UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 27 September 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 27 September 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 27 September 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Incendiamoeba cascadensis

September 27, 2026
Incendiamoeba cascadensis

Incendiamoeba cascadensis Latest News

Scientists recently discovered an amoeba named Incendiamoeba cascadensis that can reproduce at temperatures previously considered too extreme for complex life, setting a new record for eukaryotes.

About Incendiamoeba cascadensis

  • It is a new species of amoeba.
  • It was discovered in the geothermal streams of Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, United States.
  • The name Incendiamoeba cascadensis translates to “fire amoeba from the Cascade mountain range”.
  • It can reproduce at temperatures reaching 145°F (63°C), breaking the record for the most heat-tolerant eukaryote.
    • While some thermophilic bacteria and archaea have been found to grow at temperatures exceeding 100°C, the limit for eukaryotic survival has been estimated at 60°C based on previous sampling. 
    • Archaea and bacteria have different cellular organization from eukaryotes.
    • Eukaryotic organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, amoebae, and many other microorganisms, contain a nucleus and other specialized cellular structures. 
  • I. cascadensis divides through mitosis, the process in which one eukaryotic cell produces two daughter cells.
  • It can remain mobile at around 147°F (64°C) and recover after brief exposure to temperatures of approximately 158°F (70°C), although it does not reproduce normally at that temperature. 
  • It had an elongated, worm-like form and a compact, amoeboid shape with pseudopodia.  
  • How does the amoeba survive extreme heat?
    • Extreme heat can damage proteins and destabilise cell membranes. 
    • The findings suggest that the organism has adaptations that help protect its proteins and membranes. 
    • It can also change its shape and movement patterns in response to rising temperatures. 
    • At higher temperatures, the amoeba forms a protective structure that helps it withstand short periods of extreme heat. 
    • However, scientists have not yet identified the precise mechanisms responsible for its heat tolerance.

News: NIE

Incendiamoeba cascadensis FAQs

Q1: What is Incendiamoeba cascadensis?

Ans: It is a newly discovered species of amoeba.

Q2: Where was Incendiamoeba cascadensis discovered?

Ans: It was discovered in geothermal streams of Lassen Volcanic National Park in California, United States.

Q3: At what temperature can Incendiamoeba cascadensis reproduce?

Ans: It can reproduce at temperatures reaching 145°F (63°C).

Q4: What record does Incendiamoeba cascadensis hold?

Ans: It is the most heat-tolerant eukaryote known for reproduction at such high temperatures.

PFOS

September 27, 2026
What is PFOS

PFOS Latest News

PFOS, a widespread industrial ‘forever chemical’, weakens the body’s ability to fight viral infections, a study has found recently.

About PFOS

  • PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate or Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid) is a synthetic chemical used to make products resistant to stains, grease, soil, and water. 
  • It is an organic perfluorinated compound, consisting of an eight-carbon backbone and a sulfonate functional group. 
  • It is part of a class of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
    • PFAS, also known as the Forever Chemicals, are a large chemical family of over 10,000 highly persistent chemicals that don’t occur in nature.
  • PFOS is very stable in the environment and hard to break down. PFOS also moves easily through groundwater. 
  • PFOS is of particular concern because it can accumulate up the food chain in aquatic systems and can lead to high concentrations in predatory fish consumed by anglers.
  • It can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes.    
  • When and how has PFOS been used?
    • Starting in the 1940s, PFOS was used in many consumer and industrial products, including carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, non-stick cookware, and leather products.  
    • PFOS has also been present in some firefighting foams used at airports, firefighter training facilities, and military airfields.
  • PFOS is listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), subject to international restrictions and exemptions.

News: TH

PFOS FAQs

Q1: What is PFOS?

Ans: PFOS is a synthetic chemical used to make products resistant to stains, grease, soil and water.

Q2: What type of chemical compound is PFOS?

Ans: PFOS is an organic perfluorinated compound.

Q3: What is the basic molecular structure of PFOS?

Ans: PFOS consists of an eight-carbon backbone and a sulfonate functional group.

Q4: Which class of chemicals does PFOS belong to?

Ans: PFOS belongs to the class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).

Q5: Why is PFOS considered environmentally persistent?

Ans: PFOS is highly stable in the environment and is difficult to break down.

Gulbarga Tur Dal

September 27, 2026
Gulbarga Tur Dal

Gulbarga Tur Dal Latest News

Recently, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) flagged off a shipment of 1 metric tonne of Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Gulbarga Tur Dal to the Maldives.

About Gulbarga Tur Dal

  • Gulbarga Tur Dal, associated with the Kalaburagi region of Karnataka.
  • It has received the Geographical Indication (GI) registration in 2019.
  • The product is recognised for its distinctive taste and quality and forms an important part of the agricultural economy of the region.

