19 May CA — ca quiz Current Affairs

• The Anyamangalam Copper Plates belonged to the Chola Dynasty — an ancient South Indian empire.

• These 11th-century copper plates were held at Leiden University in Netherlands for 160 years and are now being returned to India.

• The plates contain records of land donations made by Rajendra Chola I, with his royal seal engraved on them.

• Composition: 21 large plates and 3 small plates (weighing 30 kg total) strung together with a bronze ring.

• The name 'Anyamangalam' means 'a village enriched by elephants' (Anai = elephant, Mangalam = prosperous place in Tamil).

• PM Modi received the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Commander Grand Cross) from Sweden, the country's highest honor for foreign leaders.

• This award is given to foreign heads of government who have contributed significantly to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

• Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria presented this honor to PM Modi, making him the first Asian leader to receive this distinction.

• This is PM Modi's 31st International honor.

• The Royal Order of the Polar Star was established in 1748 in Sweden; India-Sweden partnership covers defense, green hydrogen, clean energy, trade, and deep tech sectors.

• International Museum Day is observed on 18 May every year to promote awareness about museums and their importance in preserving history and culture.

• This observance was first initiated in 1997 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

• ICOM was established in 1946 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

• Theme for 2026: 'Museums Uniting a Divided World'.

• On the same date (18 May), World AIDS Vaccine Day is also observed — different from World AIDS Day which is celebrated on 1 December.

• India's first AI-powered digital banking branch (also called 'Phygital') was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam.

• This branch was opened by SAL Finance Bank — a small finance bank.

• 'Phygital' means combining Physical and Digital banking services — customers can complete transactions both physically and digitally.

• Key features: Paperless or minimal paperwork, faster account opening, cash withdrawal/deposit, UPI-based loans, and credit facilities.

• Assam CM: Hemant Biswa Sarma inaugurated this branch.

• The Kalpsar Project will construct a mega freshwater reservoir in the Gulf of Khambhat (Khambhat Gulf) in Gujarat.

• A 30 km long dam will be built to capture fresh water from Narmada, Tapti, Mahi, and Sabarmati rivers before they merge into the sea.

• Benefits: 10 million hectares of land will benefit from irrigation; 9 districts and 42 talukas in Saurashtra will receive water; distance between South Gujarat and Saurashtra will reduce from 240 km to 60 km.

• Netherlands' expertise: It successfully converted seawater into freshwater lakes; technology from the famous Afsluitdijk Dam will be used.

• India-Netherlands partnership is being strengthened through this technical cooperation agreement.

• V D Satheeshan took oath as Kerala's 13th Chief Minister on 18 May 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram.

• He was elected from Paravur (Peruvur) Assembly constituency — this is his sixth consecutive term as MLA from the same constituency.

• Background: He is a lawyer by profession and was Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly from 2021-2026.

• Oath administered by: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

• UDF (United Democratic Front) alliance — which includes Congress — won 102 seats in the 2026 Kerala elections, defeating the 10-year-old CPI(M)-led government.

• The 79th World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from 18-23 May 2026.

• Organized by: World Health Organization (WHO), which is headquartered in Geneva.

• Participants: Health ministers, diplomats, and public health experts from 165+ countries.

• Purpose: To formulate global health policies, discuss international health issues like disease control, universal health coverage, and coordinate pandemic preparedness.

• Current discussions include managing Ebola outbreak in Africa and Hanta virus cases.

• Theme 2026: 'Reshaping Global Health — A Shared Responsibility'.

• The Third India-Nordic Summit is being held in Oslo, Norway from 19 May 2026.

• Nordic Countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.

• Main cooperation areas: Blue economy, green hydrogen, clean energy, arctic cooperation, and strategic partnerships.

• Current bilateral trade: $19 billion between India and Nordic countries.

• 700+ Nordic companies are operating in India.

• Previous summits: 1st in Stockholm (2018) | 2nd in Copenhagen (Denmark) | 3rd in Oslo (2026).

• Norway's capital: Oslo; Currency: Norwegian Krone; European country located in Northern Europe.

• India assumed the presidency of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for 2 years (April 2026 - April 2028).

• Meeting location: This decision was made at a meeting held in Tokyo, Japan.

• Purpose of CCDB: An international organization that develops and manages Common Criteria Standards for evaluating IT and cybersecurity product security.

• Objective: To establish standardized cybersecurity evaluation frameworks across different countries and develop uniform IT security standards.

• Significance: This recognition reflects India's growing role in global cybersecurity and digital trust.

• India is the first Asian nation to hold this prestigious cybersecurity standards leadership position.

• Statement 1 ✓ CORRECT — Karnataka launched India's first integrated technology-based monitoring portal for NSQ and NDPS drugs.

• Statement 2 ✓ CORRECT — The portal is connected with Central Drug Testing Laboratories for real-time monitoring and data analysis.

• Statement 3 ✗ INCORRECT — NSQ and NDPS are two separate regulatory categories:
- NSQ (Not of Standard Quality) = substandard drugs that don't meet quality standards (regulated under Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940)
- NDPS = narcotic and psychotropic substances (regulated under NDPS Act, 1985)
Neither is inherently 'more dangerous' — both are regulated for public safety.

• Purpose: This digital drug recall system aims to quickly identify and remove substandard and prohibited drugs from markets across Karnataka.