UPSC Current Affairs 18 August 2026 — The Hindu

• Archaeological dept. staff’s plea on quarters
• VCK should grow into a force capable of ruling Tamil Nadu, says Thirumavalavan
• Murmu gives assent to Bill to rename Kerala as Keralam
• SC pauses HC move against Rahul in assets case
• Ram Temple row: SC says suggestions can be made to Solicitor-General’s office
• Can SHANTI Act override court on compensation for nuclear disasters, asks SC
• Black money in elections hampers democracy, says SC
• Education Minister tells NTA to audit exam processes, submit corrective action report
• No excessive force used; ‘trapped’ constable fired AK-47: Bihar Police to SC
• No State can block usual routes of elephants: SC
• HC dismisses plea to bring RGF within ambit of RTI Act
• Match AI models to workloads, not leaderboards
• Decoding India’s growth in merchandise exports
• HC gives govt. two months to act on plea by nurses forum
• IT Ministry okays ₹7,877-cr. worth projects under ECMS
• ‘Dangerous misinformation’: experts decry AI wildlife visuals
• CM announces full crop loan waiver of up to ₹75,000
• ID cards issued to transgender persons remains valid: Centre
• CAS here to stay, but open to review for improvement: SEBI
• Ather Energy intensifies EV bike exports to Nepal