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Home› Current Affairs› 18 October 2026
18Oct
Sunday · 2026 · Daily Digest

Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2026

Four exam-ready news topics of the day for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO and GD — written in the one-line fact format the General Awareness section actually asks for, each closing with an Important Facts for Exams slip, plus 9 practice MCQs at the end.

04Topics
9Practice MCQs
60+Exam Facts
6Min Read
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💊 Drug Price Control 🚀 Space Economy ⚖️ HPEC Complaint Portal 🧵 Shilp Samagam Mela 📝 Practice MCQs

Today at a glance

If you have two minutes, read only this. Every line below is a potential one-mark question.

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Economy & Banking Drug Pricing 18 October 2026

NPPA Rationalises Margins on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs

  • NPPA undertook Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) for 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs in the public interest.
  • The measure aims to curb excessive margins in distribution and retail while making cancer medicines more affordable and accessible.
  • The revised prices are scheduled to take effect from 9 November 2026.
  • The MRP of the identified medicines may fall by up to 70%, depending on their existing price structures.
  • Retailers and hospitals must charge the reduced prices and display the revised prices in their pharmacies.
  • Consumers can check revised drug prices through the Pharma Sahi Daam app and the NPPA website.
  • State Drug Controllers are to help ensure compliance by manufacturers, dealers, retailers, hospitals and medical institutions.
  • The measure builds on NPPA’s 2019 pilot, which capped trade margins at 30% for 42 anti-cancer drugs.
  • Following the 2019 exercise, the MRP of 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines was reduced by up to 90%.
  • The intervention seeks to control excessive margins while protecting legitimate manufacturer revenues and avoiding artificial shortages.

Exam Snapshot

AuthorityNational Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
Administrative departmentDepartment of Pharmaceuticals
MinistryMinistry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Medicines covered137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs
Effective date9 November 2026
Possible MRP reductionUp to 70%

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Which authority undertook TMR for the anti-cancer drugs? A: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
  • Q: How many identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs are covered? A: 137.
  • Q: From when are the revised prices scheduled to apply? A: 9 November 2026.
  • Q: What is the maximum indicated MRP reduction under the measure? A: Up to 70%.
  • Q: Which app can consumers use to check revised drug prices? A: Pharma Sahi Daam.
  • Q: What was the trade-margin cap in NPPA’s 2019 pilot? A: 30% for 42 anti-cancer drugs.

Source: News On AIR report

Economy & Banking Space 18 October 2026

India’s Space Economy May Reach $40–45 Billion

  • Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, said India’s space economy is valued at around $9 billion.
  • He projected that it could grow to $40–45 billion over the next seven to eight years.
  • The remarks were made at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum’s media roundtable on Space, Sovereignty and New Economy in New Delhi.
  • The Minister said higher domestic and international investment would support the sector’s expansion.
  • He highlighted faster regulatory approvals, lower business costs and stronger supply-chain integration as growth needs.
  • The opening of India’s space sector to private participation had produced significant results within five to six years, he said.
  • The stated priority is to turn technical capabilities into commercially viable companies able to compete globally.
  • The Minister stressed that generating demand is important for the growth of private space companies.
  • He said international partnerships and capital can support technology development, manufacturing and access to overseas markets.
  • The remarks also linked domestic space capabilities with national security and strategic autonomy.

Key Details

Current space-economy valueAround US$9 billion
Projected valueUS$40–45 billion
Projection periodSeven to eight years
SpeakerDr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space
EventBloomberg New Economy Forum media roundtable
VenueNew Delhi

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Who gave the projection for India’s space economy? A: Dr Jitendra Singh.
  • Q: What is the approximate current value mentioned? A: US$9 billion.
  • Q: What future value was projected? A: US$40–45 billion.
  • Q: Over what period could the space economy reach that value? A: Seven to eight years.
  • Q: Where was the roundtable held? A: New Delhi.
  • Q: Which two portfolios does Dr Jitendra Singh hold as Minister of State? A: Atomic Energy and Space.

