Current Affairs Quiz 18th February 2026 Quiz

Exp. IIT Bombay and Columbia University Sign MoU to Establish Centre of AI for Manufacturing

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Columbia University signed an MoU to establish the Columbia–IIT Bombay Centre of AI for Manufacturing, in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The Centre will function as a joint research and translation hub focused on applying artificial intelligence to real-world manufacturing systems, developing interoperable and scalable AI solutions across sectors. 

Exp. Indian Navy Launches Mega Multilateral Naval Exercise ‘MILAN’ at Visakhapatnam

MILAN, the ten-day mega multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy, has commenced at Visakhapatnam with participation from 72 nations, over 60 warships, and three foreign aircraft.

Major global powers, including the US, Russia, Japan, Germany, the Philippines, UAE, and South Africa are participating, while India has deployed key assets such as aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant along with Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.

The MILAN Village was inaugurated at the Eastern Naval Command by Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, creating a dedicated platform for social, cultural, and professional interaction among naval delegates from over 70 countries, strengthening global maritime cooperation.

The theme: is “Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration” and it supports the Prime Minister’s

Exp. Bharat Electronics Limited Approves Joint Venture with Safran Electronics and Defence for HAMMER Weapon System Project

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has approved signing a Joint Venture Agreement with Safran Electronics and Defence, France, for the HAMMER weapon system project, as per a stock exchange filing.

Under the agreement, BEL and Safran will jointly incorporate a private limited company under the Companies Act, 2013, with its registered office and principal place of business proposed to be in Pune or another mutually agreed location.

About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

• Bharat Electronics Limited is an Indian Government-owned aerospace and defence electronics company.
• Founded -1954
• Headquarters – Bengaluru

Exp. GalaxEye Becomes First Private Indian Satellite Operator to Partner with NewSpace India Limited for Global Data Reseller Agreement

Space tech start-up GalaxEye has signed a data reseller agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation, for providing advanced satellite imagery solutions.

Under the collaboration, NSIL will resell GalaxEye’s full product portfolio, including its ‘SyncFused OptoSAR’ solutions, enabling high-precision applications across sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure planning, natural resource management, and environmental monitoring.

With this agreement, GalaxEye becomes the first private Indian satellite operator to formally partner with NSIL as a data reseller, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by promoting Indian space products and services at the global level.

Exp. Magnus Carlsen Wins Inaugural FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship

Magnus Carlsen won the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, defeating Fabiano Caruana in the final held at Weissenhaus from 13–15 February, marking the first official Freestyle Chess World Championship recognised by FIDE.

Carlsen secured the title with a 2.5–1.5 scoreline in the four-game final, sealing victory with a composed draw in the fourth game after gaining a crucial edge earlier in the match.

Exp. Renowned Odia Singer Geeta Patnaik Passes Away

Geeta Patnaik, a renowned Odia singer, passed away at the age of 73, leaving behind a rich legacy in the field of Odia music.

She was widely respected for her lifelong contribution to Odia music and remained a prominent cultural figure in Odisha for several decades.

Exp. Internet Pioneer David J. Farber Passes Away at 91

David J. Farber, widely regarded as a “grandfather of the internet,” passed away in Tokyo at the age of 91.

Farber began his career at Bell Laboratories in the 1950s, where he worked on integrating computing systems with telecommunications, laying early foundations for modern computer networking.

Exp. PM Modi Inaugurates Northeast India’s First Emergency Landing Facility in Assam

Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran Bypass along a national highway in Dibrugarh district, Assam, marking the first such facility in Northeast India designed for emergency operations of military and civil aircraft in coordination with the Indian Air Force.

He also virtually inaugurated the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management Guwahati and the National Data Centre for the North Eastern Region, flagged off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, and later addressed a BJP Booth Sanmilan in Guwahati.

Exp. 17 February – Global Tourism Resilience Day

Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed annually on 17 February to highlight the importance of building resilient, sustainable, and adaptable tourism sectors worldwide.

