UPSC Daily Quiz 27 February 2026

Answer: b

Explanation:

Two Maoists were recently killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district during an anti-Naxal operation along the Indravati river belt.

About Indravati River:

• It is a tributary of the Godavari
• Course:
  • It rises in the Kalahandi district of Odisha on the western slopes of the Eastern Ghats.
  • It flows westwards to join the Godavari, thus forming the boundary between Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh states at some places.
  • Most of the River Course of Indravati is through dense forests of Bastar District,
• It is sometimes known as the “lifeline” of the Bastar District, which is known as one of the greenest districts in India.
• Total Length: 535 km
• The famous `Chitrakoot` falls (known as the “Niagara of India”) form on the Indravati River, some 40 km from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.
• There is a famous wildlife sanctuary named Indravati National Park on its bank.
• Tributaries: Bhaskel River, Narangi River, Nimbra River, Kotri River, Bandia River, and Nandiraj River.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/2-maoists-killed-in-encounter-near-indravati-river-in-chhattisgarh-arms-recovered/articleshow/128803273.cms

Answer: a

Explanation:

Although breeding has declined, experts say there is no immediate cause for concern as the vulture population in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary remains stable, with around 80 vultures recorded.

About Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in Wayanad, Kerala, in the southern trenches of the Western Ghats.
• It is also known as Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Established in 1973, the sanctuary covers an expansive 344 sq.km. and forms an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is bordered by the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka on the northeastern side and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu on the southeastern side.
• Rivers like the Kabini, Cherupuzha, and Bavali flow through the sanctuary.
• Tribes living in these forests include some scheduled adivasis, such as Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas.
• Flora:
  • It is a mosaic of the Western Ghats’ significant vegetation types, ranging from moist deciduous to dry deciduous and semi-evergreen patches.
  • About one-third of the sanctuary is covered by plantations of teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak.
• Fauna:
  • It boasts one of the largest populations of Asian elephants and tigers, which are considered its flagship species.
  • Other mammals include leopards, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, wild boars, sloth bears, and jungle cats.
  • About 216 species of birds, like peacock, owl, babbler, black woodpecker, golden backed three- toed wood pecker, cuckoo and jungle fowl, are found in the area.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/despite-nesting-decline-wayanads-vultures-still-soar/article70680466.ece

Answer: d

Explanation:                                                   

In an impressive display of scientific skill, 13 students from the Class XI batch of Ariyakudi Government Higher Secondary School in Tamil Nadu’s Sivagangai district have successfully launched a 600 gram mini satellite named Vikko Sat-1.

About Vikko Sat-1:

• It is a 600-gram mini satellite.
• It was developed by a group of students from the Class XI batch of Ariyakudi Government Higher Secondary School in Tamil Nadu’s Sivagangai district.
• It was specifically designed to detect fungal spores in the stratosphere using five specialised sensors.
  • These biological particles play a crucial role in agricultural health and environmental cycles, and their presence in the upper atmosphere can impact crops if they descend.
• By sending a compact device into the stratosphere via a helium balloon, the students aimed to collect real-time data that is often difficult to obtain through ground-based observations.
• The students developed the mini satellite themselves over a period of six months, equipping it with specialised adhesive surfaces to capture the samples.
• The mini satellite ascended to a height of 22 km, entering the stratosphere, which is the second layer of the atmosphere.
• At this altitude, the onboard sensors worked to identify how fungal spores behave in thinner air and lower temperatures.
• The payload was recovered intact after its descent, ensuring the air samples remained safe for analysis in the school’s control room.

Hence both statements are not correct.

News:https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/mini-satellite-sivagangai-government-school-students-class-xi-mini-satellite-vikko-sat-launch-2874482-2026-02-26

Answer: a

Explanation:

As Prime Minister pays his second state visit to Israel, India is keen to take forward the talks on acquiring the Israeli-origin ‘Sky Sting’ beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

About Sky Sting Missile:

• It is a 6th-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
• It is being developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., an Israeli defense technology company.
• Weighing between 180-200 kg, the missile is light enough to be carried by aircraft such as the Tejas Mk1A, while also being compatible with Su-30MKI
• It boasts a range of 250 km, with a three-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor enabling end-game speeds exceeding Mach 5.
• Its radio-frequency seeker, supported by AI-driven target discrimination and jam-resistant technology, allows precise early lock-on and robust electronic counter-countermeasures.
• A two-way data link ensures real-time communication between the pilot and the missile during engagements.
• Designed to provide air forces with a significant tactical edge by allowing pilots to neutralise threats from a safe distance, Sky Sting addresses modern challenges like stealth targets and electronic warfare.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://zeenews.india.com/world/india-locks-on-israel-s-sky-sting-missile-that-could-enable-tejas-to-outgun-china-and-pakistan-s-deadliest-weapons-3021248.html/amp

Answer: a

Explanation:

ARFID is a genuine health issue—not stubbornness, attention-seeking or a passing problem—and with proper support, individuals can recover, live healthy and confident lives, and maintain a good relationship with food.

About Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID):

• It is a mental health condition that causes you to limit the amount and type of food you eat.
• It isn’t the result of a distorted self-image or an attempt to lose body weight, which is common among other eating disorders.
• The eating problems seen in ARFID stem from other factors, such as:
  • Aversions to certain food groups or textures of foods
  • Lack of appetite
  • Preferences for specific colors of foods
  • Fears of vomiting or choking after eating
• Although ARFID can occur at any age, it most commonly develops during infancy or early childhood and may persist into adulthood. In children, ARFID occurs more frequently in males than females.
• People with ARFID often have anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.
• Additionally, there is likely a genetic component, as ARFID commonly runs in families.
• As well as being selective about food, someone with ARFID might not eat (consume) enough calories to grow and develop.
• In children, this may cause stalled weight gain, weight loss, or even stalled vertical growth (growing taller).
• It may lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated.
• The main treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/173043/OPS/G0HFL60AT.1+GMLFL60VG.1.html

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Minister for Railways launched the e- Railway Claims Tribunal system as reform number four under Indian Railways’ flagship “52 Reforms in 52 Weeks” initiative.

It will enable end-to-end computerisation and digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal.

Objective: It will transform the filing, processing and adjudication of claims by making the process faster, more transparent and accessible from anywhere in the country.

Under the new system, aggrieved passengers will be able to file claims electronically, irrespective of their location, even while travelling or upon reaching their destination.

The entire process, from e-filing to case information systems will be digitised and AI-enabled.

The platform comprises three core components

E-Filing: It helps in 24×7 online filing of claims and legal documents from any location and uploading of petitions, affidavits, annexures and supporting records.

Case Information System (CIS): It is a centralised database of all cases for auto-allocation, case registration and real-time tracking from filing to final to final disposal.

Document Management System (DMS): It is the digital storage of pleadings, notices, summons, orders and judgements along with digitally signed records.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233083&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog launched the country’s first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in Tripura.

It is part of the approved Atal Innovation Mission (AIM 2.0) programme, under the aegis of NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission (SSM).

It is designed as a long-term institutional mechanism to support States and Union Territories in building robust, inclusive, and context-specific innovation ecosystems aligned with national priorities and local strengths.

Under SIM, AIM will work closely with the Government of Tripura to:

Design and implement a long-term innovation strategy

Strengthen policy frameworks and regulatory support

Enable partnerships between government, academia, industry, and civil society

Facilitate peer learning and national-level collaboration

Support startups with infrastructure, mentorship, and access to funding

The Mission emphasises inclusion, regional balance, and capacity building across the entire innovation lifecycle — from school education to advanced entrepreneurship.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233156&reg=3&lang=1#:~:text

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, India and Germany launched a new Large Grant project for India, which has a funding volume of up to EUR 20 million under the International Climate Initiative.

It is an important part of the German government’s international climate finance commitment.

It was established in 2008.

It operates within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

It finances climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation in developing, emerging and transition countries to implement and ambitiously develop the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) anchored in the Paris Agreement.

Priority Countries: The IKI priority countries include Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and Viet Nam.

The funding programme combines the following four funding areas:

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions: Setting the course for global climate neutrality by 2050;

Adaptation to the impacts of climate change: Strengthening resilience, making use of interconnections with mitigation and biodiversity approaches;

Preserving and restoring carbon sinks: Combating the causes of global warming and the destruction of natural ecosystems;

Conserving biological diversity: Implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Feb/25/india-germany-strengthen-climate-resilience-through-new-eur-20-million-initiative

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, India and Sweden deepen AI partnership through Sweden–India Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor (SITAC) Framework.

Location: It is a Northern European country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Bordering Countries: It is bordered with Finland (east), Norway (north and west).

Water boundaries: It is bounded by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea in the east and south; and by the Skagerrak and Kattegat straits in the southwest.

Capital city: Stockholm

It is a member country of EU and NATO.

Geographical Features of Sweden:

Terrain: Sweden is rugged with snow-covered mountains and thick forests.

Climate: It can experience quite temperate weather.

Rivers: Angerman, Eman, Indal, Lagan etc

Natural Resources: It includes uranium, copper, lead, and zinc.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232803&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

Research showed that timings and locations of the moist heatwaves are controlled by the active and break periods of the southwest monsoon (SWM) season and can be predicted weeks in advance.

Moist heatwaves are triggered by a combined impact of high temperatures and elevated humidity levels in the atmosphere.

The best way to measure the combined effect of humidity and temperature is ‘wet bulb temperature’.

Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at constant pressure.

This is a process happening on human skin when people sweat.

The globally accepted level for wet bulb temperature that forms the limit of human survivability is 35°C.

Impact of Moist Heatwaves on Human:

When air is already humid, sweat cannot evaporate from skin, leaving the body unable to cool itself. This can lead to heat exhaustion and fatal heatstroke within hours.

It is because high humidity impairs evaporation, limiting the human body’s ability to dissipate metabolic heat and regulate core temperature.

In such circumstances, the physiological strain on the human body intensifies, exacerbating the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

A thermoregulatory failure can lead to hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, and fatal heatstroke in extreme cases.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/moist-heatwaves-during-monsoon-can-be-predicted-for-adaptation