UPSC Current Affairs 18 February 2026 — The Hindu

• Politicians, officials must foster fraternity: SC
• Taxes prove futile to burn out cigarette use in India
• Mamata terms EC ‘Tughlaqi’, backs suspended officials
• SC to hear challenge to suspension of Lalu’s sentence
• Supreme Court flags the risks of using AI for drafting petitions
• Finding work for disabled ex-service men
• On the importance of satire
• Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh PM
• Need global cooperation to tackle AI bias, risks; tech must remain human-centric: Modi
• Indian Army puts up a show with homegrown dual-use AI systems
• The new world disorder, from rules to might
• RBI releases draft directions on foreign exchange dealings
• As critical minerals become strategic assets, U.S. looks to realign supply chain
• Finance Minister avoids populism in T.N. interim budget, flags fiscal strain
• Gujarat passes Bill permitting night shift for women in shops
• Gujarat’s voter count at 4.4 crore in final roll after SIR
• Kerala HC pauses State govt. survey after plea alleging fund misuse
• Adani commits $100 bn to build AI-ready data centres
• CleanMax to float ₹3,100 cr. IPO