Theme 2026 – Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation.

The day was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to promote strategies that help tourism industries recover from crises such as pandemics, climate change, natural disasters, and economic shocks.

Exp. Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Launch AI-Powered Farmer Platform ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ in Jaipur

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to launch AI-based farmer platform ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ in Jaipur to empower farmers with technology.

Platform offers weather updates, mandi prices, pest & disease management, soil health, crop advisory, and government schemes in one place.

Farmers can access services via phone calls, chatbot, and in future, a mobile application; initially available in Hindi and English across multiple states like Maharashtra, Bihar, and Gujarat.

Exp. Amit Shah Inaugurates India’s First CBDC-Based Public Distribution System in Gujarat

Amit Shah inaugurated India’s first CBDC-based Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where ration beneficiaries receive digital coupons instead of cash.

The digital coupons are stored as e-Rupee (CBDC) in an RBI-approved wallet and specify the ration item, quantity, and subsidised price; the funds can only be used for purchasing ration items.

Beneficiaries with smartphones can scan a QR code at ration shops, while feature phone users can complete transactions using Aadhaar OTP verification, ensuring accessibility for all.

The pilot project has been launched in Ahmedabad, Anand, Valsad, and Surat districts in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of Gujarat, with plans to expand to Union Territories like Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

As part of the rollout, Gujarat inaugurated the “Annapurti Grain ATM”, an automated 24×7 machine capable of dispensing up to 25 kg of grain in about 35 seconds, enhancing efficiency and accessibility in ration distribution.

Exp. Union Cabinet Approves ₹10,000 Crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 to Boost Innovation and Non-Metro Startups

The Union Cabinet approved Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore to support startups, particularly in non-metro areas, and reduce early-stage funding failures.

The fund will mobilise venture capital for high-tech and innovation-driven sectors, building on the success of Fund of Funds 1.0 launched in 2016.

Since 2016, India’s startup ecosystem has grown to over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, highlighting the increasing need for structured early-stage funding.

Under Fund of Funds 1.0, the full corpus of ₹10,000 crore was allocated to 145 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which invested over ₹25,500 crore, benefiting more than 1,370 startups across India.

Exp. India’s Wholesale Inflation Rises to 1.81% in January

India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation rose to 1.81% in January 2026, marking the highest in 10 months and continuing its upward trend for the third consecutive month, driven by rising prices of food, non-food articles, and manufactured items.

Retail inflation inched up to 2.75% in January 2026, while the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced policy interest rates by 1.25 percentage points in the current fiscal year due to overall low inflation.

Exp. Union Cabinet Approves ₹1 Lakh Crore Urban Challenge Fund to Boost Market-Linked, Reform-Driven Urban Development

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, approved the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) to promote market-linked, reform-driven urban infrastructure development across India from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31 (extendable to FY 2033–34), aiming to leverage ₹4 lakh crore in urban sector investments.

The Fund will operate on a challenge-mode, outcome-oriented model, covering 25% of project costs through Central Assistance, with at least 50% of financing mobilised from market sources such as municipal bonds, bank loans, and PPPs, and the remainder contributed by states, Union Territories, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Key project verticals include:

• Cities as Growth Hubs – integrated spatial/economic planning, urban mobility, greenfield development, and critical infrastructure.
• Creative Redevelopment of Cities – renewal of CBDs, heritage areas, brownfield regeneration, climate resilience, and decongestion, especially in northeastern and hilly states.
• Water and Sanitation – upgrading water supply, sewerage, stormwater systems, integrated solid waste management, and legacy waste remediation.

To strengthen creditworthiness of smaller cities (particularly Tier-II, Tier-III, and northeastern/hilly ULBs), the Cabinet approved a ₹5,000 crore Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme, providing central guarantees of up to ₹7 crore or 70% of first-time loans, and up to 50% for subsequent loans, facilitating initial market access for smaller cities.