Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, phytoplasma-induced root wilt disease has severely damaged traditional coconut-growing areas in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is caused by phytoplasma bacteria and is one of the most devastating coconut palm diseases. It was first identified over 150 years ago in Erattupetta, Kerala, it is classified as a non-fatal disease. The disease does not kill palms but drastically reduces their productivity. It spreads through insect vectors, wind movement, and continuous coconut plantations. Spread is faster in sandy, sandy loam, and alluvial soils and is worsened by erratic temperatures and whitefly pests.

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Recently, the Chips to Start-up Programme has shown measurable success in skill building, infrastructure access, and practical chip design support. It is an umbrella capacity-building initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in 2022. The programme has a total outlay of ₹250 crore for five years. It aims to develop 85,000 industry-ready professionals and incubate 25 start-ups with 10 technology transfers. It provides access to Shared Modular Technology laboratories, advanced Electronic Design Automation tools, and semiconductor foundries.

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A rare blood-red aurora was recorded at the Indian Astronomical Observatory using an all-sky camera in Hanle, Ladakh. Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located at about 4,500 metres altitude in the Changthang region of Ladakh. It lies within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and has Bortle-1 category skies, the darkest level. It was notified in December 2022 and is India’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. The reserve is managed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics under the Department of Science and Technology. It aims to reduce light pollution and promote astro-tourism for local livelihoods.

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India launched iLive Connect, the world’s first doctor-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) healthcare ecosystem for continuous home-based clinical monitoring. It bridges gaps in chronic disease care and post-hospital recovery, especially for elderly and remote-area patients. The system uses medical-grade wearable biosensors, a chest patch and wristband, to track ECG, heart rate, respiration, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), temperature, blood pressure trends, activity, sleep, and heart rate variability. Data is sent in real time to a 24×7 medical command centre staffed by specialist doctors.

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Ministry of Science and Technology announced the establishment of Bio-AI Mulankur hubs to strengthen integration of biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence. Aim is to create integrated closed-loop research platforms where Artificial Intelligence based predictions are tested and validated in laboratories within the same system. This will reduce gap between computational research and experimental results. Initiative is aligned with BioE3 Policy, which stands for Biotechnology for Environment, Economy and Employment. It aims to promote sustainable development, economic growth and job creation through biotechnology. Implementing agencies are Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council.

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Proba-3 recently made news after European Space Agency lost contact with one of its two spacecraft. It is European Space Agency’s first mission focused on precision formation flying, where two satellites operate in extremely accurate coordination. The mission aims to create an artificial solar eclipse to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere (corona). This helps scientists observe the faint solar corona, which is normally hidden by the Sun’s intense brightness. The mission includes two small satellites: a Coronagraph spacecraft and an Occulter spacecraft shaped like the solar disc.

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A new study found that Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) not only changed the motion of an asteroid but also slightly altered the orbit of the asteroid pair around the Sun. DART was launched in 2021 by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to test asteroid deflection technology. It was the first planetary defence mission to change an asteroid’s path using the kinetic impact method. The spacecraft targeted a binary asteroid system of Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. In 2022, the spacecraft intentionally crashed into Dimorphos to alter its orbit around Didymos. The impact successfully changed the asteroid’s motion, proving humans can potentially deflect hazardous near-Earth objects in space.

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Asteroid 2024 YR4 was recently confirmed by NASA to not collide with the Moon in 2032. It is an Apollo-type asteroid, meaning its orbit crosses Earth’s orbit but remains mostly outside it. It was discovered in 2024 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Chile. In its name, Y indicates discovery in the second half of December, while R4 shows it was the 117th asteroid identified in that period. It is a Near-Earth Object (NEO) with size about 174–220 feet (53–67 metres). It likely originated from the central Main Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.

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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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Researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health discovered that cholesterol present in the membrane around the cell nucleus plays a role in promoting the spread of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Melanoma originates in melanocytes, which are specialized cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin. This type of cancer typically develops on areas of the skin that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the arms, back, face, and legs, although it can occasionally appear inside the body, including in the nose or throat. Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, whether from sunlight or artificial sources like tanning lamps and beds, is the main cause of most melanomas, although other factors may also contribute.