Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Novo Nordisk launched its weight-loss injection semaglutide in India after Eli Lilly introduced tirzepatide. These are Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which are drugs that copy the action of GLP-1, a gut hormone released after eating. GLP-1 helps control blood sugar, fat metabolism, and appetite in the body. These medicines usually come as injections, though oral forms are being developed. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are two leading GLP-1 Drugs. Semaglutide and tirzepatide transforming the treatment of obesity and diabetes in India.

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Recently, India reached 50 percent enrolment in its Phase III clinical trial of the indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll. DengiAll is developed by Panacea Biotec Limited under a licence from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States. It contains weakened forms of all four dengue virus subtypes, similar to the NIH vaccine except for inactive ingredients. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is evaluating its safety and effectiveness through multiple institutes.

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The union Minister of State for Science and Technology inaugurated the Phenome India National Biobank at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB). It is launched under the Phenome India Project. The biobank will collect genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 people across India. It aims to capture India’s diversity across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.

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Recently, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (VRO) in Chile released its first images, capturing 10 million galaxies, 2,000+ new asteroids, and stars with changing brightness. It is located on Cerro Pachon Mountain, Northern Chile, at an altitude of 8,684 feet. VRO was formerly called the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and renamed in 2019 to honour Vera C. Rubin, who discovered dark matter evidence. It is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Energy (DOE).

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Recently, a person from northern Arizona, United States, died of pneumonic plague, marking the first such death in the region in 18 years. Plague is an infectious disease caused by the zoonotic bacteria Yersinia pestis. It spreads mainly through flea bites from fleas that fed on infected animals. The disease caused millions of deaths in Europe during the Middle Ages. Today, it is rare but still found in rural parts of the western U.S., Africa, and Asia.

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In July 2025, India launched its first indigenously developed carbon fibre foot prosthesis named ADIDOC. ADIDOC stands for AIIMS Bibinagar – DRDL, DRDO Indigenously Developed Optimised Carbon Foot Prosthesis. It was jointly developed under Atmanirbhar Bharat by AIIMS Bibinagar (under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, PMSSY) and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The foot is biomechanically tested to bear up to 125 kg load and is designed for K3-level active users. It comes in three weight-based variants to meet individual user needs.

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Researchers at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) have developed a sustainable method to produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) using sunlight and water. The process uses a special material called Mo-DHTA COF, short for dimolybdenum paddlewheel-embedded covalent organic framework. It acts like a solar-powered molecular factory, absorbing sunlight and converting water and oxygen into hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is an eco-friendly chemical used in sterilization, wound cleaning, wastewater treatment, and fuel cells.

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Recently, 16 chitals (spotted deer) died at Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune due to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), as confirmed by lab reports. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting all cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, goats, sheep, deer, and pigs. It is caused by an aphthovirus from the Picornaviridae family. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) first gave official recognition to this disease.

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In July 2025, five confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in Central Harlem, New York City. The New York City Department of Health launched an urgent investigation into possible environmental sources. Cooling towers, air conditioners, hot tubs, and humidifiers are being tested for Legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are found in natural water sources like lakes, rivers, and soil, and can spread through inhaling contaminated water droplets. It is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person.

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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).