Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Indian Oil) became the first company in India to secure International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) CORSIA for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its Panipat Refinery. The certification is mandatory for commercial SAF production and aligns India with global aviation fuel standards. Certificate was handed over by Cotecna to Indian Oil Chairman A.S. Sahney in New Delhi. ISCC CORSIA, developed under Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ensures sustainability and lifecycle carbon standards.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission (G1) in December 2025. The mission will carry Vyommitra, a female half-humanoid robot. Vyommitra will monitor the module, issue alerts, and manage life-support operations. ISRO plans five launches in 2025 and four in 2026. Upcoming launches include Oceansat-3A, NVS-03 (Navigation Satellite), TDS-01 (Technology Demonstration Satellite), and BlueBird Block 2. ISRO declared 2025 as “Gaganyaan Year” to highlight its human-spaceflight ambitions. The mission is a key step towards India’s future crewed space missions.

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NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission has discovered two rocky exoplanets around star TOI-2322, located 195 light-years away. Scientists detected them by observing small dips in the star’s brightness, indicating planets passing in front. TOI-2322 b is nearly Earth-sized, completes one orbit in 11 days, and has a very hot surface temperature of about 330°C. TOI-2322 c is almost twice Earth’s size, about 18 times heavier, and has a dense structure similar to Earth’s layers. The planets were confirmed using space telescopes and ground tools, showing successful global collaboration in astronomy.

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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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Russia has launched EnteroMix, a new mRNA-based cancer vaccine, reported to show 100 percent efficacy in early trials. It was developed by the National Medical Research Radiology Centre (NMRRC) and Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology under the Russian Academy of Sciences. The launch took place at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025) and shared globally via Sputnik news service. The vaccine targets colorectal cancer first, with versions in development for glioblastoma and melanoma. EnteroMix uses four harmless viruses to attack cancer cells and boost immune defence. Russian Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) confirmed its safety for repeated use and personalised RNA-based tailoring.

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Cholesterol, a fat-like substance, can control the spin of electrons, a quantum property crucial for next-generation spintronic devices. Spintronics uses electron spin to develop energy-efficient electronics and bioelectronic devices. Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), developed cholesterol-based nanomaterials for spintronic and quantum applications. Cholesterol’s intrinsic handedness (chirality) and flexibility allow precise control over molecular properties. This innovation could enable energy-efficient memory chips and greener quantum technologies.

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India has licensed Indian Immunologicals Limited, Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Panacea Biotec Limited, Biological E Limited, and Zydus Lifesciences for manufacturing its first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine (AdFalciVax). The vaccine was developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and partners. It targets Plasmodium falciparum before it enters the bloodstream to prevent transmission. The vaccine is affordable, stable, scalable, and effective for over 9 months at room temperature.

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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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Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad. The pad is based on the red ivy plant, locally called murikooti pacha, scientifically Strobilanthes alternata of the Acanthaceae family. Scientists at the Centre of Excellence in Phytochemical Nanotechnology of JNTBGRI isolated a new molecule, acteoside, from red ivy for the first time. Acteoside shows high efficacy even at 0.2% concentration and is the key ingredient in the pad. The pad uses electro-spun nanofiber layers made from biodegradable, non-toxic, FDA-approved polymers. Red ivy has long been used in traditional medicine for treating cuts and wounds.

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Recently, the first-of-its-kind Swastik Lotus Garden was inaugurated at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, during the CSIR Startup Conclave. The garden features 60 lotus varieties from across the world and 50 species of water lilies. Conservation is ensured through advanced genetic methods, light regulation, and scientific treatments. CSIR technologies were transferred to private companies for public access, including perfumes Frotus-Rudra, Frotus-Kumbh, air-freshener Frotus Fresh, green firecrackers, aromatherapy oil Relaxomap, and portable water analysis kits. The initiative strengthens scientific innovation, conservation, and entrepreneurship at grassroots and national levels.