Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2026
These daily current affairs 18 october 2026 notes bring together the most important developments for competitive examinations. Today’s news covers Health & Economy, Governance & Schemes, Polity, Defence, International, Environment, Sports, Art & Culture and Days & Events.
The major highlights include the 30% trade-margin cap on 137 anti-cancer drugs, FSSAI’s proposed ban on added sugar in infant food, 20.80 lakh PMAY-U 2.0 houses, the Supreme Court’s CSEAM database order, the commissioning of INS Samarthak and the US waiver of Graham Act tariffs.
These current affairs are useful for SSC, Railway, Banking, Defence, UPSC, State PSC and other competitive examinations. Missed yesterday’s update? Read the Daily Current Affairs 17 October 2026 first.
📖 Read this in Hindi: 18 अक्टूबर 2026 करंट अफेयर्स (हिंदी में)
💊 1. NPPA Caps Trade Margin on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs at 30%
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, notified on 17 October 2026 a Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. The trade margin is now capped at:
30% of the MRP
The cap has been fixed under Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013, using a list recommended by an Expert Committee under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Depending on present price structures, the MRP of these medicines can fall by up to 70%.
- Drugs covered → immunotherapy drugs for over 20 types of cancer, Denosumab, Pegfilgrastim and Bevacizumab; prices of Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab and Osimertinib should also ease
- Timeline → manufacturers must inform NPPA of revised prices within 7 days; retailers and hospitals must charge the reduced prices from 9 November 2026
- Earlier pilot → in 2019 the margins of 42 anti-cancer drugs were capped at 30%, cutting the MRP of 526 brands by up to 90%
- Price check → consumers can use the Pharma Sahi Daam app and the NPPA website
Exam Point
Trade margin cap → 30% of MRP
Drugs covered → 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs
Legal basis → Paragraph 19, DPCO 2013
Reduced prices from → 9 November 2026
🍼 2. FSSAI Proposes Ban on Added Sucrose and Fructose in Foods for Infants up to Six Months
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026 in the Gazette on 16 October 2026. The draft says sucrose and fructose shall not be added to products meant for infants up to the age of:
6 months
The 2020 infant-nutrition regulations cover products for children from birth to 24 months. They treat lactose and glucose polymers as the preferred carbohydrate sources and allow sucrose or fructose only within limits. The new proviso is meant to cut early exposure to added sugar, a risk factor for childhood obesity, and it supports the advice of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Stakeholders can send objections within 60 days.
- Tea pesticide limits → a separate draft (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues Amendment Regulations, 2026) proposes Maximum Residue Limits of 20 ppm for Acetamiprid and 50 ppm for Imidacloprid in tea
- Global comparison → the Acetamiprid limit is lower than 30 ppm in Japan and 50 ppm in the USA; the Imidacloprid limit follows Codex standards
- Pesticide use → India’s average is below 0.5 kg per hectare, against a global average of 2.38 kg per hectare
Exam Connection
Regulator → FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006)
Infant food rule → no added sucrose or fructose up to 6 months
Tea MRLs → Acetamiprid 20 ppm, Imidacloprid 50 ppm
🧠 2 of 12 topics done!
Lock it in — 20 MCQs from the day's news.
🏠 3. PMAY-U 2.0: 1.93 Lakh More Houses Approved; Total Sanctions Reach 20.80 Lakh
The 10th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0, chaired by Satendra Singh, Secretary, Department of Urban Development (MoHUA), on 16 October 2026, approved 1,93,521 houses in 11 States. Cumulative sanctions under the Mission now stand at:
20.80 lakh houses
- Uttar Pradesh → 73,182 houses (highest)
- Bihar → 52,866
- Telangana → 18,120; West Bengal → 16,559; Gujarat → 14,290
The houses were sanctioned under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) and Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) verticals for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) families. Of the 20.80 lakh houses, 20.16 lakh (97%) are in women’s names or joint ownership. Launched in September 2024, PMAY-U 2.0 gives up to ₹2.50 lakh each to 1 crore urban families with annual income up to ₹9 lakh, through four verticals: BLC, AHP, Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) and the Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS). Across PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0, more than 1.27 crore houses have been sanctioned and 1.01 crore completed.
Exam Point
Meeting → 10th CSMC, 16 October 2026
Approved → 1,93,521 houses in 11 States
Cumulative PMAY-U 2.0 sanctions → 20.80 lakh
Top State → Uttar Pradesh (73,182)
⚖️ 4. Supreme Court Orders a National Hash and URL Database to Remove Child Sexual Abuse Material
A Supreme Court Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran, in directions reported on 17 October 2026, asked the Centre to strengthen the framework against child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) by creating:
A national database of hashes and URLs
The database can sit inside the existing Sahyog Portal or be a standalone repository. It must store only the hash identifiers (digital fingerprints) and URLs of confirmed CSEAM, never the material itself, so that a file removed from one platform can be detected and removed on others.
