This is the current affairs 18 August 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Which neighboring country’s President conferred the honorary rank of General upon Army Chief General Dheeraj Seth?
a. Pakistan
b. China
c. Bangladesh
d. Nepal
Answer: d. Nepal
– On 17 August 2026, Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel conferred the rank of General of the Nepalese Army upon India’s Army Chief Dheeraj Seth.
– The ceremony was held at ‘Sheetal Niwas’ in Kathmandu.
Tradition since 1950
– Both countries confer the honorary title of General upon each other’s Army Chiefs. This is a tradition and reflects the strong relations between the two armies.
– Both countries started this tradition in 1950.
– For this, the Chiefs of the Armies of Nepal and India visit each other’s countries.
– General K. M. Cariappa was awarded the honorary General of Nepal in the year 1950. – This tradition is a symbol of military cooperation, cultural ties and regional stability between India and Nepal.
Discussion with the Nepal Army
– General Dheeraj Seth paid a courtesy call on Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel. During this meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral military relations.
India – Nepal Border
– Nepal shares a border of more than 1,751 kilometers with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
Prime Minister: Balendra Shah
President: Ram Chandra Paudel
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2. The military exercise MAITREE-XV was conducted between India and which country?
a. Bangladesh
b. Thailand
c. Nepal
d. China
Answer: b. Thailand
– The 15th edition of the Maitree exercise between India and Thailand was conducted in August 2026.
– It was conducted at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand.
– In this, 85 soldiers each from the armies of both countries will practice operations in jungle and semi-urban areas.
– The Indian Army contingent mainly consists of soldiers from the 9 Gorkha Rifles.
– The previous edition of this exercise was conducted in September 2025 at Umroi in Meghalaya.
– This exercise will enhance the capabilities of both countries to deal with terrorism in jungle and urban environments under Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter.
Thailand
– Capital: Bangkok
– King: Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
– Prime Minister: Anutin Charnvirakul
– Currency: Thai Baht
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3. Who became the second Indian athlete to win a medal in the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics U20 Championships?
a. Neeraj Chopra
b. Arshad Nadeem
c. Ashish Yadav
d. Julian Weber
Answer: c. Ashish Yadav
– Indian athlete Ashish Yadav won the silver medal in the U20 Championship event held in Eugene, USA, on 7 August 2026.
– With a best throw of 74.09 meters, Ashish secured second place in his third attempt.
– After Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra, he is only the second Indian male athlete to win a medal in this championship.
– Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in 2016.
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4. In which state is the 68.80-kilometer Belwa-Minapur link channel the first river interlinking project?
a. West Bengal
b. Jharkhand
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Bihar
Answer: d. Bihar
– Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated it on 19 July 2026 in Piprahi block of Sheohar district.
– This canal is part of the Bagmati Flood Management Project.
– It connects the flood-affected Bagmati River with the Budhi Gandak River.
About the project
– According to the state government, the Belwa-Minapur Link Channel (Belwadhar) is the first river-interlinking project in the state of Bihar. (Although some canals already exist that transfer water from one river to another.)
– Its total length is 68.80 kilometers.
– Cost: ₹130.88 crore
– This channel connects the Bagmati River with the Budhi Gandak River.
– Under this, the excess (flood) water of the Bagmati River will be diverted from Belwa (Sheohar) through Minapur (Muzaffarpur) into the Budhi Gandak River.
– This project is being implemented under the Water Resources Department, Bihar.
– Affected/benefited districts: Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran.
Objectives and Benefits:
– Flood Control: The main objective of this project is to reduce the impact of devastating floods caused by the Bagmati River in the districts of Sheohar, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur during the monsoon.
– Irrigation Facility: Along with flood control, this link channel will also provide irrigation water for agriculture in the surrounding areas.
Are there any other river-linking projects in Bihar?
– Yes, there are two major river interlinking projects in Bihar, of which the first (Belwa-Minapur Link Channel) has already been started; the second is the Kosi-Mechi Link Project.
– The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the inclusion of Bihar’s Kosi-Mechi Inter-State Link Project under the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
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5. The ‘Belwa-Minapur Link Channel’, constructed under Bihar’s first river-linking project, connects which two major rivers?
a. Kosi River and Kamla River
b. Bagmati River and Budhi Gandak River
c. Gandak River and Ghaghara River
d. Son River and Punpun River
Answer: b. Bagmati River and Budhi Gandak River
– The Belwa-Minapur Link Channel (length: 68.80 kilometers) is Bihar’s first river-interlinking project.
– This channel is being constructed to divert the excess (flood) water of the Bagmati River into the Budhi Gandak River during the monsoon, so that the districts of Sheohar, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur can get relief from floods.
