Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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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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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.

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The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has developed a new turmeric variety called IISR Surya for the masala industry. IISR Surya has a light-coloured rhizome suited for modern turmeric powder production. It was developed after ten years of focused research by IISR scientists through clonal selection from their turmeric germplasm conservatory. The variety offers a 20% to 30% higher yield than existing light-coloured types and can yield up to 41 tonnes per hectare. It contains 2% to 3% curcumin, matching other light-coloured varieties. IISR Surya is recommended for cultivation in Kerala, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. It aims to help farmers, reduce market shortages, and support both domestic and export demand.

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Scientists from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed lotus leaf-like solar evaporators called Dual-Sided Laser-Induced Graphene (DSLIG) for saltwater treatment. The material is made using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyether sulfone (PES), with graphene engraved using laser. DSLIG is superhydrophobic, meaning it repels water like lotus leaves, helping prevent salt from sticking on its surface. It uses both solar heating and electricity-based Joule heating, making it work even on cloudy days. It improves desalination by reducing heat loss and maintaining efficiency. It also works well with highly salty water and has low carbon footprint and toxicity.

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Aryabhata, launched on April 19, 1975, was India’s first indigenously-built satellite, named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata. The satellite was launched with Soviet assistance from Kapustin Yar. Aryabhata made India one of the 11 countries capable of sending satellites into orbit. It was designed for solar physics and X-ray astronomy experiments but faced a power failure after five days. Despite this, Aryabhata transmitted data for several more days and remained in orbit for nearly 17 years. The launch of Aryabhata laid the foundation for India’s growing space program, marking 50 years of India’s space achievements in 2025.

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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.

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Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (BRIC-inStem), Bengaluru has successfully conducted India’s first-in-human gene therapy trial for Haemophilia in collaboration with CMC Vellore. Gene therapy is a biomedical technique that modifies or replaces faulty genes to treat or prevent diseases. The aim is to introduce a functional gene to replace a mutated or disease-causing gene. Haemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder due to mutations in genes on the X chromosome, affecting 1 in 10,000 people, especially males. BRIC-inStem is part of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC). It integrates 14 autonomous research institutions across India under one national umbrella.

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India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed two such varieties named DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice. These rice varieties were developed using genome editing technology based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR Associated Protein (CRISPR-Cas). This technology allows precise changes in the genetic material without adding any foreign DNA. Genome editing targeted the Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) and SDN2 types of genes, which are approved under India’s biosafety rules. The development was supported by the National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF), which funds strategic agricultural research.

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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.