Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036 to support its lunar space programme and the joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station. The project is aimed at powering rovers, observatories, and infrastructure for a permanently functioning scientific lunar station, moving from one-time missions to long-term lunar exploration. The Moon, 384,400 km from Earth, stabilizes Earth’s axis and creates ocean tides, making it strategically important for scientific and exploration purposes.

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VoxelGrids, a Zoho-backed Indian start-up, has developed India’s first indigenous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, marking a major milestone for Made-in-India medical technology. The MRI scanner has been deployed at Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation near Nagpur, Maharashtra, after a 12-year development effort led by founder Arjun Arunachalam. It does not use liquid helium, making it around 40% cheaper to build and significantly reducing operating and power costs. VoxelGrids offers a pay-per-use model, helping smaller hospitals afford MRI services without high upfront costs.

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE),’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City became the first hospital worldwide to administer ITVISMA gene therapy. ITVISMA is a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), given on 28 December 2025. It replaces the defective Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. This enables production of survival motor neuron protein, targeting the root genetic cause. It is approved for patients aged two years and above, including adults. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disorder causing muscle weakness and life-threatening complications. The therapy may improve motor function and reduce long-term treatment dependence.

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Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on Gujarat’s first Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad 96 km section. The section covers 17 stations with 23 towers, 20 Kavach huts, 192 km optical fibre cable and 2,872 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways. Kavach 4.0 prevents Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) and head-on or rear-end collisions. It enforces automatic speed control and Permanent Speed Restrictions. Kavach is certified to Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) and approved by Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO)

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The Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurated India’s first commercial-scale tropical Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)–based Rainbow Trout Aquaculture Farm & Research Institute on 5th January 2026 in Hyderabad, Telangana. The facility, established by Smart Green Aquaculture Limited at Kandukur Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, demonstrates year-round farming of high-value cold-water species like Rainbow Trout in tropical climates using precision engineering and advanced water recirculation technologies. The project serves as a live training and demonstration platform, providing youth hands-on experience in advanced aquaculture systems, automation, and biosecurity, strengthening human capital in the fisheries sector.

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Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed a portable desalination device named Sea Water Desalination System (SWaDeS). It is designed to meet drinking water needs of soldiers in remote and field conditions. The system can be manually operated or engine-driven and was developed by Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur for Tri-command services. The manual version can be carried by one person and supports 10–12 personnel during emergencies. It is suitable for naval operations, coastal areas, and inland saline regions like Pangong Tso in Ladakh.

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Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research used supercomputers to create the first simulation proving the Mpemba effect. The Mpemba effect means hot water can freeze faster than cold water under certain conditions. The effect was first described by Aristotle in his book Meteorologica. It is named after Erasto Mpemba, a Tanzanian student who highlighted it in 1969. Heated water contains microbubbles that enhance convection and faster heat transfer. Warm water evaporates more, removing heat as evaporation is an endothermic process. Warm water is less dense, improving convection and cooling. Frost in cold water acts as an insulator and slows heat loss.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C62 (PSLV-C62) mission faced an anomaly at the end of the third stage (PS3), and a detailed technical investigation has been started. PSLV-C62 is a multi-payload mission carrying one primary satellite and 18 secondary payloads. It is ISRO’s first space launch of the year 2026, scheduled from Sriharikota spaceport. The primary payload is Earth Observation Satellite-N1 (EOS-N1), codenamed Anvesha. EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite developed mainly for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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Recently, the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative trained over 1.90 lakh individuals through more than 5,200 skill-based programmes. It is a flagship national programme of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It aims to bridge the gap between scientific research, industry needs, and employable skills. The initiative integrates skill development with science and technology using CSIR’s research infrastructure. It offers inclusive access to students, researchers, professionals, school dropouts, ITI diploma holders, farmers, and rural communities.

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Haven-1 is planned as the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit (LEO). It is a single-module station and a precursor to the larger multi-module Haven-2. It is being developed by American aerospace company Vast with support from NASA and private partners. It will host short-duration missions for microgravity research, in-space manufacturing, and orbital tourism.