thomas Cup title, a major achievement in world badminton.

01
Author Geetanjali Shree wins International Booker Prize
Her novel 'Tomb of Sand' (translated from Hindi) won the prestigious award, making her the first Indian author to win the International Booker. The book explores themes of loss and resilience.

Check your recall

This edition includes 10 practice questions based on the briefing.