- Verification → software may screen first, but at least three trained human analysts must independently confirm each entry; audits, access logs and a grievance mechanism are required
- Reporting → intermediaries must report CSEAM to the police or cybercrime portal under Rule 11 of the POCSO Rules, 2020, within two hours of removal; complaints must be acknowledged within 24 hours
- Education → digital safety and age-appropriate sex education to be part of the core curriculum, developed by NCERT and SCERTs
- Next step → MeitY and the Law Ministry to frame guidelines and IT Rules amendments; progress affidavit due by 10 December 2026
Exam Connection
Bench → Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran
Database → hashes and URLs only (Sahyog Portal or standalone)
Human check → at least 3 trained analysts
Next hearing → 10 December 2026
🚢 5. INS Samarthak, First Multi-Purpose Vessel and First Major Warship from a Private Shipyard, Commissioned
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak, the first of its class of Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs), on 16 October 2026 in a ceremony presided over by Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff Adm Krishna Swaminathan. The ship was designed and built by:
L&T Shipyard
INS Samarthak is the first major warship built by an Indian private shipyard and has over 75% indigenous content, with extensive modular construction and pre-outfitting. Its name means ‘The Proponent’. Conceived as a platform for trials and evaluation, it will help test and train new sensors and weapons developed by Indian industry. It can also undertake maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, offshore patrolling and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.
Exam Point
Ship → INS Samarthak, first Multi-Purpose Vessel
Builder → L&T Shipyard (first private-yard major warship)
Indigenous content → over 75%
Commissioned → 16 October 2026
⚓ 6. KONKAN-26 Ends off Plymouth; First Training Squadron Wraps Up Seychelles Visit
KONKAN-26, the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, concluded off Plymouth, UK, on 15 October 2026. It was held from 8 to 15 October with a four-day sea phase, and the two ships were:
INS Trishul and HMS Sutherland
INS Trishul is a stealth frigate, while HMS Sutherland is a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate. The exercise, conducted by the Royal Navy’s Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST), covered seamanship, anti-surface asymmetric warfare, anti-submarine warfare and weapon firings.
- First Training Squadron (1TS) → INS Tir, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi left Port Victoria, Seychelles, on 15 October after a port call from 12 October
- PASSEX → with Seychelles Coast Guard Ship Andromache; firefighting and small-arms training for the Seychelles Defence Force
- Vision → MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)
Exam Connection
KONKAN-26 → India–UK, off Plymouth, 8–15 October 2026
Ships → INS Trishul, HMS Sutherland
1TS in Seychelles → INS Tir, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi
🛢️ 7. US Waives Graham Act Tariffs on Buyers of Russian Oil, Easing Pressure on India
US President Donald Trump, by an order dated 16 October 2026, waived the duties and most sanctions under the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’, signed on 18 September 2026. The waiver was issued under:
Section 115 of the Graham Act
The Act provided for a 500% duty on goods from Russia and a 100% duty on goods from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas making new purchases on or after 18 October 2026. The President certified to Congress that the waiver is in the US national interest; it stays until the President or the Secretary of State decides further action is needed. The move is a relief for Indian refiners. Russian crude was about 35% of India’s oil imports in September, according to Kpler data cited by The Hindu.
The waiver comes ahead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai and Jamnagar from 20 to 22 October 2026, where he will meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Energy is on the agenda.
Exam Point
Order → 16 October 2026, under Section 115
Act signed → 18 September 2026
Waived duties → 500% (Russia), 100% (top 5 buyers of Russian oil and gas)
Rubio visit → Mumbai and Jamnagar, 20–22 October
🪪 8. Aadhaar Authentication Notified for PM CARES for Children Scholarship, with Safeguards
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified on 14 October 2026 (S.O. 5628(E)) Aadhaar authentication rules for children receiving scholarship support for Classes 1 to 12 under PM CARES for Children. The notification was issued under:
Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016
The key safeguard is that no child can be denied benefits only because Aadhaar authentication fails or the child has no Aadhaar number.
