Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) marked its 5th Foundation Day, highlighting science communication and policy research. On this occasion, the SVASTIK portal (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge) was launched. SVASTIK is a national initiative to communicate India’s scientifically validated traditional knowledge to society. It provides content in English, 19 Indian languages, and 5 foreign languages, ensuring wide outreach. The portal brings all SVASTIK content to a single digital platform, improving accessibility and engagement. It strengthens public awareness, policy relevance, and global visibility of India’s traditional knowledge systems.

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Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare hereditary brain disorder where specific neurons break down, leading to emotional problems, loss of thinking ability, and uncontrolled movements. Neuron damage occurs mainly in the basal ganglia (controls movement) and the cerebral cortex (controls thinking, memory, and decision‑making). Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT (Huntingtin) gene, which produces the huntingtin protein essential for neuron function. Recent research is providing fresh hope by advancing understanding of the disease mechanisms and potential treatments, offering optimism for future therapies.

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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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Recently, lunar regolith brought by China’s Chang’e-6 mission revealed that the Moon formed from the remains of an ancient collision with Earth. Chang’e-6 is China’s first human sampling and return mission from the Moon’s far side, part of the Chang’e lunar exploration program. It was launched on 3 May 2024 via Long March-5 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Center, Hainan. The mission includes an orbiter, returner, lander, and ascender. The lander used sensors (microwave, laser, optical) and collected samples via drilling and a robotic arm. It is China’s second successful mission to the Moon’s far side after Chang’e-4 in 2019.

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Recently, a new microscopic crustacean named Indiaphonte bijoyi was discovered in the Kavaratti lagoon of the Lakshadweep islands. It is a tiny crustacean belonging to the family Laophontidae under the Copepoda class. The species lives within sediments of aquatic environments, making it a sediment-dwelling organism. It has a semi-cylindrical and slightly flattened body, broader at the centre and narrowing towards the rear end. It is classified as meiofauna, meaning very small invertebrate animals measuring less than one millimetre in size.

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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.

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Japan officially ended the Akatsuki mission after losing contact with the spacecraft for over a year. Akatsuki, also called PLANET-C or Venus Climate Orbiter (VCO), was operated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It was the only active spacecraft orbiting Venus, studying volcanism and atmospheric dynamics, especially super-rotation.

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A 19-year-old college girl in Tamil Nadu died after consuming borax for weight loss. Borax is also called sodium tetraborate decahydrate, a white powdery mineral. It is composed of boron, sodium, and oxygen. It is used in glass and pottery glazes, metallurgy, welding flux, fertilizer additive, soap, disinfectant, mouthwash, and water softener. It naturally occurs in evaporite deposits from seasonal lake evaporation and can be synthetically produced.

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Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) launched Pragya-AIX, its Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation Exchange, marking a major digital transformation. Pragya-AIX integrates over 26 intelligent applications into a unified digital platform for daily operations across ONGC’s workcentres. The platform centralizes AI for seismic analytics, production optimisation, and smart field monitoring. Pragya-AIX converts raw data into strategic decisions, enhancing safety, process efficiency, and cost savings across the hydrocarbon value chain.

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Indian scientists from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bengaluru under Department of Science and Technology (DST) developed a solar-powered energy storage device that captures and stores energy in a single unit. The device is known as a photo-rechargeable supercapacitor. Unlike conventional systems, it combines energy harvesting and storage, reducing cost, energy loss, system complexity, and footprint. It enables portable, wearable, off-grid applications, reduces reliance on fossil fuels and conventional batteries, and works in remote areas.