Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Sentinel-6B was recently launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, marking a major step in global ocean monitoring. It is a joint mission of NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and European Space Agency (ESA). It will track rising sea levels and their impacts, continuing the work of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich launched in 2020. It orbits Earth at 7.2 km per second, completing one revolution in 112 minutes. It will measure sea levels with accuracy up to one inch, covering over 90% of oceans. Its mission life is 5.5 years. It carries six science instruments and uses fixed plus deployable solar panels in a non-Sun-synchronous orbit

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India’s first indigenous CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), named BIRSA 101, was recently launched by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology. It is developed by CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB). BIRSA 101 uses CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to precisely correct the genetic mutation causing SCD. The therapy is administered as a one-time infusion, after which the body produces normal red blood cells instead of sickle-shaped ones.

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The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is declared over after 42 days without new cases, confirmed by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) health officials and the World Health Organization (WHO). Ebola, caused by orthoebolaviruses, first discovered in 1976 in DRC near the Ebola River, leads to severe hemorrhagic fever with internal bleeding. It spreads from wild animals like fruit bats and non-human primates, and among humans through direct contact with infected body fluids, not through air.

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Bluetongue Virus (BTV) has recently been detected in more suspected cases in Northern Ireland, raising concerns about livestock health. Bluetongue is a severe haemorrhagic disease that affects animals and is infectious, but it is non-contagious and spreads only through insect vectors. The virus mainly infects domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats, as well as wild animals like buffalo, deer, antelope, and camels, with sheep being the most severely affected. It spreads primarily through the bites of infected Culicoides midges, which are tiny blood-feeding insects commonly found on farms. There is no effective treatment for bluetongue, but vaccines are available for certain strains and are used in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe.

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India launched its first hydrogen-powered water taxi service in Varanasi on December 10, 2025. The service was inaugurated by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, marking a major advancement in India’s clean transport initiatives. The water taxi has been built by Cochin Shipyard, integrating modern engineering with sustainability. It operates on a hybrid electric–hydrogen propulsion system, ensuring zero emissions, low noise levels and high environmental safety. The vessel is equipped with five hydrogen cylinders and 3 kW solar panels, which help meet auxiliary power needs.

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Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, developed a new nanoparticle-based therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Conventional AD therapies target only one feature like amyloid aggregation or oxidative stress, giving limited benefit. The new therapy uses nanoparticles integrating polyphenol (from green tea), dopamine (a neurotransmitter), and tryptophan (an amino acid). These form EGCG-dopamine-tryptophan nanoparticles (EDTNPs) targeting amyloid aggregation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal degeneration simultaneously.

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IIT Delhi researchers developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system called AILA (Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant). AILA works on an AI Agentic Framework and can perform real scientific experiments like a human scientist. It has a simple chat interface where instructions in English are converted into code to execute experiments. The system has been demonstrated on an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), a key instrument in material research. AILA can control the AFM, make real-time decisions during experiments, and analyse results independently. The technology can save time, reduce manpower requirements, and transform India’s scientific research ecosystem.

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The Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurated India’s first commercial-scale tropical Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)–based Rainbow Trout Aquaculture Farm & Research Institute on 5th January 2026 in Hyderabad, Telangana. The facility, established by Smart Green Aquaculture Limited at Kandukur Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, demonstrates year-round farming of high-value cold-water species like Rainbow Trout in tropical climates using precision engineering and advanced water recirculation technologies. The project serves as a live training and demonstration platform, providing youth hands-on experience in advanced aquaculture systems, automation, and biosecurity, strengthening human capital in the fisheries sector.

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India inaugurated the world’s second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) and the world’s fifth National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration at CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi. NESL will provide India-specific calibration and certification of air pollution monitoring systems, supporting regulatory bodies, industries, and startups, and improving policy enforcement under programmes like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch PSLV-C62 from Sriharikota as India’s first space mission of 2026. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C62 is a multi-payload mission carrying one main and 18 secondary satellites. The primary payload is Earth Observation Satellite-N1 (EOS-N1), codenamed Anvesha, developed mainly for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite that observes Earth in hundreds of wavelengths for precise identification. It supports national security, border surveillance, and strategic monitoring.