Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Scientists at the Bose Institute, Kolkata have developed GlowCas9, a CRISPR protein that glows during gene editing. It is a bioluminescent Cas9, created by fusing Cas9 with a split nano-luciferase enzyme from deep-sea shrimp proteins. GlowCas9 is highly stable, retaining structure and activity even at higher temperatures. When Cas9 folds correctly, the luciferase pieces reconnect and produce light, enabling real-time, non-harmful tracking of gene editing in cells, tissues, and plant leaves. It improves the precision of Homology-Directed Repair (HDR), a key DNA repair process for genetic diseases like sickle cell anaemia and muscular dystrophy. GlowCas9 advances theratracking, the visual monitoring of molecular gene therapy in action.

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BharatNet is an ambitious Government of India project approved in 2011 to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. It aims to offer open and unrestricted broadband access to telecom operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, and content providers to enable services such as e-health, e-education, and e-governance in rural areas. Phase I is complete and Phase II is ongoing and aims to connect 1.5 lakh additional Gram Panchayats. Phase III is ongoing and focuses on future-proofing the network by integrating 5G technology.

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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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Scientists recently discovered a genetic process that could lead to new treatments for Candida auris (C. auris). Candida auris is a multi-drug-resistant fungal pathogen first identified in Japan in 2009. It can live on skin, inside the body (e.g., gut), or in the environment and cause invasive infections like bloodstream infections, meningitis, bone infections, wound infections, and urinary tract infections. Transmission mainly occurs in healthcare settings through contaminated surfaces or person-to-person contact. The fungus can cause asymptomatic colonization or enter the bloodstream/wounds causing severe infections.

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Recent re-analysis of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Cassini spacecraft data suggests that Saturn’s moon Titan may not have a subsurface ocean as earlier believed. Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system after Ganymede. It was discovered by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens. Titan has a radius of about 2,575 kilometres and is much wider than Earth’s Moon. It is the only moon with a dense atmosphere, mainly nitrogen with some methane. Titan is the only world besides Earth with rivers, lakes, and seas of liquid on its surface. It has an Earth-like methane cycle with rain, flow, and evaporation.

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The first Param Rudra supercomputer in Bihar was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna. The facility has been established under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) and was launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It is the first Param Rudra supercomputer set up in any institute or government office in Bihar. The supercomputer will enable students, faculty, and researchers to perform complex computing across multiple scientific fields.

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Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on Gujarat’s first Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad 96 km section. The section covers 17 stations with 23 towers, 20 Kavach huts, 192 km optical fibre cable and 2,872 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways. Kavach 4.0 prevents Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) and head-on or rear-end collisions. It enforces automatic speed control and Permanent Speed Restrictions. Kavach is certified to Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) and approved by Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)

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A new study suggests ulcerative colitis may be triggered when a normally hidden protective layer of immune cells beneath the gut lining becomes thinner. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the colon and rectum. It causes long-term inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an immune-mediated condition with cycles of flare-ups and remission.

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Recently, the government announced relaxation for deep-tech startups to get recognition under the Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program (IRDPP). It is a Research and Development (R&D) programme of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India. The programme supports research in Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Natural and Applied Sciences, Agricultural, Medical, and Social Sciences. Funding and recognition are provided by DSIR.

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India will demonstrate in-orbit satellite refuelling for the first time with OrbitAid’s AyulSAT launched on ISRO’s PSLV-C62. AyulSAT is a 25-kg dedicated tanker and target satellite developed by Chennai-based OrbitAid Aerospace, founded by Sakthikumar Ramachandran. It is designed to demonstrate fuel, power, and data transfer in orbit using a standardized docking and refuelling interface. The satellite will first perform internal refuelling to study fluid behaviour in microgravity. It uses OrbitAid’s Standard Interface for Docking and Refuelling Port (SIDRP) for future spacecraft-to-spacecraft refuelling.