- Without Aadhaar → enrolment slip with enrolment ID plus proof of age such as a birth certificate, passport or Class 10/12 certificate
- If authentication fails → another biometric method or OTP; then offline checks through the Aadhaar Secure QR code or Paperless Offline e-KYC
- Checks → a designated officer verifies the enrolment ID on the myAadhaar portal; records of such cases will be audited periodically
Exam Connection
Notification → S.O. 5628(E), 14 October 2026
Law → Section 7, Aadhaar Act, 2016
Ministry → Social Justice and Empowerment
🌱 9. NBA Disburses ₹1.19 Crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards under Access and Benefit Sharing
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ABS money received from companies using agricultural biological resources to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one UT Biodiversity Council on 17 October 2026. The total amount is:
₹1.19 crore (₹1,18,61,655)
Because the resources were bought through markets and traders, individual benefit claimers could not be identified. So the money was shared in proportion to cultivation area, using official agricultural statistics. The resources include maize, rice, pearl millet and cotton, with contributions from seed companies such as Corteva, Pioneer, Limagrain, Syngenta and Crystal Crop Protection.
- Maharashtra → ₹19.46 lakh (highest)
- Rajasthan → ₹13.98 lakh
- Madhya Pradesh → ₹13.32 lakh
Static link: the NBA was set up in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and is headquartered in Chennai.
Exam Point
Amount → ₹1.19 crore under ABS
Recipients → 29 SBBs and 1 UT Biodiversity Council
Top State → Maharashtra
🏏 10. India–West Indies T20I Series Ends 2-2; Niki Prasad Shines on Debut; New Zealand Squads Named
The fifth and final T20I between India and West Indies in Bengaluru on 17 October 2026 was washed out after 46 balls of the Indian innings (118/5 in 7.4 overs). The five-match series therefore ended:
2-2, with Shai Hope as Player of the Series
West Indies captain Shai Hope scored 261 runs at an average of 130.5, while Keemo Paul took eight wickets in three games. West Indies are still waiting for their first bilateral series win in India since 2002.
- Women’s cricket → India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first T20I at Raipur on 16 October; debutant Niki Prasad (39*) and Deepti Sharma (49) added 82 after India were 19/4. It was Smriti Mandhana’s first match as full-time captain
- New Zealand tour → BCCI named squads on 16 October: Shubman Gill captains the Tests and first three ODIs; Shreyas Iyer leads in the fourth and fifth ODIs
- Schedule → ODIs from 4 November (Auckland); Tests from 19 November (Wellington) and 27 November (Christchurch)
Exam Point
India vs West Indies T20Is → 2-2; Player of the Series: Shai Hope
India Women vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I → won by 4 wickets (Raipur)
NZ Test captain → Shubman Gill
🎵 11. Composer Deva, Who Took Chennai’s Gaana to Mainstream Tamil Cinema, Passes Away at 75
Veteran Tamil film composer Deva, popularly called ‘Thenisai Thendral’, died in Chennai on 17 October 2026 at the age of 75. He is remembered for bringing into mainstream cinema the Chennai street-music style called:
Gaana
Born Devanesan Chokkalingam, Deva worked in the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department before entering films. He debuted with Mattukkara Mannaru (1986) and won his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for Vaikasi Poranthachu (1990). His music for Rajinikanth films such as Annamalai, Baashha and Arunachalam became hugely popular, and he also worked with devotional singers such as Sirkazhi Govindarajan. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan expressed grief at his demise.
Exam Connection
Deva → Tamil composer, died 17 October 2026 (aged 75)
Known for → Gaana music in films
Debut film → Mattukkara Mannaru (1986)
📅 12. World Menopause Day, AIIA’s 10th Foundation Day and Other Important Updates
The Ministry of Ayush, through the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), ran an awareness drive on women’s health ahead of World Menopause Day, which is observed every year on:
18 October
Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation and usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age; Ayurveda discusses this stage as Rajonivritti. CCRAS research is looking at classical formulations such as Ashokarishta and Amalaki Rasayana.
- AIIA at 10 → the All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, marked its 10th Foundation Day on 17 October 2026 as KAUMARACON 2026 (Ayurveda paediatrics) ended; MoUs with Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (Centre of Excellence in Kaumarbhritya, SOP for Swarnaprashan) and Arogya Bharati, and an AIIA Goa MoU with Maharishi International University, USA, for an Academic Chair in Ayurveda
- Kolkata stampede → PM Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each person killed and ₹50,000 for the injured
- HPEC portal → the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Enquiry Committee on the July 2026 Jantar Mantar violence launched hpec.nic.in for complaints, with identity protection for vulnerable witnesses
Exam Connection
World Menopause Day → 18 October
AIIA → 10th Foundation Day, 17 October 2026
PMNRF ex-gratia → ₹2 lakh (deceased), ₹50,000 (injured)
📝 Important One-Liners – 18 October 2026
- The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) notified on 17 October 2026 a cap on the trade margin of 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at what percentage of the MRP?
