1. Which instrument of Chandrayaan-3 has become the first instrument to measure temperatures in situ near the moon’s south pole?
[A] Chandra’s Surface Thermo-physical Experiment (ChaSTE)
[B] Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA)
[C] Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS)
[D] Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chandra’s Surface Thermo-physical Experiment (ChaSTE)]
Notes:
Chandrayaan-3’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) became the first instrument to measure in situ temperatures near the Moon’s south pole. It successfully penetrated lunar soil and deployed a thermal probe, achieving what two previous missions—European Space Agency’s (ESA) Philae (2014) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) InSight Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) (2018)—could not. This experiment provided crucial data on lunar surface temperatures, strengthening evidence of water ice deposits. ChaSTE’s thermal probe was integrated into the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, which landed on August 23, 2023.
2. Which institute has developed an affordable electro-fluidic device for preliminary screening of Sickle Cell Disease?
[A] Raman Research Institute (RRI)
[B] Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
[C] All India Institute Of Medical Sciences Delhi
[D] National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Raman Research Institute (RRI)]
Notes:
Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI) have created a low-cost electro-fluidic micropore device to screen for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The device measures red blood cell (RBC) stiffness with high resolution and speed, helping detect blood disorders early. This portable tool could support mass screening for SCD and may also help detect tumors or improve drug-delivery hydrogels.
3. Legionnaires’ disease, that was recently seen in news, is caused by which agent?
[A] Virus
[B] Fungus
[C] Bacteria
[D] Protozoa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bacteria]
Notes:
Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have issued a public alert after a rise in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, raising fears of contamination in air conditioning systems. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, usually found in natural water bodies but can also grow in man-made systems like cooling towers. The bacteria can lead to two illnesses: Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness. Common symptoms include cough, fever, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes confusion or diarrhea. It spreads by inhaling contaminated water droplets, not from person to person. There is no vaccine, but antibiotic treatment is effective once diagnosed.
4. Which country has launched world’s first anti-drone barrage weapon to counter drone swarm and missile warfare?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Ukraine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
China has unveiled the world’s first 16-barrel Anti-Drone Barrage Weapon System to counter drone swarms and missile threats. It uses a “wall of fire” approach instead of traditional point-to-point targeting, increasing chances of hitting fast and unpredictable aerial threats. The system fires dense barrages of projectiles to intercept drones, missiles, rockets, helicopters, and artillery shells. It addresses current air defence gaps against low-cost drone saturation attacks. China plans both domestic deployment and international exports amid rising drone threats near Taiwan.
5. The real-time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (rt-LAMP) assay test is used for the early detection of which disease?
[A] COVID 19
[B] Tuberculosis (TB)
[C] Diabetes
[D] Ebola
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tuberculosis (TB)]
Notes:
Scientists at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram have developed a new real-time test for Tuberculosis (TB) called the real-time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (rt-LAMP) assay. The rt-LAMP assay is similar to GeneXpert and Truenat, with high sensitivity to detect even 10 TB DNA copies per microlitre. Unlike Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), which needs three temperature cycles, rt-LAMP works at a single temperature, making it simpler and faster. It uses six primers for stronger DNA detection, compared to two in RT-PCR. The use of Syto 16 fluorescent dye avoids false negatives. Results are available in just 10–20 minutes, helping in early TB diagnosis.
6. Which space agency is responsible for launching the Biomass Mission to monitor global forest biomass?
[A] European Space Agency (ESA)
[B] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[C] China National Space Administration (CNSA)
[D] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [European Space Agency (ESA)]
Notes:
The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch the Biomass Mission on April 29, 2025, using a Vega C rocket from Korou Spaceport, French Guiana. The satellite will orbit Earth at 666 km in a sun-synchronous orbit, allowing consistent lighting for accurate observations. It will provide the first global measurements of forest biomass, helping scientists map forests and track their changes over time. Forests store 861 gigatonnes of carbon and absorb about 16 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) every year. In 2023, 3.7 million hectares of tropical forests were lost, causing about 6% of global CO₂ emissions.
7. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), that was recently seen in news, primarily affects which part of the body?
[A] Heart
[B] Liver
[C] Brain
[D] Lungs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Brain]
Notes:
Two people in the United States are believed to have died recently from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare and incurable brain disorder. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) causes dementia and belongs to a group of diseases called prion disorders or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Its symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease but progress much faster and lead to death. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is very rare, with only 1 to 2 cases diagnosed per million people each year worldwide. It mostly affects older adults and is always serious. The disease is caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which damage the brain by turning healthy prions into harmful ones. These abnormal prions clump together in the brain, leading to nerve cell loss and severe brain damage.
8. NISAR is a joint Earth observation satellite mission developed by which two space agencies?
[A] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[B] European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and China National Space Administration (CNSA)
[D] European Space Agency (ESA) and China National Space Administration (CNSA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]
Notes:
NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a joint satellite mission by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is set to be launched in June 2025 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II). This is the first radar-based Earth observation mission jointly developed by India and the United States. NISAR will map the entire Earth’s surface every 12 days to provide frequent and accurate data. It will track ecosystem changes, ice movements, vegetation shifts, sea level rise, groundwater levels, and natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and landslides.
9. Which government department launched the Project EVolutionS programme?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[B] Department of Science and Technology (DST)
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Department of Science and Technology (DST)]
Notes:
The Government has provided grants for Electric Vehicle (EV) startups under the Project Electric Vehicle Solutions led by Startups (EVolutionS). EVolutionS was launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Heavy Industry (MHI) and the Automotive Component Manufacturing Association of India (ACMA). The programme supports startups in pilot demonstrations, testing, validation of components, and building industry connections for quick market entry. It covers EV components for two-wheelers, three-wheelers like L5 vehicles, e-rickshaws, e-carts, four-wheelers, e-buses, and charging infrastructure. Startups with indigenous innovation will receive ₹50 lakh, including ₹30 lakh through equity-linked support.
10. Which Indian institution has developed a novel method to estimate the abundance of Helium in the Sun’s photosphere?
[A] Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru
[B] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru]
Notes:
Indian scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have developed a novel method to estimate Helium abundance in the Sun’s photosphere. Helium is the second most abundant element in the Sun but is hard to detect directly in its photosphere. Traditional methods used solar wind, corona data, hotter stars, and helioseismology but lacked precision. The new method uses spectral lines of Magnesium (Mg I), Carbon (C I), and molecular lines of MgH, CH, and C₂ observed in the Sun’s photosphere. By analyzing the relationship between Helium and Hydrogen, the method accurately estimates Helium’s abundance.