Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) launched the steel-cutting ceremony for India’s first all-electric green tug for Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) under the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP). Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), launched by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), aims to shift India’s harbour tugs from diesel to green propulsion. A total of 50 green tugs will be inducted by 2030, with 16 tugs in Phase-1 (2024–2027). National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) is the nodal agency. Tugs use Green Hybrid Propulsion and will later adopt methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen as non-fossil fuels.

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Researchers from Bose Institute, Kolkata, in collaboration with L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, have developed a peptide therapy for fungal keratitis, a severe infection of the cornea. They designed a 15-residue peptide, SA-XV, derived from the host-defense peptide S100A12, previously known to inhibit fungal growth. SA-XV acts by interacting with fungal cell walls and membranes, translocating into the cytoplasm, binding nuclear DNA to halt the cell cycle, and targeting mitochondria to induce apoptosis.

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The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed Rajya Sabha about white spot disease. It is a highly contagious viral infection affecting crustaceans like prawns, yabbies and crabs. It is caused by White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). All decapod crustaceans (order Decapoda) from marine, brackish and freshwater environments are susceptible.

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Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) to set up Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs) in select academic institutions. It is a first-of-its-kind IN-SPACe initiative to build advanced space labs inside Indian colleges and universities. Labs will give hands-on training to students in space technology across the country. IN-SPACe will fund 75% of project cost, capped at ₹5 crore per institution, released based on milestones.

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A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak triggered a health alert in Sydney’s central business district, urging people to watch for symptoms. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe lung infection (pneumonia) caused by the bacterium Legionella. The disease was named after a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention in the United States. Legionella occurs naturally in freshwater sources like lakes, rivers and soil. Infection mainly happens by inhaling contaminated water droplets or soil particles. It does not spread from person to person and is not contagious. Older adults, smokers and immunocompromised people are at higher risk

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Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed a portable desalination device named Sea Water Desalination System (SWaDeS). It is designed to meet drinking water needs of soldiers in remote and field conditions. The system can be manually operated or engine-driven and was developed by Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur for Tri-command services. The manual version can be carried by one person and supports 10–12 personnel during emergencies. It is suitable for naval operations, coastal areas, and inland saline regions like Pangong Tso in Ladakh.

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Astronomers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences studied the W Ursae Majoris (W UMa) star. They used data from Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope and NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). W UMa is a low-mass contact binary and an eclipsing binary variable star. The two stars share a single outer atmosphere and orbit each other. W UMa stars show light curves with nearly equal minima and continuous brightness variation. Studying W UMa helps determine stellar masses, radii, and temperatures, aiding understanding of stellar evolution.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch PSLV-C62 from Sriharikota as India’s first space mission of 2026. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C62 is a multi-payload mission carrying one main and 18 secondary satellites. The primary payload is Earth Observation Satellite-N1 (EOS-N1), codenamed Anvesha, developed mainly for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite that observes Earth in hundreds of wavelengths for precise identification. It supports national security, border surveillance, and strategic monitoring.

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India’s largest oilseed crop, mustard, is under threat from the parasitic weed Orobanche aegyptiaca in Rajasthan and Haryana. Orobanche aegyptiaca, locally called Margoja, is a root-parasitic flowering weed that extracts water, carbon, and nutrients from crops, causing severe yield loss. It is native to the Mediterranean–West Asian region and has spread to South Asia, North Africa, and parts of Europe. The weed thrives in north-western India and its seeds remain viable in soil for up to 20 years. It spreads via wind, irrigation, farm tools, and contaminated soil.

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Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare hereditary brain disorder where specific neurons break down, leading to emotional problems, loss of thinking ability, and uncontrolled movements. Neuron damage occurs mainly in the basal ganglia (controls movement) and the cerebral cortex (controls thinking, memory, and decision‑making). Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT (Huntingtin) gene, which produces the huntingtin protein essential for neuron function. Recent research is providing fresh hope by advancing understanding of the disease mechanisms and potential treatments, offering optimism for future therapies.