UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 27 February 2026

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

February 27, 2026

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Latest News

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.

Source: TH

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) FAQs

Q1: What is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?

Ans: A mental health condition in which a person limits the amount or types of food they eat.

Q2: Is ARFID caused by concerns about body weight or body image?

Ans: No, it is not related to distorted body image or attempts to lose weight.

Q3: What is a common reason for food avoidance in ARFID?

Ans: Aversion to certain food textures, tastes, or food groups.

Q4: At what stage of life does ARFID most commonly develop?

Ans: Infancy or early childhood.

Q5: What growth-related problem can ARFID cause in children?

Ans: Stalled weight gain, weight loss, or slowed height growth.

Moist Heatwave

February 27, 2026

Moist Heatwave Latest News

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.

About Moist Heatwave

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.

Source: DTE

Moist Heatwave FAQs

Q1: What makes moist heatwaves particularly hazardous?

Ans: High humidity making it hard for sweat to evaporate

Q2: What is a moist heatwave?

Ans: A prolonged period of high temperature with high humidity

Key Facts about Sweden

February 27, 2026

Sweden Latest News

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

About Sweden

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.

Source: PIB

Sweden FAQs

Q1: What is the capital of Sweden?

Ans: Stockholm

Q2: What is Sweden's currency ?

Ans: Swedish Krona

e- Railway Claims Tribunal System

February 27, 2026

e- Railway Claims Tribunal system Latest News

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.

About e- Railway Claims Tribunal system

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 24x7 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 centralized 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

Key Facts about Railway Claims Tribunal

It was constituted under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987.
Functions: It adjudicates claims against railway Administration relating to compensation for death or injury in railway accidents and untoward incidents, loss or non-delivery of goods, and refund of fares and freight.
At present, RCT functions through 23 Benches located in 21 cities across India with principal bench at Delhi
Composition: Each bench comprising a Judicial Member and a Technical Member.

Source: PIB

e- Railway Claims Tribunal system FAQs

Q1: What is the primary benefit of the e-Railway Claims Tribunal system?

Ans: Faster adjudication of claims

Q2: What is the purpose of the Document Management System (DMS)?

Ans: Digital storage and easy retrieval of case files and orders

International Climate Initiative

February 27, 2026

International Climate Initiative Latest News

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.

About 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

Source: NIE

International Climate Initiative FAQs

Q1: What is the International Climate Initiative (IKI)?

Ans: A German government programme supporting climate and biodiversity projects

Q2: IKI supports projects in?

Ans: Developing and emerging economies

State Innovation Mission

February 27, 2026

State Innovation Mission Latest News

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

About State Innovation Mission

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.

What is Atal Innovation Mission?

It is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog in 2016.
Objective: To create and encourage an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship across schools, educational organisations, research institutes, and industries, including MSMEs.
AIM has two functions

- Promote entrepreneurship by encouraging innovators to become entrepreneurs through financial support as well as mentorship.
- Promote innovation by creating a platform where ideas are generated through like-minded individuals.
AIM has created four programs to support these functions:
- Atal Tinkering Labs
- Atal Incubation Centres
- Atal New India Challenges and Atal Grand Challenges.

Source: PIB

State Innovation Mission FAQs

Q1: What is the main aim of the Atal Innovation Mission?

Ans: To foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, etc.

Q2: State Innovation Mission is part of which programme?

Ans: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM 2.0) programme

Indravati River

February 27, 2026

Indravati River Latest News

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 River.
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, Chhattisgarh.
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.

Source: TOI

Indravati River FAQs

Q1: Which major river is the Indravati a tributary of?

Ans: Godavari River.

Q2: Where does the Indravati River originate?

Ans: In the Kalahandi district of Odisha on the western slopes of the Eastern Ghats.

Q3: What is the total length of the Indravati River?

Ans: Approximately 535 km.

Q4: Which famous waterfall, known as the “Niagara of India,” is formed on the Indravati River?

Ans: Chitrakote Falls.

Sky Sting Missile

February 27, 2026

Sky Sting Missile Latest News

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 fighters.
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.

Source: ZEE

Sky Sting Missile FAQs

Q1: What type of missile is the Sky Sting?

Ans: A 6th-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).

Q2: Which company is developing the Sky Sting missile?

Ans: It is being developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., an Israeli defense technology company.

Q3: What is the maximum range of the Sky Sting missile?

Ans: Approximately 250 km.

Q4: What type of seeker does the Sky Sting use for target tracking?

Ans: A radio-frequency seeker with AI-driven target discrimination.

Vikko Sat-1

February 27, 2026

Vikko Sat-1 Latest News

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.

Source: IT

Vikko Sat-1 FAQs

Q1: What is Vikko Sat-1?

Ans: A 600-gram mini satellite designed to study fungal spores in the stratosphere.

Q2: Who developed Vikko Sat-1?

Ans: Class XI students of Ariyakudi Government Higher Secondary School in Tamil Nadu’s Sivagangai district..

Q3: What was the main objective of Vikko Sat-1?

Ans: To detect and study fungal spores in the stratosphere.

Q4: How was Vikko Sat-1 sent into the stratosphere?

Ans: Using a helium balloon.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

February 27, 2026

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

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.

Source: TH

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: Where is the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans: It is located in Wayanad, Kerala, in the southern trenches of the Western Ghats.

Q2: By what other name is Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary known?

Ans: Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary.

Q3: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of which biosphere reserve?

Ans: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Q4: Which tribal communities live in and around the sanctuary?

Ans: Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas.

Q5: What types of vegetation are found in the sanctuary?

Ans: Moist deciduous, dry deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests.