News In Short 27-02-2026

Chandrashekhar Azad

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History

In News

• The Prime Minister paid tribute to the revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad marking his Martyrdom Day.

About Chandrashekhar Azad

• Chandrashekhar Azad was a great Indian freedom fighter and he was born on July 23, 1906 in Badarka village of Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh.
• He actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
• When produced before a magistrate, he declared his name as “Azad,” father’s name as “Swatantra,” and residence as “Jail.” After being publicly flogged, he adopted the title Azad, meaning “Free,” as his permanent identity.
• After the Chauri Chaura incident (1922) and the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement, he shifted towards revolutionary activities.
• On 27 February 1931, Azad was surrounded by police at Alfred Park in Allahabad (now Chandrashekhar Azad Park). After a gunfight in which he enabled his associate Sukhdev Raj to escape, he shot himself with his last bullet to avoid capture

Key Contributions

• Kakori Train Robbery (1925): As a leader in the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) with Ram Prasad Bismil, Azad helped rob a train to fund arms for independence. He escaped capture while others were jailed.
• Lahore Assassination (1928): Aided Bhagat Singh and Rajguru in killing British officer John Saunders, avenging Lala Lajpat Rai’s death during a protest.
• HSRA Formation: He reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association under the new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) after the death of its founder Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil. He was the chief strategist of the HSRA.

Source: PIB

Hexagon Alliance

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• A new geopolitical grouping, the Hexagon Alliance, has been proposed by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with India at its centre.

About

• The “Hexagon of Alliances” would include Israel, India, Mediterranean partners such as Greece and Cyprus, along with other unnamed Arab, African and Asian states.
• The framework is designed to operate across three tracks: economic cooperation, diplomatic alignment and security collaboration. 
• For India, participation would reflect its expanding strategic footprint in the Mediterranean and West Asia, complementing initiatives like India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• However, deeper alignment in such a bloc could complicate India’s ties with Iran, a key energy and connectivity partner.

Source: Mint

RailTech Portal and e-RCT System

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Union Minister for Railways announced the RailTech Policy and the complete digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) under Indian Railways’ flagship “52 Reforms in 52 Weeks” initiative.

Rail Tech Policy Reform

• The Rail Tech Policy aims to engage innovators, startups, industry and institutions to promote innovation in Indian Railways. 
• The new policy simplifies the selection of innovators and introduces a dedicated “Rail Tech Portal” for innovation.
• Key innovation areas include:
  • AI-based Elephant Intrusion Detection System (EIDS), 
  • AI-based fire detection system in coaches, 
  • drone-based broken rail detection system, 
  • rail stress monitoring system, 
  • sensor-based load calculation device on parcel vans (VPUs) etc.

E-RCT: Reform in disposal of ‘Railway Claims Tribunal’ Cases

• The E-RCT system will enable end-to-end computerisation and digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal. 
• Earlier, claimants had to physically visit tribunal benches for filing and case tracking, causing delays, travel burdens, and jurisdictional confusion.
• It will transform the filing, processing and adjudication of claims by making the process faster, more transparent and accessible from anywhere in the country.

Source: PIB

China’s “one country, two systems” Framework

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• China has systematically tightened control over Hong Kong, especially after the 2020 National Security Law (NSL), reshaping its political and media landscape.

About

• Hong Kong was handed over from the United Kingdom to China in 1997 under the framework of “one country, two systems”, enshrined in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. It guaranteed:
  • High degree of autonomy;
  • Independent judiciary;
  • Civil liberties (free press, assembly, speech);
  • Capitalist economic system.
  • These were to remain unchanged until 2047.
• In recent years, there has been a growing outcry from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy civil society against China’s alleged attempts to erode the city’s autonomy.
• In June 2020, China imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law.
  • The law criminalises: Secession (breaking away from China), Subversion (undermining central authority), terrorism, which is using violence or intimidation against people; and collusion with foreign or external forces.
  • This fundamentally altered political participation, judicial independence and civil society space.
• The NSL has effectively subordinated Hong Kong’s distinct political identity to a centralized Chinese national identity defined by the CCP.

Source: TH

Macaques

Syllabus: GS3/Species In News

In News

• A viral story from a Japanese zoo about an abandoned baby Japanese macaque (“Punch”) highlighted the complex social hierarchy and emotional dependence in macaque societies.

About Macaques

• Macaques are a genus of Old World monkeys belonging to the family Cercopithecidae. 
• They are among the most widespread and diverse primate groups, with more than 20 species distributed mainly across Asia and parts of North Africa. They are highly adaptable and can survive in diverse ecological conditions.
• The Japanese macaque, also known as the “Snow Monkey,” is native to Japan and is famous for living in cold climates and bathing in hot springs.
• The Rhesus macaque is widely distributed in North India and Southeast Asia and is extensively used in medical and biomedical research.
• The Lion-tailed macaque is an endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats of India, recognized by its distinctive silver-white mane.
• The Crested black macaque is native to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and is known for its dark crest and critically endangered status.

Social Behaviour and Hierarchy

• Macaques are highly gregarious animals, living in troops with a strict dominance hierarchy.
• Female dominance rank is typically matrilineal, meaning daughters inherit rank close to that of their mothers. In some species, such as the Japanese macaque, the “youngest sister rule” operates, where the youngest daughter ranks higher than older sisters.
• Male rank is usually determined by alliances, physical strength, and fighting ability. Males may migrate between troops.

Source :IE

Global Mind Health 2025 Report

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The Global Mind Health 2025 Report, released by Sapien Labs, highlights a significant mental health crisis among young adults in India and reveals a sharp generational divide in mind health outcomes.

About the Report

• Formerly known as the Mental State of the World Report, it is published under the Global Mind Project. 
• The study assesses emotional, social, cognitive and functional capacities required to manage life, work and relationships, using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) as a composite indicator.
• The study identifies four key drivers behind declining youth mental health:
  • Weakening family bonds
  • Decline in spirituality
  • Early exposure to smartphones
  • High consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Key Findings

• Global Trends:
  • Young adults in economically developed countries show poorer mind health outcomes compared to those in less developed regions. Countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the UK and China ranked lower, while several sub-Saharan African nations like Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania performed relatively better.
  • Notably, Finland ranks high in happiness but not proportionately in mind health, suggesting that life satisfaction and mental resilience are distinct measures.
• India’s Position:
  • Age 18–34: Ranked 60th globally with an MHQ score of 33.
  • Age 55+: Ranked 49th globally with an MHQ score of 96.

Source: IE

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• ARFID (Avoidant/ Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a mental health disorder which may look similar to picky eating.

About

• ARFID is a type of eating disorder that is being increasingly recognised in the global arena as a growing but treatable disorder. 
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a 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.
• ARFID can cause you to:
  • Lose interest in eating.
  • Feel anxious about the consequences of eating, like choking on food or vomiting.
  • Avoid foods that have an unwanted color, taste, texture or smell.
• It is treatable with appropriate professional support of mental health professionals, doctors and nutritionists/dietitians.

Source: TH