Source: News On AIR report

Government Schemes Public Grievance 18 October 2026

Supreme Court Panel Opens Portal for July Violence Complaints

  • The High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, launched a portal for complaints and representations.
  • The committee is examining incidents of violence at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and at places outside Delhi during July 2026.
  • The portal is hpec.nic.in and is intended for affected people, including affected police personnel, and other stakeholders.
  • The HPEC is to examine the issues specified in the Supreme Court’s order.
  • Priority matters include the use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protestors, and excessive violence and property destruction on either side.
  • The portal allows vulnerable witnesses to receive protection and affected people to keep their identities confidential if they wish.
  • Complaints and supporting material may also be submitted physically at the HPEC office at Shiksha Sadan, New Delhi.
  • Physical submissions are accepted on working days from 2 pm to 4 pm; submissions may also be sent by post or email.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs said people may use the portal to provide relevant information or suggestions as well as complaints.

Submission Details

CommitteeHigh Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC)
Portalhpec.nic.in
Physical submission addressHPEC office, Shiksha Sadan, New Delhi
Physical submission hours2 pm–4 pm on working days
ConfidentialityIdentity may be kept confidential if requested
Issues under inquiryJuly violence at Jantar Mantar and places outside Delhi

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Which body constituted the HPEC? A: The Supreme Court.
  • Q: What is the full form of HPEC? A: High Powered Enquiry Committee.
  • Q: What is the complaint portal’s web address? A: hpec.nic.in.
  • Q: Which ministry provided information about the portal? A: Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Q: Where is the HPEC office for physical submissions? A: Shiksha Sadan, New Delhi.
  • Q: What are the stated hours for physical submissions on working days? A: 2 pm to 4 pm.

Source: News On AIR report

Sports, Culture & Days Handicrafts 18 October 2026

Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 Runs in Mysuru

  • The Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 is being held at the Mysore Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru, Karnataka.
  • The nine-day fair began on 11 October and is scheduled to conclude on 19 October 2026.
  • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is organising the fair for artisans and beneficiaries from SC, OBC and sanitation-worker communities.
  • The exhibition has 83 stalls, of which 80 are allotted to artisans; 37 women artisans are among those allotted stalls.
  • Artisans from 12 states and Union Territories are taking part in the fair.
  • The event is jointly organised by NSFDC, NBCFDC and NSKFDC, three national corporations under the Ministry.
  • Products on display include handicrafts, handloom saris, spices, leather goods, wooden toys, terracotta items and block-printed goods.
  • The fair aims to strengthen market connections, promote traditional crafts and support sustainable livelihoods through direct customer access.
  • The Mysuru fair is the first Shilp Samagam Mela of financial year 2026–27.
  • The Ministry has organised Shilp Samagam fairs since 2022; 13 fairs had benefited 975 artisans, according to the release.

Organisers and Related Initiative

MinistryMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment
NSFDCNational Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation
NBCFDCNational Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation
NSKFDCNational Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation
Related initiativeBharat TULIP: Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment and Livelihood Programme
Bharat TULIP focusExpand artisans’ product reach through digital platforms and branding

Important Facts for Exams

  • Q: Where is Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 being held? A: Mysore Dasara Exhibition Grounds, Mysuru, Karnataka.
  • Q: Which ministry is organising the fair? A: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Q: What are the fair’s scheduled dates? A: 11–19 October 2026.
  • Q: Which three corporations jointly organise the fair? A: NSFDC, NBCFDC and NSKFDC.
  • Q: How many artisan stalls are allotted, including those assigned to women artisans? A: 80 artisan stalls, including 37 women artisans.
  • Q: What does Bharat TULIP stand for? A: Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment and Livelihood Programme.

Source: PIB release

Test Yourself

SSC Current Affairs Quiz — 18 October 2026

9 exam-style questions from today's news. Tap an option to check your answer instantly.

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About this page

Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2026 for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS and CPO

This page carries the complete current affairs of 18 October 2026, prepared specifically for candidates preparing for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC CPO, SSC GD Constable and other competitive examinations. Every topic on this page is compiled from All India Radio (News On AIR) reports and official Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases and written in the short, factual, one-line style that the General Awareness section of SSC papers actually tests — dates, full forms, ministries, venues, appointments and numbers — rather than long news reporting.

