Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A rare rotating water column resembling a waterspout was observed over the Brahmaputra River near Paharpur, Baghbar, in Barpeta district of Assam. The phenomenon appeared as a vertical, funnel-shaped vortex connecting the water surface with a cloud. Waterspouts are rotating columns of air and water associated with convective clouds and can form over water bodies. They are generally short-lived, often lasting less than 20 minutes, and their occurrence is difficult to predict.

Notes:
India’s first cooperative-linked Bio-CNG plant was recently inaugurated at Vinchhiwadi village in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. The pathbreaking project connects local dairy production with clean transport fuel, converting cattle dung into compressed biogas (CBG) and nutrient-rich digestate. Backed by the NDDB, it represents a scalable “waste-to-wealth” model designed to reduce methane emissions from unmanaged dairy waste in north-western Gujarat while providing farmers with an additional source of income and eco-friendly fertilizer.

Notes:
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) partnered with Intel India to launch a specialized Agentic AI skill development initiative. This program focuses on equipping students and IT professionals with practical training in goal-oriented AI systems. Unlike standard digital literacy programs, this initiative emphasizes hands-on experience in sequential reasoning, planning, and digital tool integration. The collaboration aims to build a robust Indian workforce capable of deploying highly autonomous AI agents across various sectors, thereby strengthening the nation’s technological capabilities in advanced computing domains.

Notes:
British scientists have taken an important step towards developing a pneumonia vaccine using reverse vaccinology. Reverse vaccinology is a vaccine-development approach that uses genome sequencing, bioinformatics and computational analysis to identify potential vaccine targets. The term was coined by Rino Rappuoli in 2000. It was first successfully applied to develop a vaccine against serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB). The approach involves identifying surface-exposed or secreted proteins, screening them for immune responses and testing selected candidates in animal models.

Notes:
The US FDA approved Zanvastro (zilganersen), developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, as the first approved treatment for Alexander disease. Alexander disease is a rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder that damages brain cells and can affect movement, speech and swallowing. Alexander disease affects fewer than 1,000 people in the US, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Notes:
The compact spherical tokamak named ‘Pragya’ was developed by the Indian fusion-technology startup Pranos Fusion. Launched in 2026, it represents a significant milestone in India’s private-sector contribution to nuclear fusion research. Pragya utilizes a low-aspect-ratio spherical geometry to confine high-temperature plasma. Unlike traditional large tokamaks, compact spherical tokamaks offer a more cost-effective and space-efficient platform for experimental plasma physics. This development highlights the growing role of domestic private enterprises in deep-tech and advanced clean energy sectors within India.

Notes:
US health officials declared a large multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak over in September 2026. The outbreak was associated with contaminated processed iceberg lettuce supplied to multiple locations. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic pathogen Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is a coccidian protozoan. Unlike bacterial or viral foodborne pathogens, it is a single-celled parasite. Infection occurs by ingesting food or water contaminated with the parasite. It commonly spreads when people consume food or water contaminated with the parasite. Common symptoms include watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Notes:
Researchers have found evidence that Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus that can cause severe pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems, is developing resistance to mycophenolic acid (MPA). The disease caused by it is known as Pneumocystis pneumonia. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an immunosuppressive drug mainly used to prevent organ rejection after solid-organ transplantation. MPA was not intended to act as an antifungal drug, but it was found to exert unintended pressure on Pneumocystis jirovecii.

Notes:
Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in India in Hyderabad, Telangana. The new India South Central cloud region expands Microsoft’s cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure in India. Microsoft’s existing cloud regions are located in Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. The launch is part of Microsoft’s previously announced $20.5-billion investment commitment in India, covering cloud, AI infrastructure, skilling and operations. India generates nearly 20% of the world’s data, while having around 3% of global data-centre capacity. The expansion aims to support the growing demand for AI applications, cloud services and digital infrastructure.

Notes:
Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It spreads through the bite of infected larval mites, also called chiggers. It is not a mosquito-borne disease. Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness and remains an under-recognised public health problem in India. The disease came into focus after the death of an Anna University student from scrub typhus at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai in September 2026.