Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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On July 14, 2025, Israel launched its first fully government-funded and domestically built communications satellite, Dror-1, from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Dror-1 is Israel’s most advanced geostationary satellite, built 100% with local technologies to ensure strategic independence. It weighs 4.5 tonnes, spans 17.8 metres, and will serve Israel’s communication needs for the next 15 years. The satellite orbits 36,000 km above Earth, maintaining constant coverage over Israel and nearby regions.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a new malaria vaccine called AdFalciVax to fight Plasmodium falciparum. This was recently highlighted due to its unique chimeric and recombinant design. AdFalciVax is being developed with Regional Medical Research Centre Bhubaneswar (RMRCBB), National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), and Department of Biotechnology – National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII). It uses Lactococcus lactis, a safe food-grade bacterium, for production. The vaccine targets both the pre-erythrocytic and sexual stages of the malaria parasite. This dual-target approach offers both personal protection and reduction of mosquito transmission.

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Iran successfully launched its Nahid-2 telecommunications and research satellite on 27 July 2025. The launch was done aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket as part of a multi-payload mission. Other payloads included Russia’s Unisphere-M3 and M4 and 18 satellites from various countries. The Soyuz rocket had earlier launched Iranian satellites like Khayyam, Pars-1, Kosar, and Hodhod. Nahid-2 is designed to stay in orbit for five years. It has an indigenous propulsion system that can adjust its altitude by up to 50 kilometers. This propulsion is key for maintaining orbital position and operational stability.

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In July 2025, ISRO announced that the NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite has been mounted on the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) ahead of its launch. All systems of the rocket have been successfully checked. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ISRO to study Earth’s changing ecosystems. GSLV is developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits (GTOs). It can carry heavier payloads than the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

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Recently, African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak was confirmed at a pig farm in Ravas Brahmanan village, Patiala, Punjab. District authorities have taken immediate action to contain the spread. African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boars. It does not affect humans or other animal species. It causes high mortality (up to 90–100%) and severely impacts pig farming. It originated in sub-Saharan Africa and has spread to Europe, Asia, and Africa. In India, it was first detected in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in Feb–Mar 2020.

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch the Block 2 BlueBird communication satellite in 3–4 months. BlueBird is developed by U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile. The launch will take place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, using Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), formerly GSLV-Mk III. This follows ISRO’s successful launch of NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission on July 30 using GSLV. BlueBird is an advanced American satellite designed for direct smartphone-to-satellite communication. It enables users to make calls and access internet directly from space without ground towers.

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Recently, the first phase of the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project is nearing completion. The project aims to sequence the genomes of 70,000 eukaryotic species in Britain and Ireland. It is part of the global Earth BioGenome Project which targets sequencing all complex life on Earth. The project collects species samples and uses advanced DNA sequencing technologies to create high-quality genomes. It applies modern computational tools to study how DNA sequences relate to biodiversity.

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IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD) and National Cancer Grid (NCG) launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program. The program supports Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for cancer screening, diagnostics, treatment support, and healthcare operations in India. Grants of up to ₹50 lakh per project will be co-funded by IndiaAI and NCG for selected technology–clinical teams.

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Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. It is a parasitic disease spread by infected tsetse fly bites, endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It has two forms: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (92% cases, chronic, found in West and Central Africa) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (8% cases, acute, found in East and Southern Africa). Rural communities relying on farming, fishing, herding, or hunting face higher risk. WHO has validated the gambiense form’s elimination in Togo, Benin, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Chad, Guinea, and now Kenya.

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Pfizer recently launched its 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) for adults in India. PCV20 protects against 20 serotypes causing most pneumococcal diseases. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can cause mild infections like ear infections and severe ones like pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Around 90 serotypes exist globally; few cause most diseases. It is a major global health issue, especially affecting young children and the elderly in developing countries.