Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development launched the high-capacity SAKSHAM-3000 to boost self-reliance and global competitiveness. SAKSHAM-3000 is a compact 25.6 Terabits per second (Tbps) switch-router developed by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). It is built for modern data centres, large enterprises, telecom operators, and hyperscale data centres. It has ultra-low latency, wire-speed processing, and uses the modular C-DOT Router Operating System (CROS).

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Recently, the Kerala Health Minister confirmed 425 people are on the Nipah virus contact list across the state. Nipah Virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus spreading from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or directly from person to person. Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family are its natural hosts. NiV infection can be without symptoms, mild, or cause serious breathing illness and deadly brain swelling.

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Recently, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) announced it is repositioning itself to lead the next wave of digital transformation across the country. STPI was established in 1991 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It promotes software exports and implements the Software Technology Park (STP) and Electronics Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) schemes to support the IT/ITES sector. STPI facilitates software development, export procedures, and ensures compliance with customs and foreign exchange regulations.

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Recently, on July 1, scientists using the ATLAS telescope in Chile reported the discovery of an interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS. It has been tracked since June 14, 2025 and is believed to be the oldest comet ever observed, possibly over 3 billion years old, predating the solar system. It is classified as an interstellar comet due to its hyperbolic orbit and high speed of 57–68 km/s relative to the Sun. The comet comes from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, suggesting an origin in the Milky Way’s thick disk.

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Recently, Kerala’s health department issued an alert in Kozhikode after three cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) were reported. Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, also called the “brain-eating amoeba.” This amoeba lives in warm freshwater, soil, swimming pools, hot tubs, and infects through the nose. It mainly affects young, active people and has a mortality rate above 95%. Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) progresses rapidly and is often fatal within days, while Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) progresses slowly.

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Israeli defense technology firm Elbit Systems recently launched its advanced JUPITER space camera aboard the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) satellite. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. JUPITER supports military operations, environmental monitoring, scientific research, and wide-span observation missions. It features a large aperture, lightweight design, high-resolution panchromatic channel for black-and-white imaging, and a Near Infrared (NIR) channel for vegetation, water, and material analysis. The camera can capture continuous long image strips covering large areas efficiently.

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India’s largest Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery manufacturing plant was inaugurated in Haryana on 5 September 2025. When fully operational, it will produce 20 crore battery packs annually, meeting nearly 40% of India’s 50 crore pack requirement. The plant was set up under the Centre’s Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) scheme. Li-ion batteries are rechargeable, with lithium ions moving between graphite (negative electrode) and lithium metal oxides (positive electrode) through a non-aqueous electrolyte. They offer high energy density (75-200 Wh/kg), are lightweight, use fewer toxic metals, and provide good cycle stability and efficiency. They have low self-discharge and no memory effect, ensuring reliable performance.

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Turakapalem village in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, has seen 29 deaths due to Melioidosis. It is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei found in soil and water. The government has declared a public health emergency in the area. The disease is seasonal, with 75–85% of cases during the rainy season. It has a high case fatality rate (CFR) of 16% to 50% in endemic regions. Endemic areas include Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Currently, no vaccine is available, but early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

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In September 2025, Europe’s first exascale supercomputer, JUPITER, was launched in Germany. JUPITER is the first European system to achieve the exascale threshold, performing over one quintillion operations per second. It is currently Europe’s most powerful supercomputer. JUPITER runs entirely on renewable energy, marking a milestone in sustainable high-performance computing. JUPITER will support cutting-edge research in areas like climate modeling, weather forecasting, and the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions.

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In Punjab, incessant rainfall and floods stopped farmers from spraying anti-fungal medicines. This has led to the emergence of false smut disease, locally called haldi rog, in paddy crops. False smut is a major fungal disease of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. The fungus attacks during the flowering stage, but symptoms appear after panicle emergence. Infected grains show black fungal growth, later covered with yellow fungal mass. It reduces seed germination and significantly lowers yield depending on infection level.