Daily Current Affairs 18 February 2026: Best For Competitive Exams

Daily Current Affairs 18 February 2026: | Important GK Updates for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways

Welcome to your trusted source for daily current affairs. Today’s update covers the most significant national and international events essential for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC CGL, Banking, and State PSCs. Our team has curated the latest verified news to help you stay ahead in your preparation. Download the current affairs pdf, practice the quiz questions, and strengthen your general knowledge with our exam-focused deep dives.

In Short – Today’s Key Events for GK (18 February 2026)

Event	Category	Why Important for Exams
Galgotias University AI Row	Science & Tech	Ethics in AI and indigenous innovation verification.
J&K Reaches Ranji Final	Sports	First-time achievement in domestic cricket history.
Amit Shah at ISKCON Mayapur	Art & Culture	Relevance to Bhakti movement and cultural heritage.
Farmers’ March Standoff	National Issues	Understanding MSP demands and right to protest.
Winter Olympics 2026	International Sports	Updates from Milan-Cortina Games (Klbo wins Gold).
T20 World Cup 2026	Sports	Major upsets (Zimbabwe def. Australia) and standings.

Major Headlines – Daily Current Affairs (18 February 2026)

National (India)

Galgotias University Issues Apology: The university apologized for misrepresenting a Chinese-made robotic dog as an in-house innovation at a recent AI Summit, sparking a debate on academic integrity.
Farmers’ Protest Intensifies: Tension escalates at the Punjab-Haryana border as security forces use tear gas to disperse farmers marching for MSP guarantees.
Amit Shah Visits ISKCON Mayapur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the ISKCON headquarters in West Bengal, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the Bhakti movement.
Blinkit Booked for Selling Knives: The quick-commerce platform faces legal action under the Arms Act for allegedly delivering illegal knives, following a crackdown by Delhi Police.

International

5. Winter Olympics 2026: Norwegian skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo secures his third gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

6. India-France Defence Ties: PM Modi and President Macron (visiting recently) reinforced the “Horizon 2047” roadmap, focusing on co-production of defence equipment.

Sports

7. Historic Ranji Trophy Run: Jammu & Kashmir created history by defeating Bengal to reach their first-ever Ranji Trophy final.

8. T20 World Cup 2026 Upset: In a stunning group stage match, Zimbabwe defeated Australia by 23 runs; Pakistan kept their hopes alive by defeating Namibia.

Science & Technology

9. OpenAI Partners with Indian Universities: OpenAI announced a new partnership with top Indian technical institutes to foster campus-wide AI adoption and research.

10. Apple’s Podcast Push: Apple announced a major update to its podcasting platform, integrating new video capabilities to compete with YouTube.

Deep-Dive Explanations (Top 5 Most Important News)

1. Galgotias University ‘Robo-Dog’ Controversy

News: Galgotias University issued a formal apology after claiming a Chinese ‘Unitree Go2’ robot dog was developed by their students at an AI Summit.
Background: The incident went viral when netizens identified the robot as a commercially available Chinese product, forcing the institution to clarify it was a “miscommunication” by a representative.
Exam Relevance: Important for Ethics & Integrity (GS IV) and Science & Tech, highlighting the importance of verifying ‘indigenous’ innovation (Atmanirbhar Bharat) versus re-branding imported technology.

2. J&K Creates History in Ranji Trophy

News: The Jammu & Kashmir cricket team defeated Bengal by 4 wickets to enter the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in history.
Background: Led by spirited performances from Abdul Samad and Vanshaj Sharma, J&K chased down the target on the final day.
Exam Relevance: Sports GK. The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship. J&K’s rise signifies the democratization of cricket infrastructure in Union Territories.

3. Farmers’ Protest 2.0: Border Standoff

News: The standoff between farmers and security forces continues at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, with police using drones and tear gas.
Background: Farmer unions are demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations.
Exam Relevance: Polity & Agriculture (GS II & III). Key topics include the APMC Act, MSP calculation (A2+FL vs C2), and the constitutional Right to Protest vs Public Order.

4. Amit Shah at ISKCON Mayapur

News: Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at the Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir (ISKCON headquarters) in Nadia, West Bengal.
Background: Mayapur is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 15th-century saint who pioneered the Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the Bhakti movement.
Exam Relevance: Art & Culture (GS I). Questions often appear on the Bhakti Movement, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy (Achintya Bheda Abheda), and the contributions of ISKCON to Indian soft power globally.

5. T20 World Cup 2026: Zimbabwe Stuns Australia

News: In the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (hosted by India & Sri Lanka), Zimbabwe pulled off a massive upset by beating heavyweights Australia.
Background: The 2026 edition has seen expanded participation, allowing smaller nations to compete on the global stage.
Exam Relevance: Current Events. While match details are rarely asked, the host countries (India/Sri Lanka) and major upsets involving Associate/lower-ranked nations are potential prelims questions.

