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18th October 2026 Current Affairs

Sunday · 8 news items · 8 MCQs

Defence Ministry signs Rs 4,106-crore GSAT-7C and Varunastra contracts; Sudhakar Dalela named Ambassador to Nepal; SCL Das appointed FSIB Chairman

In this edition

  1. Defence Ministry signs Rs 4,106-crore contracts for GSAT-7C satellite and Varunastra torpedoes
  2. India's Ramsar wetland tally rises to 103 with Sukhna Wetland, Sauj Jheel
  3. Sudhakar Dalela appointed India's next Ambassador to Nepal
  4. SCL Das appointed Chairman of reconstituted Financial Services Institutions Bureau
  5. DST adds chemicals, petrochemicals and material technologies to Rs 1-lakh-crore RDI Scheme
  6. Bhavina Patel begins Asian Para Games 2026 campaign with straight-games win
  7. University of Kerala geologists identify Mars-analogue sites in Tamil Nadu
  8. Braj Mohan Ram assumes charge as Odisha's new Governor
  9. Daily Current Affairs Quiz (8 questions)

📘 18th October 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

8 questions · attempt all, submit, then see your score and the solutions

Take the Quiz ›
🛡️ Defence

Defence Ministry signs Rs 4,106-crore contracts for GSAT-7C satellite and Varunastra torpedoes

Why in News?

On 15 October 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth a combined Rs 4,106 crore: a Rs 2,563-crore deal for the GSAT-7C communication satellite for the Indian Air Force, and a Rs 1,543-crore contract for Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes for the Navy. GSAT-7C will strengthen the IAF's secure satellite communication network, while Varunastra boosts the Navy's anti-submarine warfare capability. Both contracts support the Atmanirbhar Bharat push for indigenous defence manufacturing.

Key Highlights

  • Contracts signed 15 October 2026
  • Total value Rs 4,106 crore
  • GSAT-7C: Rs 2,563 crore satellite for IAF
  • Varunastra: Rs 1,543 crore heavyweight torpedoes for Navy

Static GK

  • Varunastra is an indigenously developed heavyweight torpedo
  • GSAT series satellites are built by ISRO for strategic communication
  • Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative was launched in May 2020
  • The Ministry of Defence is headed by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
🌿 Environment

India's Ramsar wetland tally rises to 103 with Sukhna Wetland, Sauj Jheel

Why in News?

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on 15 October 2026 that India's Ramsar Convention wetland site count has risen to 103, with the addition of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh. Sukhna is Chandigarh's first-ever Ramsar site. The designation recognises the wetlands' ecological significance and brings them under India's wetland conservation framework.

Key Highlights

  • Announced 15 October 2026
  • New India tally: 103 Ramsar sites
  • Sukhna Wetland: Chandigarh's first Ramsar site
  • Sauj Jheel is located in Uttar Pradesh

Static GK

  • The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran
  • India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982
  • A Ramsar site is termed a 'Wetland of International Importance'
  • Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites among Indian states
🌍 International

Sudhakar Dalela appointed India's next Ambassador to Nepal

Why in News?

The Ministry of External Affairs appointed Sudhakar Dalela, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, as India's next Ambassador to Nepal on 16 October 2026. He succeeds Naveen Srivastava, who completed his tenure in September 2026. Dalela was most recently Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA and had earlier served as India's Ambassador to Bhutan from 2022 to 2025.

Key Highlights

  • Appointed 16 October 2026 by the MEA
  • 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer
  • Succeeds Naveen Srivastava as Ambassador to Nepal
  • Previously India's Ambassador to Bhutan (2022-2025)

Static GK

  • Nepal's capital is Kathmandu
  • India and Nepal share an open border under the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship
  • The Ministry of External Affairs is headed by the External Affairs Minister
  • India's diplomatic missions abroad are headed by Ambassadors or High Commissioners
📈 Economy

SCL Das appointed Chairman of reconstituted Financial Services Institutions Bureau

Why in News?

The government reconstituted the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) on 16 October 2026 and appointed SCL Das, a retired 1992-batch IAS officer, as its chairman for a three-year term. The FSIB, which replaced the Banks Board Bureau in 2022, recommends candidates for senior leadership posts in public sector banks, financial institutions and insurers, under the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. Six part-time members were also appointed alongside Das.

