Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, a new blood group named CRIB was discovered in a South Indian woman from Kolar district, Karnataka. The discovery was announced at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) held in Milan, Italy. CRIB stands for Cromer India Bangalore and is part of the Cromer (CR) blood group system. This blood group was previously unidentified anywhere in the world. The discovery took 10 months of research and molecular testing by international experts.

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V. O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port, Thoothukudi, became the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen and achieve over 1 MW rooftop solar power generation. The announcement came during the Green Ports and Shipping Conference under NAVIC Cell-3 (Green Initiatives and Pollution Control), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The event is part of roadshows ahead of India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, showcasing maritime sustainability and innovation. The conference discussed maritime decarbonisation, green financing, and policy frameworks for achieving India’s 2070 net-zero target.

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Recently, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) launched its new Medical Application Portal. NABL is a non-profit autonomous organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. It functions under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The new portal aims to streamline medical testing and accreditation processes efficiently.

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Matanomadh, a remote village in Kutch district, Gujarat, may serve as a test bed for ISRO’s Mangalyaan-2 mission to Mars. Researchers from Space Applications Centre (SAC) Ahmedabad, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow dated jarosite mineral in Matanomadh to 55 million years (Paleocene period). Jarosite is a yellow, iron-rich sulphate mineral, similar to those found on Mars, indicating past water activity. The site allows field-analogue studies for Mars, including rover testing, drilling, geochemistry, and astrobiology research. The discovery can help decode Martian geology, past chemical interactions, and organic molecule trapping, aiding future Mars missions.

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European Space Agency (ESA) Solar Orbiter, a joint project with NASA, was launched in 2020 to study the Sun closely. It became the first spacecraft to image the Sun’s poles. A new study in Astronomy and Astrophysics traced the origin of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE) emitted by the Sun. Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE) linked to solar flares arise from small surface explosions, while others are released gradually with Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), huge eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields. The Solar Orbiter flew through electron streams and studied the space environment between the Sun and spacecraft. Understanding SEE and CMEs is crucial for space weather prediction, protecting satellites, GPS, power grids, and astronauts. The mission aims to study the Sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle, corona heating, solar wind formation, and acceleration.

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India unveiled its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram 3201, at Semicon India 2025. It is designed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) and fabricated by Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh. Vikram 3201 is designed specifically for rockets and satellites, unlike processors in smartphones or laptops. It is an upgrade of Vikram 1601, a 16-bit processor used in ISRO launch vehicles since 2009. The processor manages navigation, control, and mission management in launch vehicles. The launch supports India’s semiconductor self-reliance, with five units under construction under the Design-Linked Incentive scheme.

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Researchers at S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) discovered protein p47’s new role as a “mechanical chaperone.” P47 is a cofactor protein known for assisting p97 in protein trafficking, degradation, and membrane fusion. Study revealed p47 boosts mechanical efficiency of protein extraction from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cytoplasm. It stabilizes polypeptides under stress, guides them through pores, prevents misfolding, and improves translocation. This is the first single-molecule evidence of autonomous, force-dependent chaperone-like activity by p47. Discovery opens new therapeutic possibilities for diseases linked to protein instability.

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A study of fossil leaves from Nagaland revealed how Antarctica influenced the Indian Monsoons. Fossil leaves from the Laisong Formation in Nagaland revealed that the region once had a warm and wet climate with very high rainfall and temperatures. The fossils matched the period when massive ice sheets began forming in Antarctica, showing a global connection. Growth of Antarctic ice reshaped global wind and rainfall patterns by shifting the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) toward the tropics. This shift brought intense monsoonal rains to Northeast India and led to the evolution of the monsoon system. The research used CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) method to analyze fossil leaves. CLAMP treats fossil leaves as “climate fingerprints” to reconstruct past climates.

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ISRO Chief V. Narayanan announced that a half-humanoid robot Vyommitra will be sent in December 2025 as part of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. Two more uncrewed missions are planned in 2026 before sending India’s first astronaut, Gaganyatri, to space in early 2027. ISRO successfully conducted the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the parachute-based deceleration system with support from the Indian Air Force, DRDO, Navy, and Coast Guard. Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), Crew Escape System, and propulsion systems have been tested.

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Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Delhi, launched the city’s first Central Tissue Bank for bone grafting in dental surgeries. The facility was inaugurated by Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh. Bone grafting helps reverse jawbone loss and supports dental implants, dentures, and tissue regeneration. The tissue bank provides ready access to high-quality bone and soft tissue grafts, reducing cost and addressing limited availability.