Who was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of Allahabad Bank as of March 2018?

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your knowledge of banking sector leadership in India around 2018. Public sector banks often appear in examinations through questions on their headquarters, taglines or top executives. Allahabad Bank, one of the oldest public sector banks (later amalgamated), had a designated Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) whose name you are expected to recall for the given time period.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The bank in question is Allahabad Bank.
• The time reference is “as of March 2018”.
• Options are Chitra Ramakrishna, Shikha Sharma, Usha Ananthasubramanian and Arundhati Bhattacharya.
• We assume the official appointments of senior management during early 2018.

Concept / Approach:
To answer correctly, it is helpful to associate each name with the bank or organisation they are best known for leading. Usha Ananthasubramanian served as MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank during that period. The other names are associated with different financial institutions. Identifying these associations allows easy elimination of incorrect choices.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Usha Ananthasubramanian, an experienced banker, was appointed as the MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank.Step 2: This appointment was in effect during early 2018, including March 2018.Step 3: Chitra Ramakrishna is mainly known as a former Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), not Allahabad Bank.Step 4: Shikha Sharma is associated with Axis Bank, where she served as MD and CEO.Step 5: Arundhati Bhattacharya is associated with the State Bank of India as its former Chairperson.Step 6: As only Usha Ananthasubramanian is linked with Allahabad Bank as MD and CEO in March 2018, she is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Current affairs books and banking awareness notes for 2017–2018 list Usha Ananthasubramanian as the MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank. Official notifications and newspapers from that time also mention her holding the top position at the bank. Since the other three personalities are strongly associated with different major financial institutions, this cross check confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chitra Ramakrishna: Former MD and CEO of NSE, not Allahabad Bank, so this pairing is incorrect.

Shikha Sharma: The well known MD and CEO of Axis Bank, unrelated to Allahabad Bank leadership.

Arundhati Bhattacharya: Famous as the Chairperson of State Bank of India, not as MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank.

Because their known roles do not match the bank in the question, these options are not correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may mix up leading women bankers, as several of them have headed different prominent institutions. Memorising them in pair form (for example, Shikha Sharma – Axis Bank, Arundhati Bhattacharya – SBI, Usha Ananthasubramanian – Allahabad Bank) greatly reduces confusion. Another pitfall is answering based only on how familiar a name sounds; always connect the name to the institution carefully.

Final Answer:
As of March 2018, the MD and CEO of Allahabad Bank was Usha Ananthasubramanian.