Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation deployed the AI-powered G-SPIDER robot for safe, human-free canal cleaning in high-risk areas. The robot was commissioned at the Amayizhanchan Canal near Thampanoor Railway Station, a stretch with restricted vertical clearance, continuous water flow, and unsafe human entry points. G-SPIDER is developed by Genrobotic Innovations, based on Cable-Driven Parallel Robotics (CDPR) architecture with AI-enabled vision and sensor intelligence. It autonomously detects, assesses, and removes mixed and hazardous waste using a five-degrees-of-freedom robotic mechanism with a biomimetic claw-type grabber.

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The Centre for Development of Telematics, an autonomous telecom research and development body under the Department of Telecommunications, organised a Demo Day for 18 startups under the Samarth Incubation Programme (Cohort-II) at NBCC Convention Hall. The Samarth incubation programme, launched in March 2025, by Centre for Development of Telematics. It aims to support startups in the telecom and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors and strengthen India’s digital innovation ecosystem.

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United States-based Sentynl Therapeutics, part of Zydus Lifesciences, has partnered with South Korea’s PRG S&T to develop Progerinin, a drug for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes rapid aging in children. The disease is caused by a mutation in the LMNA (Lamin A) gene, which normally produces lamin A protein for maintaining cell structure. This mutation leads to the formation of an abnormal protein called progerin, which damages the cell nucleus. The damaged cells die early, resulting in premature aging of the body.

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Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati developed a new MXene-based material for hydrogen fuel production and seawater desalination. The material shows very low Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) overpotential of 12 mV, better than Platinum/Carbon (Pt/C) electrodes, indicating high efficiency. Hydrogen is a clean fuel producing only water, but current production depends on fossil fuels, so this method offers a sustainable alternative. The material also enables solar-powered desalination, addressing the shortage of safe drinking water. Scientists modified MXene into ultra-thin ribbon-like structures to increase surface area and improve charge transport.

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Indian Space Research Organisation conducts the YUva VIgyani KAryakram (YUVIKA) to promote scientific temper among school students. The YUVIKA (YUva VIgyani KAryakram) programme is an initiative of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The programme provides foundational knowledge in space technology, space science, and space applications, with special focus on students from rural areas. Its objective is to create awareness about emerging trends in science and encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

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The Pentagon’s Project Maven AI program was launched by the United States in 2017. The program was launched by the United States in 2017. It uses machine learning and computer vision to automatically detect objects, movements, and patterns, reducing the need for manual analysis. The programme helps in real-time identification and tracking of targets, improving the speed and accuracy of military operations.

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India’s first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, has successfully attained criticality. A Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) produces more fissile fuel than it consumes using fast neutrons. Criticality is the stage where a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is achieved. The 500 Megawatt Electric (MWe) PFBR is developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI). It uses Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide fuel and liquid sodium as coolant. It supports India’s three-stage nuclear programme, enabling Thorium-232 to Uranium-233 conversion for long-term energy security.

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Recently, Rocklink India Pvt. Ltd. set up an integrated recycling facility in Sikandrabad UPSIDC Industrial Area, Uttar Pradesh. The plant focuses on recycling lithium-ion batteries, rare earth magnets, and metal-bearing industrial waste. It has a capacity of 10,000 tonnes/year for lithium-ion batteries and 60 tonnes/month for rare-earth magnets. A rare-earth chloride processing unit (1,500 tonnes/year) is planned for 2026. The initiative supports domestic recovery of critical minerals and promotes a circular economy.

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China has announced the discovery of a new lunar mineral named Cerium-Magnesium Changesite, adding to knowledge of extraterrestrial materials and lunar geology. The mineral was identified in a lunar meteorite called Pakepake 005, the first such meteorite found in China. This meteorite is a small spherical rock weighing about 44 grams with a dark molten outer layer. The mineral itself is colourless, transparent, and brittle, yet scientifically significant. It shows fluorescent properties, meaning it can emit light under certain conditions. This fluorescence has potential applications in advanced technologies like next-generation LED materials.

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Psyche mission captured a crescent image of Mars from nearly 5 million kilometres away. It was launched on 13 October 2023 to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche and understand the formation of planetary cores. The spacecraft is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029 and will spend around two years orbiting and studying its surface and composition. The Psyche spacecraft is about the size of a small van and uses solar-electric propulsion powered by xenon gas.