Current Affairs 18th September 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently barred both factions of which political party from using the party name and symbol for Assembly bypolls in West Bengal?
A. Congress
B. Trinamool Congress (TMC)
C. BJP
D. CPI(M)
Answer: B
Explanation: In an interim order, the ECI barred both factions of the Trinamool Congress from using the party name and symbol for the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls.
2. The Union Cabinet approved raising the EPFO wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from βΉ15,000 to how much per month?
A. βΉ20,000
B. βΉ22,000
C. βΉ25,000
D. βΉ30,000
Answer: C
Explanation: The ceiling was raised to βΉ25,000 (effective from 17 September 2026, coinciding with Vishwakarma Jayanti).
3. The US House of Representatives passed the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026”, which authorises the US President to impose tariffs of up to what percentage on countries buying Russian oil and gas (including India)?
A. 50%
B. 75%
C. 100%
D. 25%
Answer: C
Explanation: The bill targets Russia’s energy sector and “shadow fleet” and allows tariffs of up to 100% on trading partners like India and China. India is monitoring developments.
4. How many athletes were approved in India’s contingent for the Asian Games 2026 (Aichi-Nagoya, Japan)?
A. 492
B. 503
C. 550
D. 661
Answer: B
Explanation: The Sports Ministry approved a 503-athlete contingent (269 men and 234 women) across 36 disciplines, plus support staff, for the Games held from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
5. Two Pakistani terrorists belonging to which outfit were killed in an encounter in Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir?
A. Lashkar-e-Taiba
B. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)
C. Hizbul Mujahideen
D. Al-Qaeda
Answer: B
Explanation: Security forces killed two Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in the Majalta area of Udhampur after detecting suspicious movement; one alleged over-ground worker was also detained.
8. Security forces detained an alleged over-ground worker along with the killing of two JeM terrorists in which district of J&K?
A. Kulgam
B. Udhampur
C. Baramulla
D. Anantnag
Answer: B
Explanation: The encounter took place in a remote high-altitude area of Udhampur’s Majalta region.
7. Who was reappointed as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons by the company’s board for another five-year term, a decision challenged by Tata Trusts?
A. Ratan Tata
B. N Chandrasekaran
C. Cyrus Mistry
D. Noel Tata
Answer: B
Explanation: The Tata Sons board reappointed N Chandrasekaran; Tata Trusts declared the resolution void, escalating a major boardroom conflict.
8. The Supreme Court expressed shock over unnatural deaths in relief camps in which state and directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report?
A. Assam
B. Manipur
C. Nagaland
D. Tripura
Answer: B
Explanation: The Court was shocked by deaths of internally displaced persons in Manipur relief camps and sought details on probes, criminal proceedings, and safety measures.
9. The Centre agreed in the Supreme Court to reduce the NEET-SS qualifying percentile from 50% to what level?
A. 40%
B. 35%
C. 30%
D. 25%
Answer: C
Explanation: The Centre agreed to lower it to 30% and also return 40 vacant in-service seats to Tamil Nadu.
10. India and Bangladesh resumed official-level talks for a possible visit to New Delhi by which Bangladeshi leader?
A. Sheikh Hasina
B. Tarique Rahman
C. Khaleda Zia
D. Muhammad Yunus
Answer: B
Explanation: After a disruption in ties, talks restarted for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India (tentatively around November).
11. Six states signed an agreement for the Kishau Multipurpose Project in the presence of Union Ministers. Which of the following was NOT among them?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Uttarakhand
C. Punjab
D. Haryana
Answer: C
Explanation: The CMs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana signed the agreement (Punjab was not included).
12. The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched in 2023, completed three years with approximately how many registrations?
A. 20 lakh
B. 25 lakh
C. 30 lakh
D. 35 lakh
Answer: C
Explanation: The scheme achieved the milestone of 30 lakh registrations; its third anniversary was marked in Kolkata.
