Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, an observational study on cellulitis was published in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. Cellulitis is a common skin infection caused mainly by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria. It usually affects the legs, feet, and toes but can also involve face, arms, hands, and fingers. The infection affects tissues beneath the skin. Risk factors include skin wounds or a weakened immune system, which allow bacteria to enter easily. Cellulitis is generally not contagious, except rarely through open-wound contact with an infected person.

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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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India inaugurated the world’s second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) and the world’s fifth National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration at CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi. NESL will provide India-specific calibration and certification of air pollution monitoring systems, supporting regulatory bodies, industries, and startups, and improving policy enforcement under programmes like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

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Odisha plans to launch India’s first state-wide Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) registry by 31 March, marking a national first. The registry will help the government assess CKD prevalence and design targeted action plans and health programmes. A state task force and a technical working group with experts from health institutes, research bodies, and departments have been formed. All health facilities, from Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to medical colleges, will report Chronic Kidney Disease cases. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is developing the registry software.

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Recently, phytoplasma-induced root wilt disease has severely damaged traditional coconut-growing areas in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is caused by phytoplasma bacteria and is one of the most devastating coconut palm diseases. It was first identified over 150 years ago in Erattupetta, Kerala, it is classified as a non-fatal disease. The disease does not kill palms but drastically reduces their productivity. It spreads through insect vectors, wind movement, and continuous coconut plantations. Spread is faster in sandy, sandy loam, and alluvial soils and is worsened by erratic temperatures and whitefly pests.

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A 19-year-old college girl in Tamil Nadu died after consuming borax for weight loss. Borax is also called sodium tetraborate decahydrate, a white powdery mineral. It is composed of boron, sodium, and oxygen. It is used in glass and pottery glazes, metallurgy, welding flux, fertilizer additive, soap, disinfectant, mouthwash, and water softener. It naturally occurs in evaporite deposits from seasonal lake evaporation and can be synthetically produced.

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Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a proposed multilingual Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered platform for farmers, announced in Union Budget 2026-27 by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. It will integrate AgriStack portals and ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) agricultural practices with AI systems. The platform aims to enhance farm productivity and reduce risks for farmers by providing customised, real-time advisory support to improve decision-making based on local conditions.

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Odisha government partnered with deep-tech startup BonV Aero to create a National Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Test and Innovation Corridor. The corridor will be set up at Rangeilunda in Ganjam district. It will be India’s first commercial airport repurposed as a real-world drone testing facility. The agreement was signed at the Wings India 2026 summit in Hyderabad. BonV Aero will lead indigenous research, development, and testing of unmanned aviation systems. The corridor will allow live UAV trials in low-altitude airspace up to 1,000 metres.

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The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the beta version of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the eSankhyiki portal. Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a technology that allows users to directly connect datasets with their own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and applications. It provides a standard method to make official data accessible to Large Language Models (LLMs).

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Ministry of Science and Technology launched the BIRAC-Research, Development and Innovation Fund in New Delhi for biotechnology and related sectors. The fund aims to promote deep tech innovations and indigenous manufacturing with national impact. India’s bioeconomy has grown significantly over the past decade, from $8 billion in 2014. The launch reflects a government approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, positioning India for a global role in biotechnology. The number of biotechnology startups in India has increased to nearly 11,000 today.