Key Facts about Tur Dal

  • It is one of India’s most important pulse crops and a major source of dietary protein.
  • It is a legume crop and protein-rich food which is primarily consumed as dal in India.
  • It is predominantly a crop of tropical areas mainly cultivated in semi-arid regions of India.
  • Required Climatic conditions
    • Rain: It requires 600-650mm of annual rainfall along with moist conditions for the initial eight weeks and dry conditions during its flowering and pod development phase.
    • Temperature: It can be grown with a temperature ranging from 26 to 30 degree Celsius in the rainy season and 17 to 22 degree Celsius in the post rainy (November to March) season.
    • Soil: It can be grown on all types of soil, however, sandy loam or loam soil is most suitable for its cultivation.
    • It is very sensitive to low radiation at pod development, therefore flowering during the monsoon and cloudy weather, leads to poor pod formation.
    • It is commonly intercropped with a wide range of crops.
  • Diseases: The important diseases of Pigeon pea are Wilt, Sterility mosaic disease, Phytophthora blight, Alternaria blight and Powdery mildew etc.
  • Health benefits: It has low glycaemic index and is rich in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, vitamin A, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium
  • Major Tur Dal producing states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Source: NIE

Gulbarga Tur Dal FAQs

Q1: Which state is famous for Gulbarga Tur Dal?

Ans: Karnataka

Q2: What is unique about Gulbarga Tur Dal?

Ans: Its distinctive taste and quality and forms an important part of the agricultural economy of the region.

Vizellopsidites miocenicus

September 27, 2026
What is Vizellopsidites miocenicus

Vizellopsidites miocenicus Latest News

Researchers recently discovered a new species of ancient, microscopic fungus, named Vizellopsidites miocenicus.

About Vizellopsidites miocenicus

  • It is a new species of ancient, microscopic fungus.
  • It was found perfectly preserved on a fossilised plant leaf from up to 12 million years ago in the foothills of the western Himalayas in the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh.  
  • Because the delicate fungus was practically invisible to the naked eye, the researchers used a chemical process called maceration.
    • It involves bathing the fossil in a series of gentle acids to dissolve the surrounding rock and isolate the leaf's transparent, waxy outer layer. 
    • When they placed this surviving leaf fragment under a high-powered light microscope, the intricate, dark-brown structures of the ancient fungus were revealed.
  • The specific name, miocenicus, directly references the Late Miocene epoch, the geological time period roughly 8 to 12 million years ago when the fungus lived and fossilised. 
  • It features larger cells and a much looser, net-like arrangement of alternating side branches, which grew in dense mats that primarily branched at the tips. 
  • It features distinct, circular fruiting bodies, the structures that once released spores, nestled beneath a dark, protective web of cells. 
  • By comparing the fossil to its modern-day fungal relatives, which grow only in very warm, highly humid tropical environments, the scientists deduced what this region once looked like. 
  • The presence of V. miocenicus serves as direct evidence that millions of years ago, the terrain of the Himachal Himalaya was not the cooler, mountainous environment we know today, but rather a dense, sweltering, and vibrant tropical forest.

News: RM

Vizellopsidites miocenicus FAQs

Q1: What is Vizellopsidites miocenicus?

Ans: It is a new species of ancient, microscopic fungus.

Q2: Where was Vizellopsidites miocenicus discovered?

Ans: It was discovered on a fossilised plant leaf from the foothills of the western Himalayas in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.

Q3: What colour were the intricate structures of Vizellopsidites miocenicus?

Ans: They were dark brown.

Q4: When did Vizellopsidites miocenicus live and become fossilised?

Ans: It lived and became fossilised roughly 8 to 12 million years ago during the Late Miocene.

Cool Leaders Award

September 27, 2026
Cool Leaders Award

Cool Leaders Award Latest News

Recently, inaugural Cool Leaders Award was announced at the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly 2026 held in Singapore.

About Cool Leaders Award

  • It is a global recognition initiative launched by the UNEP Cool Coalition.
  • It recognizes outstanding leadership in advancing sustainable cooling and protecting people from extreme heat.
  • The first Cool Leaders are
    • Singapore: For leadership in passive cooling and heat resilience.
    • United Arab Emirates: For leadership in district cooling and advancing cooling in global climate and development policy.
    • Dong Mingzhu: Chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, for spearheading the development of ultra-efficient, low-carbon cooling technologies, including the Zero Carbon Source air-conditioning system.

What is the UNEP Cool Coalition?

  • It is a global platform driving system-level change on sustainable cooling.
  • It was launched in 2019 as a flagship initiative of the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit.
  • It brings together over 250 actors—including governments, businesses, cities, and financial institutions—to deliver efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions aligned with the Paris Agreement, the Kigali Amendment, and the 2030 Agenda.

Source: UNEP

Cool Leaders Award FAQs

Q1: Which organisation launched the Cool Leaders Award?

Ans: UNEP Cool Coalition.

Q2: What is the objective of Cool Leaders Award?

Ans: It recognizes outstanding leadership in advancing sustainable cooling and protecting people from extreme heat.

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation

September 27, 2026
Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Latest News

Recently, the External Affairs Minister chaired a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

About Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation

  • It is a multilateral platform established by India to enhance cooperation with the Pacific Island countries.
  • It was established in 2014 during the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Fiji.
  • Member countries: It includes 14 of the island countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
  • In line with the “Act East Policy”, through FIPIC, India has primarily focused its efforts on the Pacific Islands.
  • Economic Cooperation: · At this moment, total annual trade of about $300 million between the Indian and Pacific Island countries, whereas exports are around $200 million and imports are around $100 million.
  • FIPIC Summits held: Since 2014 three FIPIC summits have been held, 1st 2014 (Suva, Fiji), 2nd 2015 (Jaipur, India), 3rd 2023 (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea).

Source: News On Air

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation FAQs

Q1: What is Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation?

Ans: It is a multilateral platform established by India to enhance cooperation with the Pacific Island countries.

Q2: When was Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation formed?

Ans: It was established in 2014.

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