41. LEAP-1 is the first commercial satellite mission of which Indian space-tech startup?
[A] Dhruva Space
[B] Agnikul
[C] Skyroot Aerospace
[D] Digantara
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dhruva Space]
Notes:
Indian space-tech startup Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial satellite mission named LEAP-1. LEAP-1 will carry payloads for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Earth observation. It uses the indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform, which was space-qualified on ISRO’s PSLV-C58 in January 2024 during the LEAP-TD mission. The mission is jointly developed by Dhruva Space, Akula Tech (Australia), and Esper Satellites (Australia).
42. Where was India’s first government-backed Drone Forensic Laboratory inaugurated?
[A] Lucknow
[B] New Delhi
[C] Jaipur
[D] Patna
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Lucknow]
Notes:
India’s first government-backed Drone Forensic Laboratory has been set up at Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS), Lucknow. It was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The lab is designed by Milind Raj, known as the “Drone Man of India,” who is now the forensic drone advisor to UPSIFS. The lab enables real-time tracking, decoding, and forensic examination of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). It can identify launch sites, flight paths, payloads, and hazardous materials like explosives.
43. What is “Pseudomonas aeruginosa” that was recently mentioned in news?
[A] Bacterium
[B] Newly discovered species of Fish
[C] Fungus
[D] Invasive weed
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bacterium]
Notes:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming rod bacterium commonly found in soil and water. It is the most common type of Pseudomonas causing human infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract, and post-surgery sites. Researchers from Germany found that P. aeruginosa shows bistable expression of the glpD gene, meaning activity varies among genetically identical cells. This variation affects its infection-causing ability, as shown in tests on moth larvae and mouse immune cells. Targeting glpD gene’s variable expression could help combat hospital-acquired P. aeruginosa infections. This discovery highlights new directions for infection control and antibiotic strategies.
44. Huntington’s disease, that was recently seen in news, primarily affects which part of the body?
[A] Lungs
[B] Brain
[C] Kidneys
[D] Heart
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brain]
Notes:
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is not yet included in the rare disease category under the National Policy for Rare Diseases despite demands from patients and caregivers in 2024. It is a genetic condition that affects brain cells, causing them to slowly lose function and die. It is inherited, with a 50% chance of passing from an affected parent to a child. It impacts brain regions controlling voluntary movement, memory, thinking, and decision-making, including the basal ganglia and cortex.
45. Which country has launched its advanced JUPITER space camera aboard the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) satellite?
[A] Australia
[B] Israel
[C] Iran
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Israel]
Notes:
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.
46. Which district in Gujarat has been identified as a Mars-analogue site due to the presence of jarosite deposits?
[A] Banaskantha
[B] Junagadh
[C] Kutch
[D] Bhavnagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kutch]
Notes:
Matanomadh, a remote village in Kutch district, Gujarat, may serve as a test bed for ISRO’s Mangalyaan-2 mission to Mars. Researchers from Space Applications Centre (SAC) Ahmedabad, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow dated jarosite mineral in Matanomadh to 55 million years (Paleocene period). Jarosite is a yellow, iron-rich sulphate mineral, similar to those found on Mars, indicating past water activity. The site allows field-analogue studies for Mars, including rover testing, drilling, geochemistry, and astrobiology research. The discovery can help decode Martian geology, past chemical interactions, and organic molecule trapping, aiding future Mars missions.
47. The Solar Orbiter mission is a joint mission conducted by which two space organizations?
[A] European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
[B] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
[C] China National Space Administration (CNSA) and European Space Agency (ESA)
[D] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]
Notes:
European Space Agency (ESA) Solar Orbiter, a joint project with NASA, was launched in 2020 to study the Sun closely. It became the first spacecraft to image the Sun’s poles. A new study in Astronomy and Astrophysics traced the origin of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE) emitted by the Sun. Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE) linked to solar flares arise from small surface explosions, while others are released gradually with Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), huge eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields. The Solar Orbiter flew through electron streams and studied the space environment between the Sun and spacecraft. Understanding SEE and CMEs is crucial for space weather prediction, protecting satellites, GPS, power grids, and astronauts. The mission aims to study the Sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle, corona heating, solar wind formation, and acceleration.
48. What kind of disease is “Sarcoidosis” that was recently seen in news?
[A] Autoimmune inflammatory disease
[B] Nutritional deficiency disorder
[C] Neurological disorder
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Autoimmune inflammatory disease]
Notes:
Recently, a study in Nature Reviews Disease Primers gave an in-depth analysis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease where immune cells form granulomas in organs, mainly lungs. Granulomas are most common in lungs and lymph nodes but can also affect eyes, skin, heart, and other organs. Exact cause is unknown but linked to genetic changes and triggers like bacteria, viruses, dust, or chemicals. Symptoms range from mild to severe, including cough, breathlessness, shin sores, eye pain, and redness. Some cases resolve on their own, while others become chronic and may lead to fibrosis with lung scarring. There is no cure, but treatment with medicines reduces immune overreaction and prevents organ damage.
49. Where was Asia’s first dedicated cancer centre for women, Apollo Athenaa, inaugurated?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Chennai
[C] Hyderabad
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [New Delhi]
Notes:
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL) launched Apollo Athenaa, Asia’s first dedicated cancer centre for women, at Defence Colony, New Delhi. The centre was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Dr. Prathap C Reddy and Preetha Reddy of Apollo Hospitals Group. GLOBOCAN 2022 data shows 54% of cancers in Indian women are breast and cervical, highlighting urgent need for specialised care. The centre provides services like preventive screenings, advanced diagnostics, surgical oncology, breast oncoplasty, fertility preservation, reconstructive care, onco-psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, and palliative care.
50. Which institutions recently created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome?
[A] California Institute of Technology and Harvard University
[B] Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of Oxford
[C] Harvard University and University of Cambridge
[D] Stanford University and the Arc Institute
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Stanford University and the Arc Institute]
Notes:
Researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome. The AI-designed virus can infect and kill bacteria, acting as a bacteriophage. Artificial Intelligence (AI) model named Evo was used, employing genome “language models” to design complete viral genomes. Evo was trained on about 2 million viral genomes to learn DNA patterns, gene order, and composition. Scientists guided Evo to mimic phiX174, a small bacteriophage with 11 genes and approximately 5,000 DNA letters. This achievement marks a significant advancement beyond AI-designed proteins or small multi-gene systems. It demonstrates AI’s potential to innovate in synthetic biology and genome engineering.