1. Which institute has developed a new drug candidate, Compound 3b, to fight deadly drug-resistant bacteria?
[A] IIT Kanpur
[B] IIT Bombay
[C] IIT Roorkee
[D] IIT Ahmedabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT Roorkee]
Notes:
Recently, IIT Roorkee developed a new drug candidate, Compound 3b, to fight deadly drug-resistant bacteria. It targets KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, a World Health Organization (WHO) top-priority superbug. Compound 3b is a β-lactamase inhibitor that stops bacterial enzymes from breaking down antibiotics. It works with the antibiotic Meropenem, restoring its effectiveness against resistant infections. Preclinical lab and animal tests showed major infection reduction in lungs and safety to human cells. It marks a major step against antimicrobial resistance and boosts India’s role in global biomedical research.
2. Where was the Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory inaugurated?
[A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Mizoram
[C] Tripura
[D] Nagaland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona inaugurated a state-of-the-art space laboratory at Mechuka in Shi-Yomi district. The lab is named Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory in honour of his late father. It was set up at Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Muskaan Foundation. The lab will provide students hands-on experience in space science and technology. It aims to foster curiosity, innovation, and scientific thinking among youth.
3. Which country announced the launch of Venera-D Venus mission?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] United States
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Russia]
Notes:
Russia announced plans to launch the Venera-D mission to revisit Venus before 2036. Preliminary design work will begin in January 2026 under the new national space programme. The mission is being developed in collaboration with the Lavochkin Association. It will include a lander, a balloon probe, and an orbital spacecraft for comprehensive study of Venus. The design phase will take two years to complete. The launch is expected between 2034 and 2036, with the exact date decided after the design phase.
4. What does “Blue Carbon” refer to?
[A] Carbon from fossil fuels
[B] Carbon in freshwater lakes
[C] Carbon captured and stored by the ocean in vegetated coastal ecosystems
[D] Carbon in the atmosphere
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Carbon captured and stored by the ocean in vegetated coastal ecosystems]
Notes:
Seaweed farming has emerged as a potential Blue Carbon strategy, but empirical estimates of carbon burial from these farms are still limited. Blue Carbon refers to organic carbon captured and stored by oceans in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows. The term “Blue” highlights the watery nature of this carbon storage. Most blue carbon is carbon dioxide dissolved directly into the ocean. These ecosystems cover 2% of the ocean surface but account for 50% of the ocean’s carbon absorption. Blue carbon ecosystems are crucial for global climate change mitigation.
5. Which district in Gujarat has been identified as a Mars-analogue site due to the presence of jarosite deposits?
[A] Banaskantha
[B] Junagadh
[C] Kutch
[D] Bhavnagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kutch]
Notes:
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.
6. Which institute has proposed a mission called PRATUSH to study the Cosmic Dawn?
[A] Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru
[B] Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
[C] Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru]
Notes:
Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI) proposed a mission called PRATUSH to study the Cosmic Dawn. PRATUSH stands for Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen. It is a radio telescope to be placed on the far side of the Moon. It is built by Raman Research Institute (RRI) Bengaluru with collaboration from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It will use a wideband antenna (30–250 MHz), a self-calibratable analog receiver, and a digital correlator with 100 kHz spectral resolution. It will observe large sky regions continuously and record spectra of radio emission. Its nominal lifetime is two years to collect high-quality data.
7. What is the title of the Centre of Excellence established by IIT Hyderabad and Army Training Command (ATC) Shimla?
[A] VIGRAHA
[B] DRONA
[C] ARYA
[D] TEJAS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [VIGRAHA]
Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Army Training Command (ATC), Shimla. The partnership establishes a Centre of Excellence (CoE) named VIGRAHA (Virtual, Intelligent, Ground-breaking Research in AR/VR and High-tech Applications for Indian Army). The Simulator Development Division (SDD), Secunderabad represents the Indian Army in this collaboration. The CoE will focus on Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, unmanned systems, and emerging defense technologies. The initiative strengthens India’s self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defense technologies.
8. What kind of disease is “Sarcoidosis” that was recently seen in news?
[A] Autoimmune inflammatory disease
[B] Nutritional deficiency disorder
[C] Neurological disorder
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Autoimmune inflammatory disease]
Notes:
Recently, a study in Nature Reviews Disease Primers gave an in-depth analysis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease where immune cells form granulomas in organs, mainly lungs. Granulomas are most common in lungs and lymph nodes but can also affect eyes, skin, heart, and other organs. Exact cause is unknown but linked to genetic changes and triggers like bacteria, viruses, dust, or chemicals. Symptoms range from mild to severe, including cough, breathlessness, shin sores, eye pain, and redness. Some cases resolve on their own, while others become chronic and may lead to fibrosis with lung scarring. There is no cure, but treatment with medicines reduces immune overreaction and prevents organ damage.
9. 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.
10. What is the name of the half-humanoid robot that ISRO will send in December 2025 as part of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission?
[A] Aditya
[B] Vyommitra
[C] Kaveri
[D] Talwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vyommitra]
Notes:
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.