Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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In July 2025, ISRO announced that the NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite has been mounted on the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) ahead of its launch. All systems of the rocket have been successfully checked. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ISRO to study Earth’s changing ecosystems. GSLV is developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits (GTOs). It can carry heavier payloads than the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

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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).

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Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. It is a parasitic disease spread by infected tsetse fly bites, endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It has two forms: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (92% cases, chronic, found in West and Central Africa) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (8% cases, acute, found in East and Southern Africa). Rural communities relying on farming, fishing, herding, or hunting face higher risk. WHO has validated the gambiense form’s elimination in Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Chad, Guinea, and now Kenya.

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Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona inaugurated a state-of-the-art space laboratory at Mechuka in Shi-Yomi district. The lab is named Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory in honour of his late father. It was set up at Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Muskaan Foundation. The lab will provide students hands-on experience in space science and technology. It aims to foster curiosity, innovation, and scientific thinking among youth.

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Two Indian aquanauts recently conducted deep-sea dives in the Atlantic Ocean under Samudrayaan Project. They collected over 100 kg of cobalt-rich polymetallic nodules from 1,173 meters depth in the Andaman Sea. Deep Ocean Mission was launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on 7 September 2021 with ₹4,077 crore for 5 years. The mission develops technologies for exploring and using deep ocean resources sustainably. It supports India’s Blue Economy with potential to push maritime economy beyond ₹100 billion. It aligns with United Nations Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030).

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Recently, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) launched its new Medical Application Portal. NABL is a non-profit autonomous organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. It functions under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The new portal aims to streamline medical testing and accreditation processes efficiently.

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NASA announced that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) discovered a new 29th satellite of Uranus, named S/2025 U1. The moon has an estimated diameter of 10 kilometres and orbits Uranus at a distance of about 56,000 kilometres. S/2025 U1 will receive an official name from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in the future. Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and the third-largest planet in the solar system. Uranus is an ice giant, composed mainly of hydrogen, helium, water, methane, and ammonia. Uranus now has 29 moons, with five major moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon.

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Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, are developing a nanotechnology-based tool for early detection of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a rapidly growing neurological disorder in India, often diagnosed after significant neurodegeneration. The team focused on α-synuclein, a protein that changes from harmless to toxic forms, damaging brain cells. They created gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), ultrasmall particles coated with amino acids to selectively bind normal or toxic protein forms. The tool enables early-stage detection, improving treatment, quality of life, and reducing healthcare costs.

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For decades, aspirin was the main drug to prevent heart attacks and strokes. A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress and published in The Lancet shows clopidogrel, a blood-thinning antiplatelet drug, may be more effective. Review of seven clinical trials with 29,000 coronary artery disease patients found clopidogrel 14% more effective than aspirin in lowering major cardiovascular risks. Importantly, there was no higher risk of serious bleeding compared to aspirin. Clopidogrel (a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor) works by blocking platelet receptors to stop dangerous blood clots. It is low-cost, widely available, and safe, making it a strong candidate to replace aspirin in treatment guidelines.

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A team of Indian and international researchers has discovered a new diatom species named Climaconeis heteropolaris in Udupi estuarine waters. It was found where the Sita and Swarna rivers meet before entering the Arabian Sea, Karnataka. Diatoms are photosynthetic, single-celled microscopic algae forming a key part of phytoplankton. They are found in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and oceans worldwide. Some float freely in water, while others attach to plants, rocks, or sediments as benthic diatoms. Diatoms produce oxygen, support aquatic life, and generate up to 50% of global atmospheric oxygen annually. They are vital in nutrient cycling of both marine and freshwater ecosystems.