Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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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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Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru have developed a novel, non-invasive technique to measure the local density of cold atoms in real time without disturbing their quantum state. The method, called Raman Driven Spin Noise Spectroscopy (RDSNS), overcomes limitations of conventional atom-imaging methods used in cold atom experiments. Cold atoms, cooled near absolute zero, are crucial for quantum computing, quantum sensing, and precision measurement, but traditional detection methods like absorption and fluorescence imaging are often destructive or slow.

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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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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C62 (PSLV-C62) mission faced an anomaly at the end of the third stage (PS3), and a detailed technical investigation has been started. PSLV-C62 is a multi-payload mission carrying one primary satellite and 18 secondary payloads. It is ISRO’s first space launch of the year 2026, scheduled from Sriharikota spaceport. The primary payload is Earth Observation Satellite-N1 (EOS-N1), codenamed Anvesha. EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite developed mainly for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR–NPL) established the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL). It is located at the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. It was set up to test and recalibrate air pollution monitoring instruments and environmental sensors under Indian conditions. It ensures reliable and credible data for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). It allows manufacturers, industries, and municipal bodies to validate instrument performance within India. It supports industrial emission audits, smart city monitoring networks, and provides reference gases and standard protocols.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) Bio-Containment Facility at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar. It will be built at a cost of ₹362 crore over 11,000 square metres and will be India’s second BSL-4 lab after the National Institute of Virology, Pune. It is the first BSL-4 laboratory established by a state government. The facility will enable secure research on highly infectious and deadly viruses, reducing dependence on foreign labs. It will focus on zoonotic diseases and aligns with India’s One Health Mission. The project strengthens bio-safety, health security, and self-reliance, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of science-led development.

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Recently, the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative trained over 1.90 lakh individuals through more than 5,200 skill-based programmes. It is a flagship national programme of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It aims to bridge the gap between scientific research, industry needs, and employable skills. The initiative integrates skill development with science and technology using CSIR’s research infrastructure. It offers inclusive access to students, researchers, professionals, school dropouts, ITI diploma holders, farmers, and rural communities.

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Recently, the Chips to Start-up Programme has shown measurable success in skill building, infrastructure access, and practical chip design support. It is an umbrella capacity-building initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in 2022. The programme has a total outlay of ₹250 crore for five years. It aims to develop 85,000 industry-ready professionals and incubate 25 start-ups with 10 technology transfers. It provides access to Shared Modular Technology laboratories, advanced Electronic Design Automation tools, and semiconductor foundries.

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A 29-year-old man in Karnataka died after contracting Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also called monkey fever. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease mostly found in southern India, first reported in 1957 from Kyasanur Forest, Karnataka. The virus belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, part of the tick-borne encephalitis complex. It is called monkey fever due to its association with monkey deaths.

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A rare blood-red aurora was recorded at the Indian Astronomical Observatory using an all-sky camera in Hanle, Ladakh. Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located at about 4,500 metres altitude in the Changthang region of Ladakh. It lies within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and has Bortle-1 category skies, the darkest level. It was notified in December 2022 and is India’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. The reserve is managed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics under the Department of Science and Technology. It aims to reduce light pollution and promote astro-tourism for local livelihoods.