Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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India has developed its first indigenous MRI machine to reduce import dependence and treatment costs. It will be installed at AIIMS Delhi by October for trials. Currently, 80-85% of medical equipment in India is imported. The indigenous MRI machine aims to boost India’s self-reliance in medical technology. An MoU was signed between AIIMS Delhi and SAMEER, an autonomous R&D lab under the Department of Electronics. The installation will be for a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner.

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The European Space Agency (ESA) shut down the Gaia space observatory on March 27, 2025. It was launched in 2013 by European Space Agency (ESA). Gaia aimed to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way. Originally named Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA), later simplified to Gaia. It is positioned at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1.5 million km from Earth, for an unobstructed view.

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The Government of India will establish the Second National Gene Bank to conserve 10 lakh crop germplasm for future food and nutritional security. This initiative is part of the “Investing in Innovations” theme of Union Budget 2025-26. A Gene Bank stores seeds, pollen, and plant tissues to protect plant species, aid crop breeding, and ensure biodiversity conservation. India’s First National Gene Bank was established in 1996 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi. It is the second-largest Gene Bank globally, housing 4,71,561 accessions of 2,157 species.

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Researchers in China successfully transplanted a gene-modified pig liver into a human with brain death to evaluate its function. Xenotransplantation involves transplanting cells, tissues, or organs from non-human animals into humans. Early attempts at xenotransplantation began in the 1980s with heart transplants. Genetic modifications are necessary to prevent immune rejection of animal organs in humans. Post-transplant monitoring is essential to assess organ function and immune responses.

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A new study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has used Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) barcoding to correctly identify blackfly species that spread river blindness. River blindness, also called Onchocerciasis, is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus and spreads through the bite of infected blackflies of the genus Simulium. These blackflies breed near fast-flowing rivers and streams and mainly affect people in rural and remote areas. The disease causes severe skin itching, skin damage, and in serious cases, permanent blindness. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies river blindness as a major Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and Latin America.

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A recent international multicentre clinical study found that Semaglutide, a medicine for type 2 diabetes and obesity, can lower the risk of major heart-related events by 14%. Semaglutide is a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) that acts like a natural hormone to control blood sugar and appetite. It helps treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) by boosting insulin and lowering blood sugar levels. It also supports weight loss when combined with proper diet and exercise. Semaglutide is available as injections and oral tablets.

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Indian scientists have developed new ways to study and treat Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC), a rare and aggressive form of Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) starts in the colon or rectum and gets its name from its ring-shaped cells, where mucus pushes the nucleus to one side. It spreads quickly, resists treatment, and is often detected late, making it deadly. Researchers created Patient-Derived Organoids (PDOs), which are 3D tumour models, and Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDXs), where tumour cells are grown in mice. These models mimic real tumours and help test treatments. Though SRCC is rare globally, in India, cases are almost 10 times higher, often affecting younger people.

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South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has become the first coal Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India to adopt Paste Fill Technology in underground mining. Paste Fill Technology is a modern method used in underground mining to fill the empty spaces left after coal extraction. The paste used is made by mixing crushed overburden from opencast mines, fly ash, cement, water, and binding chemicals. This technique eliminates the need for acquiring additional surface land. It also helps prevent land subsidence, making mining operations more environmentally friendly and safe.

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India is seen as a major contributor to setting global rules for responsible space behavior, as stated by Marjolijn van Deelen, European Union (EU) Special Envoy for Space, at the Global Technology Summit. Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons are used to disable or destroy satellites for strategic defense purposes. These weapons can disrupt satellites used for surveillance, communication, navigation, or early warning. ASATs are divided into Kinetic Energy ASATs, which destroy satellites by direct impact, and Non-Kinetic ASATs, which use methods like cyber-attacks or lasers. ASATs can be launched from the ground, aircraft, or even other satellites. So far, the United States, Russia, China, and India have tested ASAT weapons. India’s ASAT test, called Mission Shakti, was carried out in March 2019 by hitting a satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 300 km altitude.

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Mexico has reported the first human case of myiasis caused by the New World Screwworm (NWS), a serious parasitic infection. The infection is caused by larvae of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, which usually affects livestock but can also infect humans. It develops when female screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds, and the hatched larvae burrow into living tissue, causing major damage. Symptoms include painful wounds, maggots, foul smell, bleeding, and sometimes fever or chills due to secondary infection. Treatment needs medical help to remove larvae, often through surgery, to stop the infection from spreading.