Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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In November 2025, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first indigenous high-precision compact diode laser at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2025 (ESTIC 2025) held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The laser enables quantum-encrypted communication using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), strengthening cybersecurity for financial and banking transactions. It is developed by Prenishq Pvt. Ltd., a startup supported by the National Quantum Mission (NQM), along with contributions from IIT-Delhi. The system offers high beam quality, strong stability, long-term reliability, and easy integration with lab and industrial setups.

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The Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme is becoming popular among young startups and innovators. It works under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations which is NIDHI. It encourages graduate students to choose entrepreneurship as a career. It provides financial and non-financial support in the form of a fellowship. It offers startup infrastructure, mentoring, technical guidance, and industry support. It is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology with NCL Venture Centre.

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Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Madras developed India’s first Indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) for ports. The system was built by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) as per guidelines of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoSPW), Government of India. It gives India full control over source code, data, and vessel movement information, ensuring high maritime security. The VTMS is cost-effective, secure, scalable, and easy to maintain.

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The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) launched the steel-cutting ceremony for India’s first all-electric green tug for Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) under the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP). Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), launched by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), aims to shift India’s harbour tugs from diesel to green propulsion. A total of 50 green tugs will be inducted by 2030, with 16 tugs in Phase-1 (2024–2027). National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) is the nodal agency. Tugs use Green Hybrid Propulsion and will later adopt methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen as non-fossil fuels.

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Niger became the first country in the African Region to eliminate onchocerciasis, also called river blindness. Niger is the fifth country worldwide to stop transmission of Onchocerca volvulus parasite. Other successful countries are Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico in the Americas. World Health Organisation (WHO) praised Niger’s strong leadership and public health efforts. Onchocerciasis is the second leading infectious cause of blindness after trachoma. It spreads through bites of infected black flies found near rivers. It mainly affects rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen, and some parts of Latin America.

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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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India launched its first hydrogen-powered water taxi service in Varanasi on December 10, 2025. The service was inaugurated by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, marking a major advancement in India’s clean transport initiatives. The water taxi has been built by Cochin Shipyard, integrating modern engineering with sustainability. It operates on a hybrid electric–hydrogen propulsion system, ensuring zero emissions, low noise levels and high environmental safety. The vessel is equipped with five hydrogen cylinders and 3 kW solar panels, which help meet auxiliary power needs.

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Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has hosted ATMAN 3.0, an eight-week Health Technology (HealthTech) accelerator programme. The programme is conducted by the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at IIT Bombay. ATMAN 3.0 is supported by the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It aims to transform early-stage HealthTech startups into investment-ready ventures. Thirteen startups were selected from 173 applicants after a competitive pitching process. Each selected startup can receive seed funding support of one crore rupees or more. The programme will conclude with a Demo Day on 9 January 2026 at Novotel, Mumbai International Airport.

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Michaela Benthaus, a German engineer, became the first wheelchair user to travel to space. German engineer Michaela Benthaus became the first person with paraplegia to travel to space. The suborbital mission was conducted by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space tourism company. This was the company’s 16th crewed flight, using the New Shepard NS-37 rocket.

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IIT Delhi researchers developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system called AILA (Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant). AILA works on an AI Agentic Framework and can perform real scientific experiments like a human scientist. It has a simple chat interface where instructions in English are converted into code to execute experiments. The system has been demonstrated on an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), a key instrument in material research. AILA can control the AFM, make real-time decisions during experiments, and analyse results independently. The technology can save time, reduce manpower requirements, and transform India’s scientific research ecosystem.