Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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In November 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace launched the Copernicus Sentinel-1D Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) aboard the Ariane 6 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana. The mission, designated VA265, marked a key step in strengthening Europe’s autonomous access to space and Earth observation capability. It is the fourth and final satellite of the first-generation Copernicus Sentinel-1 constellation, completing Europe’s radar imaging network.

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Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Mounjaro became India’s top-selling drug by value in October 2025. It overtook GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Augmentin, a widely used antibiotic. Mounjaro earned ₹1 billion ($11.38 million) in October, while Augmentin made ₹800 million. By volume, Augmentin sold 5,784 units, whereas Mounjaro sold only 85 units due to its high price. Mounjaro helps control blood sugar and slow digestion and belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class used for obesity and diabetes. It was launched in India in March 2025 and has earned ₹3.33 billion till October. Mounjaro’s consumption was 10 times higher than rival Wegovy by Novo Nordisk, launched in June 2025. Eli Lilly sold 262,000 units, while Novo Nordisk sold 26,000 units in October.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response site at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. This site is part of a global WHO network being set up to conduct rapid investigations and studies during pandemics or epidemics. The goal is to ensure a timely and effective public health response to global health emergencies. The launch was attended by WHO Representative to India, Payden, and AIIMS Director, Dr. M. Srinivas. The site will also operate during non-pandemic periods to maintain continuous readiness and system strength.

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Ethiopia’s first-ever outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). MVD is a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus. It was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany. The causative agents are Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV) of the species Orthomarburgvirus marburgense. The natural host is the fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus of the Pteropodidae family. It spreads from infected bats to humans and then through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.

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A global review has identified 57 new living species of foraminifera. Foraminifera, or forams, are single-celled marine organisms found in oceans, coasts, and estuaries. Most have shells and are either planktonic (float in water) or benthic (live on sea floor). They are generally under 500 microns in size, though some tropical species reach 20 cm. Their name comes from foramen (Latin for window), with holes in shells for pseudopodia to gather food. They eat detritus, diatoms, bacteria, algae, and tiny animals like copepods. Shells are made of calcium carbonate (calcareous) or sand grains (agglutinate) with one or multiple coiled chambers.

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The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)–Larsen & Toubro (L&T) consortium has indigenously built India’s first private Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The PSLV is scheduled to launch the Oceansat satellite early next year. India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a 2022 contract with the HAL–L&T consortium for end-to-end production of five PSLV-XL rockets. This move shifts PSLV manufacturing from ISRO to industry partners while ISRO focuses on new missions and research. The consortium has faced production challenges, resolved with ISRO’s support. HAL also received technology for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to fully own and operate its production.

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The Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme is becoming popular among young startups and innovators. It works under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations which is NIDHI. It encourages graduate students to choose entrepreneurship as a career. It provides financial and non-financial support in the form of a fellowship. It offers startup infrastructure, mentoring, technical guidance, and industry support. It is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology with NCL Venture Centre.

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NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has signed 70 Technology Transfer Agreements with industry. NSIL was incorporated on 6 March 2019 under the Companies Act, 2013, and works under the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. It helps Indian industries take up high-technology space activities and promotes commercial use of India’s space products and services.

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NASA has lost contact with its MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2014. MAVEN stopped communicating after it went behind Mars, and NASA received only silence when it reappeared. The spacecraft was launched in 2013 as the first mission dedicated to studying the Martian upper atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind. MAVEN helped show that the Sun stripped Mars of its atmosphere over time and also served as a relay for Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. NASA is currently conducting engineering investigations while its other orbiters, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey, remain operational.

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Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has hosted ATMAN 3.0, an eight-week Health Technology (HealthTech) accelerator programme. The programme is conducted by the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at IIT Bombay. ATMAN 3.0 is supported by the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It aims to transform early-stage HealthTech startups into investment-ready ventures. Thirteen startups were selected from 173 applicants after a competitive pitching process. Each selected startup can receive seed funding support of one crore rupees or more. The programme will conclude with a Demo Day on 9 January 2026 at Novotel, Mumbai International Airport.