Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the first-of-its-kind Swastik Lotus Garden was inaugurated at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, during the CSIR Startup Conclave. The garden features 60 lotus varieties from across the world and 50 species of water lilies. Conservation is ensured through advanced genetic methods, light regulation, and scientific treatments. CSIR technologies were transferred to private companies for public access, including perfumes Frotus-Rudra, Frotus-Kumbh, air-freshener Frotus Fresh, green firecrackers, aromatherapy oil Relaxomap, and portable water analysis kits. The initiative strengthens scientific innovation, conservation, and entrepreneurship at grassroots and national levels.

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Scientists at the University of Tasmania, Australia, developed a portable ion chromatograph called Aquamonitrix to perform ion separation in the field. The device was tested by undergraduate students who analysed soil pore water for harmful nitrate and nitrite ions immediately after collection. Results were comparable to expensive lab-based chromatographs, proving accuracy with lower cost and time. Aquamonitrix uses sodium chloride solution and a UV absorbance detector, making it simple, eco-friendly, and effective. The portable device costs about $10,000 versus $100,000 for conventional lab instruments. It provides hands-on field experience for students, linking theory with real-world environmental analysis.

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Agnikul Cosmos, a spacetech startup, commissioned India’s first private large-format additive manufacturing facility for aerospace and rocket systems. The facility was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) Research Park in Chennai. It combines design, simulation, 3D printing, post-processing, and testing under one roof to speed up development and cut costs. For the first time in India, aerospace parts up to 1 metre in height can be 3D-printed.

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On Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR’s) Foundation Day, 26th September 2025, the SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) system facility was inaugurated at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi. The facility was designed and developed by CSIR–Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal. The SODAR system will provide additional atmospheric data for improved weather forecasting and research.

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In Punjab, incessant rainfall and floods stopped farmers from spraying anti-fungal medicines. This has led to the emergence of false smut disease, locally called haldi rog, in paddy crops. False smut is a major fungal disease of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. The fungus attacks during the flowering stage, but symptoms appear after panicle emergence. Infected grains show black fungal growth, later covered with yellow fungal mass. It reduces seed germination and significantly lowers yield depending on infection level.

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Hyderabad recently became home to India’s first-ever Semiconductor Innovation Museum, launched by T-Chip (Technology Chip Innovation Programme). The museum aims to showcase cutting-edge research and technological advancements in chipmaking. It positions Hyderabad as a hub for semiconductor innovation. The museum will feature exhibits on AI chips, robotics, reusable rocket engines, next-generation EV and display systems. It includes a 30-day Innovation Residency Model to connect startups, research institutions, and global innovators with investors and academia. The initiative strengthens India’s semiconductor ecosystem and fosters collaboration between innovators, investors, and academia.

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In a historic milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled NexCAR19, India’s first indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy, at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 in Delhi. It is developed by ImmunoACT, an IIT Bombay spin-off. It is supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). NexCAR19 is the world’s first humanised CAR-T therapy, truly “Made in India, for the world.” CAR-T Cell Therapy is an immunotherapy that reprograms a patient’s immune cells to fight blood cancers like Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

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Scientists in Thailand have discovered a new spider species named Damarchus inazuma that is half male and half female. It was found by researchers from Chulalongkorn University in a forest near Nong Rong, Thailand. The spider’s body is perfectly split — left side female with larger fangs and orange colour, and right side male with smaller size and greyish tone. This condition is called gynandromorphism, where an organism has both male and female tissues and traits.

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Recently, IIT Bombay developed India’s first Quantum Diamond Microscope under the National Quantum Mission. The microscope uses Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centres in diamond to image magnetic fields at nanoscale resolution at room temperature. It enables advanced research in neuroscience, materials science, and non-destructive semiconductor testing. This innovation marks India’s first patent in quantum sensing technology. The development strengthens India’s national capability in frontier quantum instrumentation and promotes technological self-reliance in advanced scientific research.

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On November 17, 2025, Karnataka’s Department of Electronics, IT & BT, with KEONICS, launched KEO, a compact, affordable and AI-ready personal computer designed entirely in Karnataka. KEO stands for Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source, built on an open-source RISC-V processor with a Linux-based OS. It features an on-device AI core that works without internet and includes BUDDH, an AI agent trained on the Karnataka DSERT syllabus to help students in low-connectivity areas. KEO will be deployed across schools, universities, businesses, homes and government offices, supporting locally adaptable, home-grown computing.