Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the Gyan Bharatam International Conference in New Delhi on 11 September. Gyan Bharatam is a national initiative for preserving, digitising, and disseminating India’s manuscript heritage. The mission envisions 25 clusters, 20 regional centres, and 10 centres of excellence to safeguard manuscripts. The conference brought together 1,100+ participants, including scholars, experts, institutions, and cultural practitioners from India and abroad.

Notes:
Recently, the first-of-its-kind Swastik Lotus Garden was inaugurated at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, during the CSIR Startup Conclave. The garden features 60 lotus varieties from across the world and 50 species of water lilies. Conservation is ensured through advanced genetic methods, light regulation, and scientific treatments. CSIR technologies were transferred to private companies for public access, including perfumes Frotus-Rudra, Frotus-Kumbh, air-freshener Frotus Fresh, green firecrackers, aromatherapy oil Relaxomap, and portable water analysis kits. The initiative strengthens scientific innovation, conservation, and entrepreneurship at grassroots and national levels.

Notes:
Scientists at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) discovered how white blood cells adapt their skeletons to fight pathogens. The study was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Cell shape depends on a dense, branched actin network near the membrane. Actin molecules push the membrane and create new meshworks for movement. A protein called SPIN90 regulates actin monomers and pairs with the Arp2/3 complex. Together, they grow new actin filaments in two directions about 150° apart. These filaments act as scaffolds to form branched actin mesh, reshaping the cell and aiding motility. This discovery explains rapid immune response and has implications for cancer, immune disorders, and wound healing.

Notes:
Chinese researchers have developed a bone glue named Bone-02, unveiled on 10 September 2025 in Zhejiang Province. It can repair fractures and shattered bone fragments in just 3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments. The glue is bio-absorbable, removing the need for a second surgery to remove implants. It may replace metal implants like plates and screws used in conventional surgeries.

Notes:
ISRO Chief V. Narayanan announced that a half-humanoid robot Vyommitra will be sent in December 2025 as part of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. Two more uncrewed missions are planned in 2026 before sending India’s first astronaut, Gaganyatri, to space in early 2027. ISRO successfully conducted the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the parachute-based deceleration system with support from the Indian Air Force, DRDO, Navy, and Coast Guard. Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3), Crew Escape System, and propulsion systems have been tested.

Notes:
On Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR’s) Foundation Day, 26th September 2025, the SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) system facility was inaugurated at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi. The facility was designed and developed by CSIR–Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal. The SODAR system will provide additional atmospheric data for improved weather forecasting and research.

Notes:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has recently launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission. Its main goal is to study how solar particles are energised and how the heliosphere shields Earth. Heliosphere is a giant bubble formed by the Sun’s solar wind that covers the entire solar system. Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will map the heliosphere’s boundary, trace energetic particles, and improve space weather forecasting. It is positioned at the first Earth-Sun Lagrange Point (L1), about 1 million miles from Earth towards the Sun. It will provide near real-time data on solar wind and energetic particles to monitor space weather hazards.

Notes:
The Philippines has launched Southeast Asia’s first Coral Larvae Cryobank, a major step to protect marine biodiversity. The cryobank is a scientific facility that freezes and stores coral larvae at ultra-low temperatures. It preserves the genetic material of corals for future reef restoration and scientific research. The facility acts like a “genetic seed vault” for corals to help safeguard biodiversity from climate change and coral bleaching. The project is part of the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are jointly participating in this regional conservation effort.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) has received a national patent for a machine learning-based radar technology to extract accurate rainfall data. The system was developed at the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research (ACARR). It uses a Hybrid Adaptive Bi-Gaussian Fitting Algorithm with a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to separate rain and air turbulence echoes. The innovation helps radars clean their data in real time, improving rainfall and wind accuracy up to 5 km in the troposphere. It enhances flood forecasting and early warning systems for Kerala, a state prone to extreme monsoon events.