13. India rejected the “boundary joint commission” set up by which two countries, calling it without legal basis?
A. China and Nepal
B. Pakistan and China
C. China and Bangladesh
D. Pakistan and Afghanistan
Answer: B
Explanation: India stated the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission has no legal basis regarding Indian territory under illegal occupation.
14. The revised EPFO wage ceiling of βΉ25,000 is expected to expand coverage and increase the employer’s contribution by approximately how much per employee per month on average?
A. βΉ300
B. βΉ450
C. βΉ600
D. βΉ750
Answer: C
Explanation: Officials indicated an average increase of around βΉ600 in the employer’s contribution, with the employee’s EPS contribution also rising significantly.
15. Russia began holding elections for how many seats in the State Duma over three days amid the ongoing war?
A. 350
B. 400
C. 450
D. 500
Answer: C
Explanation: Elections for 450 seats were held under strict control, with opposition restrictions and Ukrainian attacks on infrastructure reported.
16. Which country’s Prime Minister announced resignation after the right-wing bloc’s performance in the 2026 general election?
A. Norway
B. Sweden (Ulf Kristersson)
C. Finland
D. Denmark
Answer: B
Explanation: Ulf Kristersson resigned after his right-wing bloc won 173 seats versus 176 for the opposition led by Magdalena Andersson.
17. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly hit a Togo-flagged oil tanker named Trend in which strategic waterway?
A. Suez Canal
B. Strait of Hormuz
C. Bab el-Mandeb
D. Malacca Strait
Answer: B
Explanation: IRNA reported the IRGC strike on the tanker as it attempted to pass the Strait of Hormuz amid the 2026 Iran-related crisis.
18. India’s combined merchandise and services exports in the first five months of FY 2026-27 reached approximately how much?
A. USD 350 billion
B. USD 399.27 billion
C. USD 420 billion
D. USD 450 billion
Answer: B
Explanation: Exports grew 15.5% to an estimated USD 399.27 billion (April–August 2026), as reported by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
19. Abhishek Sharma scored a record-breaking 34-ball 108 (with 11 sixes) in a T20I against which team?
A. Sri Lanka
B. Afghanistan
C. Bangladesh
D. West Indies
Answer: B
Explanation: He achieved the feat in the third T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, helping India post 221/7.
20. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised which organisation over persistent gaps in passenger amenities and non-functional bio-toilets?
A. NHAI
B. Indian Railways
C. Airports Authority of India
D. Shipping Corporation of India
Answer: B
Explanation: A CAG audit found bio-toilets deficient or non-functional at 491 of 512 stations inspected; the PAC expressed concern despite past assurances.
21. Iceland topped the WEF Global Gender Gap Index 2026 for the how-manyeth consecutive year?
A. 15th
B. 16th
C. 17th
D. 18th
Answer: C
Explanation: Iceland retained the top spot (closing ~93% of its gender gap), followed by Finland and Norway.
22. The sports ministry approved India’s Asian Games contingent to compete in how many disciplines?
A. 32
B. 34
C. 36
D. 40
Answer: C
Explanation: Athletes will compete across 36 disciplines (including the debut of surfing for India).
23. India women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, was scheduled to begin its Asian Games 2026 campaign against which host nation on 18 September?
A. China
B. Japan
C. South Korea
D. Thailand
Answer: B
Explanation: The match was set as a quarter-final against hosts Japan at KΕrogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
24. The MEA dismissed claims that which two leaders fell ill after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi?
A. Putin and Xi Jinping
B. Cyril Ramaphosa and Xi Jinping
C. Lula and Ramaphosa
D. Erdogan and Xi Jinping
Answer: B
Explanation: The Ministry of External Affairs rejected reports about South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chinese President Xi Jinping falling ill after the summit.
25. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission found “reasonable grounds” that the United States military may have committed war crimes in strikes on sites in which country?
A. Yemen
B. Iran
C. Syria
D. Iraq
Answer: B
Explanation: The mission cited attacks on the Minab school and Lamerd sports hall in the context of the 2026 Iran conflict.