The topics covered today are NPPA’s trade margin rationalisation for anti-cancer drugs, India’s space-economy growth projection, the HPEC complaint portal for July violence incidents, and Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 in Mysuru. Each topic ends with an Important Facts for Exams box, and the page closes with 9 practice MCQs with answers.

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Why daily current affairs matter in the SSC exam

In SSC CGL Tier I, the General Awareness section carries 25 questions of 2 marks each, that is 50 marks out of 200, and it must be completed in a locked 15-minute sectional window under the 2026 pattern. Unlike Quantitative Aptitude or Reasoning, General Awareness rewards recall rather than calculation, so a well-prepared candidate can finish the whole section in seven or eight minutes and carry the saved time as a psychological cushion into the rest of the paper.

Within that section, current affairs typically account for a meaningful share of questions, and the questions are almost always factual one-liners — who launched a scheme, where a summit was held, which ministry implements a programme, what a scheme's full form is. That is exactly why this page is written as short bullet facts rather than paragraphs of analysis.

Topics covered on 18 October 2026 and the sections they belong to

TopicCategoryMost likely question
Drug Price ControlEconomy & BankingAuthority and drugs covered
Space EconomyEconomy & BankingProjected space-economy value
HPEC Complaint PortalGovernment SchemesHPEC portal and purpose
Shilp Samagam MelaSports, Culture & DaysVenue and organising corporations

How to use this daily current affairs page effectively

  1. Read the “Today at a glance” box first. A handful of lines, under two minutes. If you are short on time on a busy day, this alone keeps you current.
  2. Then read each topic once, slowly. Do not try to memorise on the first pass — understanding what happened makes the facts stick far better than rote repetition.
  3. Revise only the Important Facts for Exams boxes. These are deliberately written in question–answer shape, so they double as a revision sheet in the last week before the exam.
  4. Attempt the practice MCQs the same day. Active recall on the day you read something is worth several passive re-readings later.
  5. Do a weekly sweep every Sunday. Open the last seven date pages from the archive and read only the fact boxes — that takes about fifteen minutes and covers a full week.
  6. Link every current affair to static GK. When you read about a summit, revise the organisation's headquarters and member capitals at the same time. SSC frequently mixes the two.

Standard categories SSC asks current affairs from

Over the last several exam cycles, current affairs questions in SSC papers have clustered into a predictable set of buckets. Reading with these buckets in mind makes your notes far easier to revise:

Related practice on TrickySSC

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which anti-cancer medicines are covered by NPPA’s latest price measure?
The measure covers 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. Revised prices are scheduled to take effect from 9 November 2026.
How can consumers check the revised prices of anti-cancer drugs?
Consumers can use the Pharma Sahi Daam app or the NPPA website. Retailers and hospitals must also display revised prices.
What is India’s projected space-economy value?
The projection is US$40–45 billion over the next seven to eight years, from a current value of around US$9 billion. Dr Jitendra Singh shared the projection at a New Delhi roundtable.
How can people submit a complaint to the HPEC?
Complaints and representations can be submitted through hpec.nic.in. Physical submissions are accepted at Shiksha Sadan, New Delhi, from 2 pm to 4 pm on working days.
Where and when is Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 being held?
It is taking place at Mysore Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru from 11 to 19 October 2026. The fair is organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Which organisations jointly organise Shilp Samagam Mela?
The fair is jointly organised by NSFDC, NBCFDC and NSKFDC. These national corporations provide financial assistance to artisans and eligible beneficiaries.
Is current affairs enough to score well in SSC General Awareness?
No. Current affairs are important but static GK — History, Geography, Polity, Economics and Science — still carries the larger share of the General Awareness section. The most reliable approach is to read current affairs daily for about ten minutes and revise static GK chapter-wise alongside, using chapter-wise tests to check retention.
Are these daily current affairs pages free on TrickySSC?
Yes. All daily current affairs pages and the complete date-wise archive are free to read, with no login required. SSC CGL and SSC CHSL previous year papers are also free; the full 100-mock test series is available on the paid plan, with Mocks 1–4 free for everyone.

Last updated: 18 October 2026 · Published by TrickySSC · Compiled from All India Radio (News On AIR) reports and official Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases and presented for examination preparation purposes only.