41. What is the name of the space mission piloted by India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla?
[A] Axiom-4 mission
[B] Artemis-3
[C] Gaganyaan-1
[D] Dragonfly
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Axiom-4 mission]
Notes:
Recently, India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history by piloting the Axiom-4 mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He became the first Indian in 41 years to cross the Kármán line after Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight in 1984. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla and called him the first Indian en route to the International Space Station (ISS). This marks a major milestone for India in human spaceflight and international space collaboration.
42. What is the name of the programme under which the Union government recently fast-tracked the launch of 52 dedicated surveillance satellites?
[A] Defence Satellite Initiative
[B] Space-Based Surveillance-III
[C] Secure Space Communications
[D] Military Reconnaissance Network
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Space-Based Surveillance-III ]
Notes:
Recently, the Union government ordered fast-tracking of 52 surveillance satellites under the Space-Based Surveillance-III (SBS-III) programme. The SBS-III was approved in October 2023 by the Cabinet Committee on Security led by the Prime Minister. It plans 21 satellites by Indian Space Research Organisation and 31 by private companies. The first launch is due by April 2026, with the full network ready by 2029. The Defence Space Agency under Integrated Defence Staff leads this project and coordinates with Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation, and the armed forces for space security.
43. DengiAll is a vaccine developed for which disease?
[A] Cholera
[B] Measles
[C] Dengue
[D] Tuberculosis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Dengue]
Notes:
Recently, India reached 50 percent enrolment in its Phase III clinical trial of the indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll. DengiAll is developed by Panacea Biotec Limited under a licence from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States. It contains weakened forms of all four dengue virus subtypes, similar to the NIH vaccine except for inactive ingredients. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is evaluating its safety and effectiveness through multiple institutes.
44. Which organization has launched the “3 by 35” Initiative to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs)?
[A] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
[B] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
[C] World Health Organization (WHO)
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Health Organization (WHO)]
Notes:
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the “3 by 35” Initiative to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It urges countries to raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to achieve at least a 50% real price increase by 2035. NCDs like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes cause over 75% of global deaths. Higher taxes could prevent 50 million premature deaths over 50 years and generate USD 1 trillion in public revenue in the next decade. Between 2012 and 2022, around 140 countries already raised tobacco taxes, showing large-scale change is achievable.
45. Where is the Phenome India National Biobank established?
[A] CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB)
[B] National Institute of Immunology (NII)
[C] Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB)]
Notes:
The union Minister of State for Science and Technology inaugurated the Phenome India National Biobank at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB). It is launched under the Phenome India Project. The biobank will collect genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 people across India. It aims to capture India’s diversity across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.
46. Which organization has introduced BioEmu, an advanced AI system for simulating protein motion to accelerate drug discovery?
[A] Google
[B] Mirosoft
[C] World Health Organization
[D] World Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mirosoft]
Notes:
Recently, Microsoft introduced BioEmu, an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for simulating protein motion to accelerate drug discovery. The system is officially named Biomolecular Emulator-1 (BioEmu-1). BioEmu-1 is a deep learning model that can generate thousands of protein structures per hour using a single Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Proteins are vital for biological processes like muscle formation and disease protection. Earlier, predicting protein structures from amino acid sequences was difficult. BioEmu-1 offers deeper insights into protein behavior, which is crucial for developing effective medicines.
47. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) was established under which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Science and Technology
[C] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[D] Ministry of Communication
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]
Notes:
Recently, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) announced it is repositioning itself to lead the next wave of digital transformation across the country. STPI was established in 1991 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It promotes software exports and implements the Software Technology Park (STP) and Electronics Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) schemes to support the IT/ITES sector. STPI facilitates software development, export procedures, and ensures compliance with customs and foreign exchange regulations.
48. Which country has developed the world’s lightest brain control device to steer bees?
[A] India
[B] Russia
[C] China
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
Chinese researchers led by Professor Zhao Jieliang at Beijing Institute of Technology developed the world’s lightest brain control device to steer bees. It is fixed on the bee’s back with three fine needles connecting to the brain, sending signals to control direction. In trials, bees followed commands with 90% accuracy, including turning, moving forward, and reversing. The bee-based robotic model offers superior mobility, stealth, and adaptability for missions like urban combat, counterterrorism, and disaster relief.
49. Aspergillosis disease, that was recently seen in news, is caused by which agent?
[A] Bacteria
[B] Virus
[C] Fungus
[D] Protozoa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Fungus]
Notes:
Recently, the blue rock pigeon, also called Columba livia, has been linked to concerns over spreading aspergillosis disease. Aspergillosis is an infection caused by Aspergillus, a mold genus with many species. The main infection-causing species is fungus “Aspergillus fumigatus”, which releases tiny airborne spores. These spores can cause respiratory illness when inhaled in large amounts, especially in people with weak immunity or lung issues. Aspergillosis is not contagious and doesn’t spread between people.
50. Which space organization has launched a twin satellite mission called “TRACERS” to study Earth’s magnetic shield?
[A] European Space Agency (ESA)
[B] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
[C] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
[D] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]
Notes:
Recently, NASA launched a twin satellite mission called TRACERS, which stands for Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites. The satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission aims to study magnetic reconnection, a powerful process where magnetic field lines snap and release energy. This process happens when solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun, interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere (magnetic shield).