1. Which organization developed India’s first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine (AdFalciVax)?
[A] Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
[B] National Institute of Virology (NIV)
[C] All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi
[D] Serum Institute of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)]
Notes:
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.
2. Melioidosis, the disease responsible for the public health emergency in Turakapalem village of Andhra Pradesh, is caused by which pathogen?
[A] Fungus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungus
[D] Protozoa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bacteria]
Notes:
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.
3. Which institute has become the first government medical college in India to offer training on the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System?
[A] Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry
[B] Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
[C] All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS New Delhi)
[D] National institute of mental health and Neuro science, Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS New Delhi)]
Notes:
AIIMS New Delhi has become the first government medical college in India to offer training on the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. The advanced system was inaugurated at the Skills, E-Learning and Telemedicine (SET) Facility. AIIMS Delhi now becomes the only institution in India with two robotic systems for training—the da Vinci system and the Hugo robotic trainer by Medtronic. The initiative provides hands-on training for students, residents, nurses, and faculty. Training will cover urology, gynaecology, general surgery, surgical oncology, and head & neck surgery.
4. Which country’s scientists developed a simpler portable ion chromatograph called Aquamonitrix for field use?
[A] India
[B] Australia
[C] Germany
[D] New Zealand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
Scientists at the University of Tasmania, Australia, developed a portable ion chromatograph called Aquamonitrix to perform ion separation in the field. The device was tested by undergraduate students who analysed soil pore water for harmful nitrate and nitrite ions immediately after collection. Results were comparable to expensive lab-based chromatographs, proving accuracy with lower cost and time. Aquamonitrix uses sodium chloride solution and a UV absorbance detector, making it simple, eco-friendly, and effective. The portable device costs about 10,000 versus 100,000 for conventional lab instruments. It provides hands-on field experience for students, linking theory with real-world environmental analysis.
5. Japanese Encephalitis (JE), that was recently seen in news, is caused by which agent?
[A] Bacteria
[B] Virus
[C] Fungus
[D] Protozoa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Virus]
Notes:
Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever are rising due to rapid urbanisation, climate change, and global travel. A new study published on 3 September in Science Translational Medicine shows waning immunity against Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) can worsen dengue outcomes. Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese Encephalitis (B) virus. Transmission occurs through infected Culex mosquitoes of the Vishnui group, not from human to human. It is most common in rural Asia, especially during monsoon seasons. Both viruses belong to the genus Orthoflavivirus and show cross-immune interactions.
6. Where was India’s first private large-format additive manufacturing facility for aerospace and rocket systems launched by Agnikul Cosmos?
[A] Kolkata
[B] Hyderabad
[C] Chennai
[D] Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chennai]
Notes:
Agnikul Cosmos, a spacetech startup, commissioned India’s first private large-format additive manufacturing facility for aerospace and rocket systems. The facility was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) Research Park in Chennai. It combines design, simulation, 3D printing, post-processing, and testing under one roof to speed up development and cut costs. For the first time in India, aerospace parts up to 1 metre in height can be 3D-printed.
7. The Gaia Telescope is a space observatory of which space agency?
[A] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[B] China National Space Administration (CNSA)
[C] European Space Agency (ESA)
[D] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [European Space Agency (ESA)]
Notes:
A new 3D map of stellar nurseries has been created using data from the Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA) telescope. The map covers star-forming regions within 4,000 light-years of the Sun in all directions. It shows glowing hydrogen gas clouds, helping scientists study star formation and interstellar gas dynamics. The study combines Gaia dust maps with radiation effects from 87 massive O-type stars emitting ultraviolet light that ionises hydrogen gas. The simulation aligns with older hydrogen emission maps but provides higher precision. GAIA, launched in 2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way Galaxy. The telescope is positioned at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1.5 million km from Earth, for a stable cosmic view.
8. Lecanemab drug, that was recently seen in news, is used to treat which disease?
[A] Multiple Sclerosis
[B] Tuberculosis
[C] Alzheimer’s Disease
[D] Huntington’s Disease
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Alzheimer’s Disease]
Notes:
Australia recently approved Lecanemab for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia causes progressive memory and thinking problems and is now Australia’s leading cause of death. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody drug that targets amyloid proteins in the brain. It aims to slow disease progression by tackling the cause of Alzheimer’s, not just symptoms. The drug works by using antibodies to mark amyloid for removal by brain immune cells, preventing toxicity to brain cells.
9. Which institution has launched a tool called “SARAL” to make scientific research more accessible?
[A] Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
[B] Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Ministry of Skill Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)]
Notes:
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) launched SARAL (Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning) to make research easy and accessible. SARAL uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to simplify complex research into videos, podcasts, posters, and presentations. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to harness deep science and engineering to build deep tech products and start-ups. It is developing an AI Science and Engineering Open India Stack for drug discovery, aerospace design, climate studies, and advanced materials.
10. Which country has launched Southeast Asia’s first Coral Larvae Cryobank, a major step to protect marine biodiversity?
[A] China
[B] Thailand
[C] Indonesia
[D] Philippines
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Philippines]
Notes:
The Philippines has launched Southeast Asia’s first Coral Larvae Cryobank, a major step to protect marine biodiversity. The cryobank is a scientific facility that freezes and stores coral larvae at ultra-low temperatures. It preserves the genetic material of corals for future reef restoration and scientific research. The facility acts like a “genetic seed vault” for corals to help safeguard biodiversity from climate change and coral bleaching. The project is part of the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are jointly participating in this regional conservation effort.