→ 30% - NPPA’s October 2026 cap on the trade margins of 137 anti-cancer drugs was imposed under which provision?
→ Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 - FSSAI’s draft Foods for Infant Nutrition Amendment Regulations, 2026 propose that sucrose and fructose shall not be added to products meant for infants up to what age?
→ 6 months - What Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) has FSSAI proposed for the pesticide Acetamiprid in tea?
→ 20 ppm (20 mg/kg) - After the 10th Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) meeting on 16 October 2026, the cumulative number of houses sanctioned under PMAY-Urban 2.0 reached:
→ 20.80 lakh - Which State received the largest number of houses (73,182) in the PMAY-U 2.0 approvals of 16 October 2026?
→ Uttar Pradesh - The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to create a national database to help remove child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) from the internet. What will this database contain?
→ Only hash identifiers and URLs of confirmed CSEAM - Under the Supreme Court’s directions on the national CSEAM database, each entry must be finally assessed by at least how many trained human analysts?
→ Three - INS Samarthak, commissioned into the Indian Navy on 16 October 2026, is the first of which class of ships?
→ Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) - INS Samarthak, the first major warship to be built by an Indian private shipyard, was designed and constructed by:
→ L&T Shipyard - Which Royal Navy ship took part with INS Trishul in the India–UK maritime exercise KONKAN-26, which concluded off Plymouth on 15 October 2026?
→ HMS Sutherland - Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in October 2026 with the Coast Guard ship Andromache of which country?
→ Seychelles - Under which section of the US ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ did President Donald Trump waive the Act’s duties and sanctions by an order dated 16 October 2026?
→ Section 115 - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit which two places in India from 20 to 22 October 2026?
→ Mumbai and Jamnagar - The Aadhaar authentication notification for the PM CARES for Children scholarship, S.O. 5628(E) dated 14 October 2026, was issued under which section of the Aadhaar Act, 2016?
→ Section 7 - Which State received the highest share of the ₹1.19 crore Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) money disbursed by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in October 2026?
→ Maharashtra - Who was named Player of the Series after the India–West Indies five-match T20I series ended 2-2 on 17 October 2026?
→ Shai Hope - Which debutant scored an unbeaten 39 to help India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first women’s T20I at Raipur on 16 October 2026?
→ Niki Prasad - Veteran composer Deva, who died in Chennai on 17 October 2026, is best known for bringing which Chennai music style into mainstream Tamil cinema?
→ Gaana - World Menopause Day, for which the Ministry of Ayush ran an awareness drive through CCRAS, is observed every year on:
→ 18 October
🧠 Quick Revision – 18 October 2026
Health & Economy
Trade margin cap → 30% of MRP
Drugs covered → 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs
Regulator → FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006)
Infant food rule → no added sucrose or fructose up to 6 months
Governance & Schemes
Meeting → 10th CSMC, 16 October 2026
Approved → 1,93,521 houses in 11 States
Notification → S.O. 5628(E), 14 October 2026
Law → Section 7, Aadhaar Act, 2016
Polity & Judiciary
Bench → Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran
Database → hashes and URLs only (Sahyog Portal or standalone)
Defence
Ship → INS Samarthak, first Multi-Purpose Vessel
Builder → L&T Shipyard (first private-yard major warship)
KONKAN-26 → India–UK, off Plymouth, 8–15 October 2026
Ships → INS Trishul, HMS Sutherland
International
Order → 16 October 2026, under Section 115
Act signed → 18 September 2026
Environment
Amount → ₹1.19 crore under ABS
Recipients → 29 SBBs and 1 UT Biodiversity Council
Sports
India vs West Indies T20Is → 2-2; Player of the Series: Shai Hope
India Women vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I → won by 4 wickets (Raipur)
Art & Culture
Deva → Tamil composer, died 17 October 2026 (aged 75)
Known for → Gaana music in films
Days & Events
World Menopause Day → 18 October
AIIA → 10th Foundation Day, 17 October 2026
🎯 Why Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2026 Matter for Exams
For Economy and Health questions in SSC, Banking and UPSC, revise NPPA Caps Trade Margin on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs at 30%; FSSAI Proposes Ban on Added Sucrose and Fructose in Foods for Infants up to Six Months.
For Government Schemes questions, revise PMAY-U 2.0: 1.93 Lakh More Houses Approved; Total Sanctions Reach 20.80 Lakh; Aadhaar Authentication Notified for PM CARES for Children Scholarship, with Safeguards.
For Polity and Governance papers, revise Supreme Court Orders a National Hash and URL Database to Remove Child Sexual Abuse Material.
