Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers discovered a new marine worm species named Paraleocrates indica in the muddy banks of the Champa Estuary in the Bay of Bengal. It is the first record of this rare genus from Indian waters and only the third species worldwide in this genus. The worm belongs to the Hesionidae family, known for colourful bristle worms that often live symbiotically with other marine organisms like starfish. It appears reddish, measures 14–35 millimetres, and has a unique eye structure with front eyes five times larger than the back ones.

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A new study shows that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), widely used in India to detect type-2 diabetes, may not always show the true blood glucose level. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a blood test that tells the average blood sugar level of the last two to three months. The test measures the percentage of red blood cells (RBCs) whose hemoglobin is coated with glucose. This works because glucose sticks to hemoglobin for the full life of RBCs, which is about three months. A high HbA1c value means long-term high blood sugar, indicating diabetes. Diabetes can lead to heart, kidney, and nerve diseases.

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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 launched the BIRAC-Research, Development and Innovation Fund in New Delhi for biotechnology and related sectors. The fund aims to promote deep tech innovations and indigenous manufacturing with national impact. India’s bioeconomy has grown significantly over the past decade, from $8 billion in 2014. The launch reflects a government approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, positioning India for a global role in biotechnology. The number of biotechnology startups in India has increased to nearly 11,000 today.

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A new meat-eating dinosaur named Spinosaurus mirabilis was discovered in the Sahara Desert. Its fossils were found in Jengueb area of Niger in the central Sahara. It lived about 95 million years ago in a forested inland region with rivers. It is the second known species of Spinosaurus. The first species, Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, was discovered in 1915 in Egypt.

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation conducted a qualification-level load test of the Gaganyaan drogue parachute at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh. This marks a major milestone in India’s human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. The drogue parachute is a key part of the Crew Module deceleration system. It deploys during atmospheric re-entry to stabilize the module and reduce speed before the main parachutes open. It was jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

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Class Eleven students of Ariyakudi Government Higher Secondary School in Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu launched a 600 gram mini satellite named Vikko Sat-1. Vikko Sat-1 is designed to detect fungal spores in the stratosphere using five specialised sensors. Fungal spores affect agricultural health and environmental cycles, and can damage crops if they descend. The mini satellite was sent into the stratosphere using a helium balloon to collect real-time data beyond ground observation. Students developed it in six months with adhesive surfaces to capture air samples. It reached 22 kilometre height in the stratosphere, the second atmospheric layer. Sensors studied spore behaviour in thin air and low temperature.

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Astronomers from Indian Institute of Astrophysics discovered the origin of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) shock for the first time. The CME-driven shock was recorded forming at a distance of about 1,30,000 km above the solar surface. This is the first confirmed detection of the “birth stage” of CME shocks, resolving a long-standing debate about their origin. Instruments used include the Gauribidanur Radio Telescope and Aditya-L1’s Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload. Detecting shocks at onset helps predict solar storms more accurately and protects satellites, GPS systems, and power grids from damage.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first Semiconductor Assembly, Test and Packaging (ATMP) facility at Sanand, Gujarat. The plant is set up by Micron Technology India with an investment of over ₹22,500 crore. It marks the start of commercial production and shipment of made-in-India semiconductor memory modules. The project is approved under the India Semiconductor Mission.

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Researchers detected a lightning-like “whistler” radio signal in the Martian ionosphere, first evidence of such electromagnetic activity on Mars. Detection was made using data from Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission. The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission was launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is the first spacecraft dedicated to studying the Martian upper atmosphere to understand how the planet lost its atmosphere and water over time.