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Daily Current Affairs: 18 October 2026

Current affairs of 18 October 2026: Q2 FY27 bank results: HDFC, ICICI, Axis report lower NPAs; HDFC Bank: Kaizad Bharucha to exit; Anup Bagchi new MD & CEO; Rupee closes at 94.71/$, biggest weekly gain in seven months, and 16 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (15 questions)October 2026
19 TOPICSDaily CurrentAffairs18 October 2026In focus: Q2 FY27 bank results: HDFC, ICICI, Axis…safalsetu.com

In this issue: 19 topics

National Affairs

  1. FSSAI draft bans added sucrose, fructose in food for infants up to 6 months
  2. Internet access a fundamental right; no blanket ban for children: SC
  3. Ladakh High Court bench: CJI Surya Kant opens first permanent bench in Leh
  4. Ladakh hill council rules amended: 7 to 24 elected members per council

Government Schemes

  1. PM CARES for Children: Aadhaar made mandatory for scholarship

Banking & Finance

  1. Q2 FY27 bank results: HDFC, ICICI, Axis report lower NPAs
  2. HDFC Bank: Kaizad Bharucha to exit; Anup Bagchi new MD & CEO

Economy

  1. Rupee closes at 94.71/$, biggest weekly gain in seven months
  2. NPPA caps trade margin at 30% on 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs

International Affairs

  1. IMFC 54th meeting in Bangkok welcomes ‘Bangkok Blueprint’
  2. Graham Act waiver: Trump seeks 60 days, India to keep Russian oil imports
  3. India rejects UN Special Rapporteur report on youth freedoms as hearsay

Agriculture & Rural

  1. Khet Bachao Abhiyan: Chouhan reviews preparations for 22 Oct-30 Nov drive
  2. Tea pesticide MRLs: FSSAI proposes limits for acetamiprid, imidacloprid

Science & Technology

  1. India space economy to hit USD 40-45 billion in 7-8 years: Jitendra Singh

Environment & Ecology

  1. Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Yadav Meets Start-ups, CAQM Reviews Enforcement

Defence & Security

  1. First Training Squadron Leaves Seychelles After PASSEX with SDF

Awards & Persons

  1. Asian Para Games 2026 Open in Aichi-Nagoya; India Fields 281 Members
  2. India-West Indies T20I Series Drawn 2-2 After Bengaluru Washout

National Affairs

Polity & Governance

1. FSSAI draft bans added sucrose, fructose in food for infants up to 6 months

  • FSSAI released draft Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
  • Sucrose and fructose may not be added to products meant for infants up to six months of age.
  • Aim: limit early exposure to added sugar, linked to childhood obesity, and support exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
  • Stakeholders have 60 days to send objections and suggestions.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Polity & Governance

2. Internet access a fundamental right; no blanket ban for children: SC

  • A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran passed a 137-page order on 15 October 2026.
  • Accessing and using the internet is a fundamental right of every individual, including children, under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a).
  • Blanket bans for children rejected; parental consent and a 'child mode' suggested instead.
  • Centre told to build a national database to detect and remove CSEAM; affidavit due by 10 December 2026.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

Government Schemes

5. PM CARES for Children: Aadhaar made mandatory for scholarship

  • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified Aadhaar authentication or proof of Aadhaar possession for PM CARES for Children scholarship benefits.
  • The rule covers the Special Scholarship Scheme supporting education from Class 1 to Class 12.
  • No child will be denied aid for lack of Aadhaar; alternative documents such as Enrolment ID slip, birth certificate, passport or voter ID are accepted.
  • PM CARES for Children was launched on 29 May 2021 for children who lost parents to COVID-19.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

Economy

6. Q2 FY27 bank results: HDFC, ICICI, Axis report lower NPAs

  • HDFC Bank Q2 FY27 standalone net profit rose 4.7% to ₹19,510 crore; NII grew 9.7% to ₹34,620 crore.
  • ICICI Bank standalone profit rose 20.1% to ₹14,843 crore; consolidated profit rose 22.3% to ₹16,333 crore.
  • Axis Bank net profit jumped 38% to ₹7,003 crore as provisions fell 52% to ₹1,694 crore.
  • GNPA ratios at end-September 2026: HDFC Bank 1.11%, ICICI Bank 1.20%, Axis Bank 1.16%.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

