1. Which organization has developed a high-pressure nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for seawater desalination?
[A] Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[D] Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) ]
Notes:
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed a high-pressure nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for seawater desalination. The project was carried out by Defence Materials Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur, under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. This membrane is made to suit the needs of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), especially to resist chloride ion damage in salty seawater. It will be used on Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) of the Coast Guard to ensure a self-reliant supply of freshwater onboard. Desalination means removing salts from seawater to make it usable for drinking or industry.
2. The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was launched by which space agency?
[A] Australian Space Agency
[B] Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
[C] European Space Agency (ESA)
[D] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ]
Notes:
NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission recently created the most detailed gravity map of the Moon. The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was launched by NASA. It was part of NASA’s Discovery Program. The new map will help build a precise lunar reference frame and time system, making future Moon missions safer and more accurate. The mission showed that the Moon’s nearside, which faces Earth, is warmer and more geologically active than the farside. Earth’s gravity pulls more on the nearside, causing it to flex more and revealing interior structural differences. The nearside has large flat plains called “mare”, while the farside has rugged terrain.
3. Kodaikanal Solar Observatory is located in which state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Department of Posts recently released a commemorative stamp to mark the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO). The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory was established in 1899 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Tamil Nadu. It was set up to study the Sun and its impact on Earth’s climate, particularly on the Indian monsoon. This decision followed the Great Drought of 1875–1877, which caused a massive famine that killed nearly 50 million people globally. The Famine Commission then recommended setting up a solar observatory to explore the link between solar activity and rainfall.
4. Which organization developed the India’s High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype, a solar-powered, unmanned aircraft?
[A] National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)
[B] Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[D] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)]
Notes:
In a recent development, India’s High-Altitude Platform (HAP) prototype designed by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully completed pre-monsoon flight tests with a certified autopilot system. A High-Altitude Platform (HAP) is an unmanned, solar-powered aircraft that flies in the stratosphere at 17 to 22 kilometers altitude. It serves as a middle layer between ground systems and satellites for continuous aerial services. It was developed by NAL, Bengaluru, under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chitradurga, Karnataka supported its development. It is designed for border patrolling, surveillance in remote areas, and civil-military use. It can also act as a relay for telecommunications and weather monitoring.
5. Which four countries received WHO’s validation certificates in May 2025 for eliminating industrially produced trans fats?
[A] India, Norway, Oman, Brazil
[B] Norway, Singapore, Oman, Austria
[C] Thailand, South Africa, Oman, Austria
[D] China, Russia, Japan, India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Norway, Singapore, Oman, Austria]
Notes:
On May 19, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) honoured Austria, Norway, Oman, and Singapore for eliminating industrially produced trans fats from their national food supply. The announcement was made at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Trans fats, also called trans-fatty acids (TFA), are harmful unsaturated fats linked to over 278,000 deaths each year. WHO launched the global goal in 2018 to eliminate trans fats by 2025, but progress remains slow. By May 2025, 60 countries had adopted best-practice policies, covering only 46% of the global population. India implemented such a policy in 2022 through the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Second Amendment Regulations, 2021. India is among the leading Asian countries in enforcing best-practice policies, alongside Thailand.
6. Which country has discovered a new species of bacteria named Niallia tiangongensis?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] Japan
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
Chinese scientists recently discovered a new species of bacteria named Niallia tiangongensis aboard the Tiangong Space Station. The Tiangong Space Station, meaning ‘Sky Palace’, is a Chinese-owned and permanently crewed space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is the final phase of China’s Manned Space Program, developed after earlier missions Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. The first module, Tianhe, was launched in April 2021 and connects two science modules, Wentian and Mengtian, with a planned space telescope called Xuntian.
7. Which institute has discovered a new method to detect topological invariants in quantum materials using the spectral function?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[B] Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru
[C] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay
[D] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru]
Notes:
Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, under the Department of Science and Technology, have found a new method to detect topological invariants in quantum materials using the spectral function. The spectral function is a quantum tool that shows how energy and particles like electrons behave inside a material. It is commonly used to study electronic structure such as density of states and dispersion relations. The team focused on momentum-space spectral function (SPSF), which acts like a quantum fingerprint showing how electrons are spread across energy and momentum. This method reveals hidden topological features using values like winding numbers in one-dimensional systems and Chern numbers in two-dimensional systems.
8. The IndiaAI Mission was jointly launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and which organization?
[A] National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[C] Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
[D] Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)]
Notes:
Recently, three new startups were selected to build India’s own Foundation Model under the IndiaAI Mission, marking a big step in boosting local Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. The IndiaAI Mission was launched in 2023 as a joint effort by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). It supports startups and researchers by providing access to high-end computing power. The mission promotes “Making AI in India” by developing AI technologies locally.
9. Bayraktar TB2 is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Ukraine
[C] India
[D] Turkey
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Turkey]
Notes:
Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 drones suffered a reputational setback after Pakistan’s Turkish-origin drones failed during Operation Sindoor. Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish-made Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike missions. It is Turkey’s first armed UAV developed domestically, showcasing its defence manufacturing capabilities.
10. KATRIN (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino) experiment, which was seen in news, is located in which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Germany
[C] France
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Germany]
Notes:
Recently, the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) Experiment in Germany closely studied the disintegration of molecular tritium to estimate the mass of neutrinos. The KATRIN (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino) experiment, located in Karlsruhe, Germany, aims to find the absolute mass of neutrinos, which are among the most mysterious particles in the universe. This experiment marks a major step in understanding fundamental particle physics and the structure of the universe.