Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A new monoclonal antibody treatment shows promise for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a long-term condition causing inflammation, scarring, and narrowing of bile ducts, leading to liver damage. Bile ducts carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine for digestion. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) can cause liver failure and increase risk of cancers of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and colon.

Notes:
Recent re-analysis of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Cassini spacecraft data suggests that Saturn’s moon Titan may not have a subsurface ocean as earlier believed. Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system after Ganymede. It was discovered by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens. Titan has a radius of about 2,575 kilometres and is much wider than Earth’s Moon. It is the only moon with a dense atmosphere, mainly nitrogen with some methane. Titan is the only world besides Earth with rivers, lakes, and seas of liquid on its surface. It has an Earth-like methane cycle with rain, flow, and evaporation.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
A new study suggests ulcerative colitis may be triggered when a normally hidden protective layer of immune cells beneath the gut lining becomes thinner. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the colon and rectum. It causes long-term inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an immune-mediated condition with cycles of flare-ups and remission.

Notes:
Recently, the government announced relaxation for deep-tech startups to get recognition under the Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program (IRDPP). It is a Research and Development (R&D) programme of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India. The programme supports research in Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Natural and Applied Sciences, Agricultural, Medical, and Social Sciences. Funding and recognition are provided by DSIR.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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).

Notes:
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR–NPL) established the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL). It is located at the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. It was set up to test and recalibrate air pollution monitoring instruments and environmental sensors under Indian conditions. It ensures reliable and credible data for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). It allows manufacturers, industries, and municipal bodies to validate instrument performance within India. It supports industrial emission audits, smart city monitoring networks, and provides reference gases and standard protocols.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) Bio-Containment Facility at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar. It will be built at a cost of ₹362 crore over 11,000 square metres and will be India’s second BSL-4 lab after the National Institute of Virology, Pune. It is the first BSL-4 laboratory established by a state government. The facility will enable secure research on highly infectious and deadly viruses, reducing dependence on foreign labs. It will focus on zoonotic diseases and aligns with India’s One Health Mission. The project strengthens bio-safety, health security, and self-reliance, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of science-led development.

Notes:
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.