Who took charge as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IDBI Bank in 2018?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of banking sector appointments, an important area in economic and financial awareness for competitive exams. IDBI Bank is a significant public sector bank in India, and changes in its top management are closely watched by regulators, investors and aspirants preparing for bank exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the year 2018.
• The role mentioned is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IDBI Bank.
• Four names are listed, but only one was appointed to this post in that year.

Concept / Approach:
In 2018, Rakesh Sharma, a seasoned banker, was appointed as MD and CEO of IDBI Bank for a fixed term. Such appointments are announced by the government and reported by financial newspapers. Other names in the options either refer to different positions, different institutions or are not connected to the bank leadership at all, which helps narrow down the correct choice through factual recall.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which of the given persons is known for leading IDBI Bank. Step 2: Recall news that Rakesh Sharma took charge as MD and CEO of IDBI Bank in 2018. Step 3: Recognise that B. Sriram briefly served in a leadership role but is not the name most widely associated with the main 2018 appointment for this question. Step 4: Note that Nikitha Haley and Shivasamudram are not linked to IDBI Bank chief executive roles in mainstream reports. Step 5: Select Rakesh Sharma as the only correct answer that matches the post and year.

Verification / Alternative check:
Banking awareness capsules and official announcements from 2018 clearly state that Rakesh Sharma was appointed MD and CEO of IDBI Bank. These sources are regularly used to frame exam questions, so the same name is expected in multiple practice sets. The inclusion of other options serves mainly as a distraction and does not align with financial news of that period.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B. Sriram: Involved in banking leadership, but not the primary MD and CEO appointment of IDBI Bank referenced in this question.
Nikitha Haley: No known association with the chief executive position at IDBI Bank.
Shivasamudram: Name of a well known waterfall region in Karnataka, not a banking executive.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse different public sector bank appointments, especially when multiple senior executives move between institutions in a short span. It is also easy to be misled by names that sound familiar from other contexts. The solution is to link each appointment with the correct bank and year while revising current affairs.

Final Answer:
Rakesh Sharma took charge as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IDBI Bank in 2018.