Key Highlights

  • FSIB reconstituted 16 October 2026
  • SCL Das: retired 1992-batch IAS officer, three-year term
  • FSIB replaced the Banks Board Bureau (set up 2016, renamed 2022)
  • Six part-time members appointed, covering banks and insurers

Static GK

  • The Banks Board Bureau was originally set up in 2016
  • FSIB functions under the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
  • FSIB only recommends; final appointments are made by the government
  • Public sector bank chiefs are appointed on FSIB's recommendation
📈 Economy

DST adds chemicals, petrochemicals and material technologies to Rs 1-lakh-crore RDI Scheme

Why in News?

The Department of Science and Technology added 'Advanced Chemicals, Petrochemicals and Material Technologies' as an eligible technology area under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, with the inclusion taking effect from 8 October 2026 and the decision reported on 15 October 2026. The proposal came from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. The RDI Scheme, launched in November 2025 with a Rs 1-lakh-crore corpus, offers long-term, low-cost financing to boost private-sector research and development.

Key Highlights

  • Reported 15 October 2026; effective 8 October 2026
  • Added by DST on a DCPC proposal
  • RDI Scheme corpus: Rs 1 lakh crore, launched November 2025
  • Offers long-term, low-cost R&D financing to private sector

Static GK

  • The RDI Scheme is managed through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
  • ANRF was established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023
  • The Department of Science and Technology is under the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals is under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
🏆 Sports

Bhavina Patel begins Asian Para Games 2026 campaign with straight-games win

Why in News?

Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Bhavina Patel began her Asian Para Games 2026 campaign in Nagoya, Japan, with a dominant 3-0 win (11-6, 11-3, 11-6) over Kuwait's Ahad Alrasheedi in the women's singles Class 4-5 Group A table tennis event on 16 October 2026. The Asian Para Games 2026 are being held in the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan.

Key Highlights

  • Match played 16 October 2026
  • Score: 3-0 (11-6, 11-3, 11-6)
  • Opponent: Kuwait's Ahad Alrasheedi
  • Event: Para table tennis, women's singles Class 4-5, Group A

Static GK

  • Bhavina Patel won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in para table tennis
  • The Asian Para Games 2026 are held in the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan
  • Para table tennis players are classified by impairment, e.g. Class 1-5 for wheelchair users
  • India finished fourth in the medal tally at the 2026 (non-para) Asian Games
🔬 Science

University of Kerala geologists identify Mars-analogue sites in Tamil Nadu

Why in News?

Geologists led by Dr Sajin Kumar K.S. of the University of Kerala's Department of Geology identified Neyveli and the Tiruchirappalli Badlands in Tamil Nadu as Mars-analogue sites, using laser Raman spectroscopy, with the findings reported on 16-17 October 2026. Neyveli contains melanterite and the Tiruchirappalli Badlands contain gypsum, both hydrous sulphate minerals that record past water-rock interactions relevant to understanding Mars's geological history. The work was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Key Highlights

  • Findings reported 16-17 October 2026
  • Sites: Neyveli and Tiruchirappalli Badlands, Tamil Nadu
  • Minerals: melanterite (Neyveli), gypsum (Tiruchirappalli)
  • Method: laser Raman spectroscopy, DST-FIST supported

Static GK

  • Mars-analogue sites help scientists study Martian geology without a mission there
  • India's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) was launched in 2013
  • ISRO's Chandrayaan missions target the Moon, not Mars
  • Gypsum and melanterite are both hydrous sulphate minerals
🏛️ Politics

Braj Mohan Ram assumes charge as Odisha's new Governor

Why in News?

Braj Mohan Ram, a senior BJP leader from Jharkhand's Palamu district, assumed charge as Odisha's Governor on 18 October 2026, succeeding Hari Babu Kambhampati, who had been in the post since January 2025. He was appointed Governor by President Droupadi Murmu earlier in October 2026 and travelled to Odisha on 17 October to take over. Ram named education, unemployment, farmers' issues, electricity and water among his priorities.

Key Highlights

  • Assumed charge 18 October 2026
  • Succeeds Hari Babu Kambhampati (Governor since January 2025)
  • From Palamu district, Jharkhand; former Lok Sabha MP (1996, 1998, 1999)
  • Appointed by President Droupadi Murmu in October 2026

Static GK

  • Odisha's capital is Bhubaneswar
  • A Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155 of the Constitution
  • Governors generally hold office for a term of five years, at the President's pleasure
  • Odisha was formed as a separate province in 1936

📘 18th October 2026 Current Affairs Quiz

8 questions · attempt all, submit, then see your score and the solutions

Take the Quiz ›