For Defence exams (CDS, AFCAT, NDA), revise INS Samarthak, First Multi-Purpose Vessel and First Major Warship from a Private Shipyard, Commissioned; KONKAN-26 Ends off Plymouth; First Training Squadron Wraps Up Seychelles Visit.
For International Relations sections, revise US Waives Graham Act Tariffs on Buyers of Russian Oil, Easing Pressure on India.
For Environment and Ecology questions, revise NBA Disburses ₹1.19 Crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards under Access and Benefit Sharing.
For the Sports section of SSC and Railway exams, revise India–West Indies T20I Series Ends 2-2; Niki Prasad Shines on Debut; New Zealand Squads Named.
For Art, Culture and Obituary questions, revise Composer Deva, Who Took Chennai’s Gaana to Mainstream Tamil Cinema, Passes Away at 75.
For Important Days and Events questions, revise World Menopause Day, AIIA’s 10th Foundation Day and Other Important Updates.
Read the Exam Point boxes twice and then attempt MCQs: numbers, venues, organisations and first-ever achievements are the facts most often asked.
🔥 5 Facts You Must Remember
NPPA Caps Trade Margin on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs at 30% → 30% of MRP
FSSAI Proposes Ban on Added Sucrose and Fructose in Foods for Infants up to Six Months → no added sucrose or fructose up to 6 months
PMAY-U 2.0: 1.93 Lakh More Houses Approved; Total Sanctions Reach 20.80 Lakh → 10th CSMC, 16 October 2026
INS Samarthak, First Multi-Purpose Vessel and First Major Warship from a Private Shipyard, Commissioned → INS Samarthak, first Multi-Purpose Vessel
US Waives Graham Act Tariffs on Buyers of Russian Oil, Easing Pressure on India → 16 October 2026, under Section 115
📖 How to Revise Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2026
Do not try to memorise every number in one sitting. Start with the headings and the Exam Point boxes, because those hold the facts examiners like to test: names of schemes, organisations, venues, amounts and first-ever achievements.
Next, go through the one-liners and say each answer aloud before reading it. Mark the ones you get wrong and revisit them after a day, then again after a week. This spaced revision helps current affairs stay in memory until the exam.
Finally, link each news item to the static syllabus, for example a drug-price order to the DPCO, a notification to the Aadhaar Act, or a warship to its builder. Questions in SSC, Banking and State PSC papers often combine a current event with a static fact.
❓ FAQs – Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2026
What are the top headlines in daily current affairs 18 october 2026?
The key stories are the 30% trade-margin cap on 137 anti-cancer drugs, FSSAI’s proposed ban on added sucrose and fructose in infant food, 20.80 lakh PMAY-U 2.0 houses, the Supreme Court’s national CSEAM database order, the commissioning of INS Samarthak and the US waiver of Graham Act tariffs.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) notified on 17 October 2026 a cap on the trade margin of 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at what percentage of the MRP?
30%. NPPA capped the trade margin at 30% of MRP. Prices may fall by up to 70%, and retailers and hospitals must charge the reduced prices from 9 November 2026.
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to create a national database to help remove child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) from the internet. What will this database contain?
Only hash identifiers and URLs of confirmed CSEAM. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran said the database, within the Sahyog Portal or standalone, must hold only digital fingerprints (hashes) and URLs, never the material itself.
INS Samarthak, commissioned into the Indian Navy on 16 October 2026, is the first of which class of ships?
Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs). INS Samarthak (‘The Proponent’) is a trials-and-evaluation platform for testing new indigenous sensors and weapons; it can also carry out surveillance, offshore patrol and HADR missions.
Where can I practise MCQs on 18 October 2026 current affairs?
Attempt the daily current affairs quiz on QuestionPaper4Exam.com, which covers the news items in this post with bilingual explanations.
Sources: Official releases of the Press Information Bureau, including PIB: Trade Margin Rationalisation on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs and PIB: 10th CSMC meeting under PMAY-U 2.0, along with reports of The Hindu, LiveLaw, ICC and BCCI.
📚 Prepare Smarter with QuestionPaper4Exam
Current affairs preparation becomes easier when you follow:
Read → Revise → Attempt MCQs → Repeat
After reading today’s current affairs, attempt the 18 October Daily Current Affairs Quiz on QuestionPaper4Exam, and keep practising with the Daily Practice section.
Want the whole month in one place? Visit the October 2026 Current Affairs page for every daily update.
Prefer Hindi? Read the same news in 18 अक्टूबर 2026 करंट अफेयर्स (हिंदी में).
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