Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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India has gained global recognition in animal health as the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal was recently designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility (RHF) by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Rinderpest, also called cattle plague, is a deadly viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus from the Paramyxoviridae family. It mainly affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle and buffalo, with mortality rates reaching up to 100 percent in highly vulnerable herds.

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The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) recently launched the ‘Samarth’ Incubation Program to support startups in the Telecom and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. C-DOT is an autonomous telecom research and development institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. The program offers financial grants, advanced technical resources, and expert guidance to help startups grow from idea stage to commercial success. It focuses on building sustainable and scalable business models.

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Researchers in Finland have developed a green chemical method using natural fatty acids from cooking oils to recover silver from electronic waste (e-waste). This comes at a time when global silver demand is rising and e-waste is becoming a major issue, especially in countries like India. E-waste includes discarded devices like computers, phones, and TVs that are outdated or broken. India is the third-largest generator of e-waste in the world, after China and the United States.

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Recently, the Ministry of Defence announced that scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated quantum communication over more than 1 km in free space. Quantum communication is a super secure method of sending information using tiny particles like photons. It uses principles of quantum physics, especially entanglement, to make communication channels tamper-proof. If someone tries to intercept the photons, the disturbance will be detected, revealing the breach. This makes quantum communication highly valuable for defence and national security.

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Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lenacapavir (LEN), the most advanced medicine yet for HIV prevention. Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral drug used as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP for people who are HIV-negative but at risk. PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a method to prevent HIV infection before exposure. Lenacapavir is taken as an injection just twice a year, making it easier and more discreet than daily pills. It is developed by Gilead Sciences and sold under the brand name Yeztugo.

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Recently, Candida tropicalis, a major fungal pathogen in India and globally, was found using chromosome changes to resist common antifungal drugs like fluconazole and voriconazole. Candida tropicalis is a yeast species from the Candida genus and causes serious infections with high mortality rates. It lives in tropical and subtropical marine environments like seawater, marine plants, and fish intestines. It is also found in human guts, fruit surfaces, soil, and various foods. It mainly affects people with weak immune systems or those with neutropenia, a condition of low neutrophil white blood cells.

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Recently, India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history by piloting the Axiom-4 mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He became the first Indian in 41 years to cross the Kármán line after Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight in 1984. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla and called him the first Indian en route to the International Space Station (ISS). This marks a major milestone for India in human spaceflight and international space collaboration.

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Recently, the Union government ordered fast-tracking of 52 surveillance satellites under the Space-Based Surveillance-III (SBS-III) programme. The SBS-III was approved in October 2023 by the Cabinet Committee on Security led by the Prime Minister. It plans 21 satellites by Indian Space Research Organisation and 31 by private companies. The first launch is due by April 2026, with the full network ready by 2029. The Defence Space Agency under Integrated Defence Staff leads this project and coordinates with Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation, and the armed forces for space security.

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Recently, Orbiting Now reported about 12,952 satellites are orbiting Earth, with 145 launched in 2025 so far. These satellites operate in Geostationary Orbit (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The United States ranks first with 8,530 satellites. Russia ranks second with 1,559 satellites. China is third with 906 satellites. India ranks seventh with 136 satellites, including 22 in LEO and 32 in GEO, plus deep space missions like Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter and Aditya-L1. India plans to add 100-150 new satellites in three years for navigation, communication, observation, and national security.

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Recently, the Kerala Health Minister confirmed 425 people are on the Nipah virus contact list across the state. Nipah Virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus spreading from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or directly from person to person. Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family are its natural hosts. NiV infection can be without symptoms, mild, or cause serious breathing illness and deadly brain swelling.