Economy

9. NPPA caps trade margin at 30% on 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs

  • NPPA notified a 30% trade margin cap, on MRP excluding GST, for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs on 17 October 2026.
  • The decision was taken at NPPA's 284th meeting on 16 October 2026.
  • Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 was invoked; revised prices take effect on 9 November 2026.
  • Prices may fall by up to 70%, with estimated savings of ₹2,500 crore a year.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

International Affairs

Economy

10. IMFC 54th meeting in Bangkok welcomes ‘Bangkok Blueprint’

  • The 54th IMFC meeting was held in Bangkok on 17 October 2026, at the close of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings.
  • Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan chairs the IMFC; his term was extended by one year.
  • Members welcomed the Bangkok Blueprint on digital finance safeguards, cyber resilience and fighting digital fraud.
  • Diriyah Guiding Principles will guide quota talks, including the 17th General Review of Quotas.
  • The next IMFC meeting is expected in April 2027 in Washington, DC.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

11. Graham Act waiver: Trump seeks 60 days, India to keep Russian oil imports

  • Trump waived sanctions and duties under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act through an executive order on 16 October 2026.
  • The Act, signed on 18 September, allowed tariffs up to 100% on the five biggest importers of Russian energy.
  • Rubio said Trump wants 60 days to study the impact and called India an important ally and partner.
  • India imported about 1.82 million bpd of Russian crude in September; its 2026 average is 1.8 million bpd.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
International Relations

12. India rejects UN Special Rapporteur report on youth freedoms as hearsay

  • India rejected a report by UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero on youth freedoms, calling it hearsay based on anonymous submissions.
  • India's statement was delivered by First Secretary Anuj Swarup of its Permanent Mission to the UN.
  • Forum: Third Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
  • India cited doubled paper-leak penalties and over five million youth in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Agriculture & Rural

Government Schemes

13. Khet Bachao Abhiyan: Chouhan reviews preparations for 22 Oct-30 Nov drive

  • Khet Bachao Abhiyan will run from 22 October to 30 November 2026.
  • Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed preparations virtually with agriculture ministers of 11 states and UTs.
  • Aims include awareness of advanced farming, higher productivity, efficient resource use, sustainable farming and publicising central schemes.
  • Nodal officers will be named at state and district levels; District Collectors will oversee organisation.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Agriculture & Rural Development

14. Tea pesticide MRLs: FSSAI proposes limits for acetamiprid, imidacloprid

  • FSSAI notified draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
  • Proposed MRL in tea: acetamiprid 20 mg/kg and imidacloprid 50 mg/kg.
  • Acetamiprid limit is below Japan's 30 ppm and the US level of 50 ppm; imidacloprid limit follows Codex standards.
  • India's average pesticide use is below 0.5 kg per hectare against a global average of 2.38 kg per hectare.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

Environment & Ecology

Polity & Governance

16. Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Yadav Meets Start-ups, CAQM Reviews Enforcement

  • Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav met start-ups in New Delhi on 17 October 2026 on technology solutions for Delhi-NCR air pollution.
  • He stressed using artificial intelligence for real-time understanding of air pollution.
  • CAQM's Enforcement Task Force reviewed 124 inspections carried out between 25 September and 10 October.
  • Closure of 2 C&D projects and 3 industrial units, and sealing of 12 units, were proposed.
  • Inspections are to focus preferably on Red and Orange category industries, especially those using furnaces and boilers.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Defence & Security

International Relations

17. First Training Squadron Leaves Seychelles After PASSEX with SDF

  • INS Tir, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi of the Navy's First Training Squadron left Port Victoria, Seychelles, on 15 October 2026.
  • The ships held a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Seychelles Coast Guard Ship Andromache.
  • Officers called on Maj Gen Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Force.
  • The Defence Ministry linked the deployment to India's MAHASAGAR maritime vision.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Awards & Persons

Sports

18. Asian Para Games 2026 Open in Aichi-Nagoya; India Fields 281 Members

  • The 5th Asian Para Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 24 October 2026.
  • About 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees compete in 18 sports.
  • India's 281-member contingent has 168 athletes (112 men, 56 women) in 11 disciplines.
  • Pramod Bhagat and Simran Sharma were India's flag-bearers; Simran replaced Bhavina Patel.
  • India won a record 111 medals, including 29 gold, at Hangzhou in 2023.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Test yourself

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