Today’s Notable Days – 18 February 2026

Taj Mahotsav (Start): Often begins around Feb 18 in Agra. It is a 10-day festival invoking the memories of the old Mughal era and Nawabi style prevalent in Uttar Pradesh.
- Exam Focus: Indian Art & Culture, Festivals of UP.
Pluto Day: Observed to commemorate the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh on February 18, 1930.
- Exam Focus: Solar System geography (Dwarf Planets).

This Day in History (18 February)

1911 – First Airmail Flight: The world’s first official airmail flight took place in India. Henri Pequet flew a Humber biplane from Allahabad to Naini (approx. 10 km), carrying 6,500 letters.
- GK Importance: First in India (Transport & Communication).
1946 – Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny: The revolt started on this day on HMIS Talwar in Bombay harbor. It was a major blow to British morale and accelerated the transfer of power.
- GK Importance: Modern History (Freedom Struggle).
2014 – Telengana Bill Passed: The Lok Sabha passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, paving the way for the creation of Telangana.
- GK Importance: Indian Polity (State Formation).

Famous Birthdays (18 February)

Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa (1836): Born in Kamarpukur, Bengal. He was a 19th-century mystic and the spiritual guru of Swami Vivekananda. His teachings emphasized the unity of all religions (Joto mot, toto poth).
- relevance: Modern History, Socio-Religious Reform Movements.
Madan Lal Dhingra (1883): An Indian revolutionary who assassinated Curzon Wyllie in London.
- Relevance: Revolutionary movement in Indian Freedom Struggle.

Today’s Top 3 Most Important News for Exams

Galgotias University AI Controversy (Ethics & Technology Verification).
Royal Indian Navy Mutiny Anniversary (Static History Linkage).
J&K Reaches Ranji Trophy Final (Sports Current Affairs).

Download Section – Current Affairs PDF

Prepare smarter by downloading our daily current affairs pdf. This document compiles today’s top headlines, detailed explanations, and static GK facts into a single, printable file. It is the perfect resource for quick revision before your exam.

Quiz Questions Based on Daily Current Affairs

💡 Test Your Knowledge!

👉 Attempt the Daily Current Affairs Quiz here.

Why Solve Quiz Questions?

Regularly attempting quiz questions based on daily current affairs aids in active recall. It helps transform short-term memory of news headlines into long-term general knowledge, which is crucial for cracking high-cut-off exams like the UPSC Prelims and SBI PO.

General Knowledge (GK) Linkage

Today’s news connects directly to static GK topics:

News: Amit Shah at ISKCON. Static GK: The Bhakti Movement originated in South India (Alvars/Nayanars) and spread North. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularized Sankirtana (congregational chanting).
News: Farmers’ Protest on MSP. Static GK: MSP is recommended by the CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) for 22 mandated crops.

Conclusion

Staying updated with daily current affairs is not just about reading headlines; it’s about understanding the context. Today’s bulletin covered critical updates from the AI sector, sports history in J&K, and key historical anniversaries. Utilizing the current affairs pdf and solving the quiz questions provided will ensure you remain exam-ready.

Final Thought of the Day:

“Success is not owned, it is rented. And rent is due every day.” – Treat your preparation like a daily commitment, not a one-time effort.

Motivation for Exam Aspirants:

Consistency is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Do not let a single day pass without adding a new fact to your knowledge bank. Keep revising, keep fighting!

FAQs

1. Where can I find the daily current affairs pdf for 18 February 2026?

You can download the comprehensive PDF from the ‘Download Section’ linked above for quick revision.

2. Is the J&K Ranji Trophy news important for UPSC?

Yes, it highlights sports infrastructure development in Union Territories, which can be cited in GS-2 (Governance) or Essay papers.

3. What is the significance of the 1911 Airmail flight in GK?

It marks the beginning of civil aviation history in India, a frequent question in SSC and Railway exams.

4. How does the Galgotias AI row relate to competitive exams?

It serves as a case study for Ethics (GS-IV) regarding intellectual property and academic integrity.

5. Are these current affairs mcq updated daily?

Yes, we provide fresh quiz questions every day based on the latest verified news to help you practice.

6. Which competitive exams does this blog cover?

This content is tailored for UPSC, SSC CGL, CHSL, Banking (IBPS/SBI), Railways (RRB), and State PSCs.

7. Why is the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny important for history?

It was one of the final triggers that convinced the British that they could no longer hold India by force.

8. Can I use this for my banking exam interview preparation?

Absolutely. Topics like AI ethics and the rural economy (Farmers’ protest) are hot topics for group discussions and interviews.

9. How many months of current affairs should I study?

For most exams, the last 6-12 months of daily current affairs are critical.

10. What is the best way to revise general knowledge?

Connect daily news with static topics (as shown in our GK Linkage section) and solve quiz questions regularly.