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6. In which state were India’s first virtual zoo and 14D theatre launched?
a. Uttarakhand
b. Assam
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. Uttar Pradesh
Answer: c. Madhya Pradesh
– This virtual zoo was launched on 16 August 2026 at Kamla Nehru Zoological Museum in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
– It is spread over 8,000 square feet.
– It has been developed under a public-private partnership model at an estimated cost of approximately ₹4.5 crore.
– The entire project includes 14 types of effects. – During rain, effects such as water droplets, gusts of air on the face, fog, bubbles, vibration and movement of seats will change along with the scenes playing on the screen.
– The theatre’s waterproof screen has been imported from South Korea.
– There will be 16 shows of 20 minutes each every day.
The theatre seats will move according to the scene
– In the 14-D theatre, viewers will sit on moving seats with 3-D glasses.
– According to the scenes shown on the screen, the seats will move forward and backward and up and down.
– People will be shown a prehistoric adventure.
– Viewers will get a virtual experience of the forests of ancient times and the world of creatures from that era.
– After the theatre, viewers will be able to experience the Glow Garden. – A lion and a talking tree will welcome them along the way.
The path will have to be found in the maze
– They will reach a maze where there will be many paths. From time to time, the roar of a lion and the growl of a bear will be heard.
– After this, there will be a Mirror Bridge, where visitors will have a glimpse of Lord Hanuman through holograms.
– Further ahead, there will be a 3-D wildlife immersive safari.
– After this, there will be a wildlife show of about 10 minutes in a 3-D dome.
– Amid the large screen and 3-D effects, the experience will feel as if the jungle is present all around.
Virtual Zoo
– It is a digital or virtual zoo in which instead of keeping real (living) animals in cages, they are shown through computers, virtual reality (VR), holograms or digital websites.
– In this, without going near real animals, viewers can feel as if they are seeing them roaming in the jungle in front of them through VR headsets, 3D screens or digital projections.
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7. When is World Humanitarian Day celebrated?
a. 18 August
b. 19 August
c. 20 August
d. 21 August
Answer: b. 19 August
– This day has been declared by the United Nations.
– In fact, on 19 August 2003, a devastating bomb attack took place at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq.
– It claimed the lives of 22 humanitarian aid workers, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations Special Representative for Iraq.
– After this, this day was declared World Humanitarian Day.
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8. Which disease did the Supreme Court direct states and Union Territories to declare a ‘notifiable disease’?
a. Diabetes
b. Cancer
c. Corona
d. Heart Attack
Answer: b. Cancer
– On 11 August 2026, a bench headed by CJI Surya Kant passed this order.
– The bench passed this order after learning that 17 states in India had already declared cancer a “notifiable disease.”
– The Court has also ordered the states to file compliance affidavits before the court, which will help in assessing the steps taken by the respective governments.
– The Central Government had already informed the Court that health is a state subject and that 17 states had already taken steps in this regard.
– In addition, the Court asked steps to be taken to implement cancer screening in the country.
– Early diagnosis is possible through screening.
– The petition stated that despite the increasing number of cancer patients in India, failure to notify it is a serious violation of the constitutional duty of the State under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
– Because it deprives citizens in similar circumstances of equal treatment.
Why was this done?
– Declaring cancer a “notifiable disease” will help in reporting cancer patients.
– This can also help in identifying trends from different regions and in formulating policies for its prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Notifiable Disease
– It is a disease whose information is required by law to be reported by a doctor or health center to government health authorities.
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9. Who won the EWC Esports World Chess Cup 2026 title for the second consecutive time?
a. Magnus Carlsen
b. Alireza Firouzja
c. Denis Lazavik
d. David Verma
Answer: a. Magnus Carlsen
– Carlsen defeated Belarusian Grandmaster Denis Lazavik 2-0 in the final, and Carlsen won both sets of the final by a score of 3-1.
– Carlsen remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and did not lose a single match.
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10. Could you tell me the date of Subhash Chandra Bose’s death anniversary?
a. 23 January
b. 18 August
c. 20 August
d. 10 September
Answer: b. 18 August
– Subhash Chandra Bose’s death anniversary 2026 was observed on 18 August, commemorating 81 years since the death of one of the prominent figures of India’s freedom movement.
– Subhash Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, advocated complete independence for India from British rule and adopted aggressive strategies to achieve independence.
– Subhash Chandra Bose’s death anniversary 2026 was observed on 18 August, commemorating 81 years since the death of one of the prominent figures of India’s freedom movement.
– He formed the Azad Hind Government, which is an important aspect of Bose’s life. Bose’s mysterious death remains a subject of controversy in history.
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