🔥 18 July 2025 – Top Current Affairs MCQs | Daily GK for Competitive Exams

📰 Today’s Highlights – 18 July 2025

Cockpit audio from the Air India Flight 171 crash reveals the captain likely shut off fuel—raising urgent demands for cockpit video recorders in Indian aviation. The rupee opened weaker at around ₹85.99/USD under pressure from a strong U.S. dollar linked to rising U.S. inflation. Meanwhile, Oil Minister Puri stated India is prepared to diversify sources if Russian oil imports face U.S. sanctions. Global markets influenced by strong U.S. retail and labour data support a positive opening for Indian equity benchmarks.

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Daily Current Affairs – MCQs (18 July 2025)

1. **Which cockpit issue was found in Air India Flight 171 crash recordings?**
   A) Instrument failure
   B) Auto-throttle error
   C) Captain cut fuel flow
   D) Engine flameout
   Answer: C) Captain cut fuel flow
   Explanation: Audio indicates the captain moved fuel switches, starving engines, prompting safety experts to recommend cockpit cameras.

2. **What safety feature is now being demanded by experts?**
   A) Enhanced black boxes
   B) Mid-flight cameras
   C) Cockpit video recorders
   D) Real-time telemetry
   Answer: C) Cockpit video recorders
   Explanation: Video recorders are seen as essential to fully understand incidents like the Air India crash.

3. At what rate did the rupee open today?
   A) ₹85.80
   B) ₹85.90
   C) ₹85.99
   D) ₹86.10
   Answer: C) ₹85.99
   Explanation: The rupee opened about 18 paise lower at ₹85.99/USD, pressured by U.S. inflation data.

4. **Why did the U.S. dollar strengthen?**
   A) Oil price rise
   B) US inflation pick-up
   C) Fed rate cut
   D) Trade deal optimism
   Answer: B) US inflation pick-up
   Explanation: A rise in U.S. core CPI dampened expectations for Fed rate cuts, boosting the dollar.

5. **What did Oil Minister Puri assure regarding oil imports?**
   A) Price caps
   B) Sanctions won’t affect supply
   C) Building strategic reserves
   D) Shifting to ethanol
   Answer: B) Sanctions won’t affect supply
   Explanation: He stated India has diversified from 27 to 40 suppliers and will manage sanction risks.

6. **How many oil supplier countries does India currently rely on?**
   A) 30
   B) 40
   C) 27
   D) 50
   Answer: B) 40
   Explanation: India has expanded its supplier base to around 40 countries.

7. **What effect did U.S. data have on Indian equity futures?**
   A) Dropped sharply
   B) Flat opening
   C) Higher opening
   D) Volatile swings
   Answer: C) Higher opening
   Explanation: Better-than-expected U.S. labor and retail sales data supported a positive start for Indian benchmarks.

8. **What is India’s FX reserves level for the week ending 11 July?**
   A) $680 bn
   B) $699.7 bn
   C) $710 bn
   D) $720 bn
   Answer: B) $699.7 bn
   Explanation: Reserves stood at about $699.74 billion at the week’s end.

9. **Which global firm announced AI hires today?**
   A) Google
   B) Apple
   C) Meta
   D) Amazon
   Answer: C) Meta
   Explanation: Meta hired two AI researchers from Apple to bolster its Superintelligence Lab.

10. **What U.S. action is expected from President Trump?**
    A) New trade deal with India
    B) Tariff letters to 150+ countries
    C) Keystone pipeline
    D) No action
    Answer: B) Tariff letters to 150+ countries
    Explanation: Trump said he will send tariff notices to over 150 nations ahead of August trade measures.

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✅ Summary:

Today’s quiz examines developments from aviation safety and currency trends to India's energy diversification, global market optimism, and Meta’s AI recruitment.