Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Turakapalem village in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, has seen 29 deaths due to Melioidosis. It is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei found in soil and water. The government has declared a public health emergency in the area. The disease is seasonal, with 75–85% of cases during the rainy season. It has a high case fatality rate (CFR) of 16% to 50% in endemic regions. Endemic areas include Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Currently, no vaccine is available, but early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

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India’s first dedicated space astronomy observatory, AstroSat, completed 10 years of operation on 28 September 2025. It was launched on 28 September 2015 by PSLV-C30 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C30) XL from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Though designed for 5 years, it continues to provide valuable data after a decade. AstroSat studies the universe across multi-wavelengths: UV (Ultraviolet), Visible, Low and High Energy X-rays. It was developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) with collaboration from Indian institutes and partners from Canada and the UK.

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Hyderabad recently became home to India’s first-ever Semiconductor Innovation Museum, launched by T-Chip (Technology Chip Innovation Programme). The museum aims to showcase cutting-edge research and technological advancements in chipmaking. It positions Hyderabad as a hub for semiconductor innovation. The museum will feature exhibits on AI chips, robotics, reusable rocket engines, next-generation EV and display systems. It includes a 30-day Innovation Residency Model to connect startups, research institutions, and global innovators with investors and academia. The initiative strengthens India’s semiconductor ecosystem and fosters collaboration between innovators, investors, and academia.

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Maldives has become the first country in the world to achieve triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Maldives for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. According to WHO, around 25,000 HIV-positive pregnant women globally need treatment to prevent transmission to babies. Hepatitis B still affects over 42 million people in the WHO Southeast Asia Region. In Maldives, over 95% of pregnant women receive antenatal care with almost universal testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

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On October 13, 2025, TechBharat Research Foundation (TBRF) and Google Cloud India launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Public Good in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP). The initiative was supported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, particularly its Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (IT, E&C). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and TechBharat Research Foundation (TBRF) for setting up and operating the CoE. TBRF will lead the CoE as a hub for applied AI research and public service solutions. Google Cloud India will provide cloud infrastructure, Gemini AI models, tools, mentorship, and market support.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant at PTC Industries, Lucknow, marking a big step towards self-reliance in defence materials. The plant is part of the Strategic Materials Technology Complex under Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The plant will help make components for fighter jets, missiles, naval systems, and satellites. The plant will help make components for fighter jets, missiles, naval systems, and satellites. It supports the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, generating jobs for youth, MSMEs, and start-ups.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the LVM3-M5 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 5:35 pm. The rocket carried CMS-03, India’s heaviest communication satellite weighing 4,400 kilograms. It was the fifth operational flight of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) launcher. CMS-03 was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The satellite will provide multi-band communication services across India and nearby ocean regions. It will enhance secure data, voice, and video connectivity for civilian and strategic applications. The mission highlights India’s capability in heavy satellite launches and strengthens its communication network.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from organisations and manufacturers to develop monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Nipah viral disease. Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen from the Paramyxoviridae family. In India and Bangladesh, the Bangladesh clade (NiV-B) is dominant, known for high virulence and human-to-human transmission. The fatality rate ranges between 40% and 75%, depending on treatment and outbreak control. Fruit bats (flying foxes) are the natural reservoirs, spreading the virus to humans and animals like pigs, goats, and cats.

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A Gulf Keralite’s quick return home for fever treatment proved life-saving after he was diagnosed with scrub typhus. Scrub Typhus is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi. It spreads through bites of infected chiggers (young mites) and not from person to person. Its prevalence depends on factors like climate, vector abundance, farming, domestic animals, and sanitation. The disease is more common during cooler months.

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In November 2025, Google announced ‘Project Suncatcher,’ a research initiative to create a solar-powered, space-based AI infrastructure system. The project aims to use Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) aboard satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to explore machine learning scalability. It will use Trillium TPUs designed to withstand up to 15 krad(Si) radiation and advanced thermal radiators to manage heat. In partnership with Planet Labs, two prototype satellites will launch in 2027 to test AI performance and optical communication. Solar-powered satellites will operate in a sun-synchronous dawn-dusk orbit, generating up to 8 times the power of ground-based installations