1. What is the name of the half-humanoid robot that ISRO will send in December 2025 as part of the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission?
[A] Aditya
[B] Vyommitra
[C] Kaveri
[D] Talwar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vyommitra]
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.
2. What is the name of the asteroid recently confirmed as Earth’s latest quasi-satellite in September 2025?
[A] Victoria 2025
[B] Flora 2025
[C] 2025 PN7
[D] Cardea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2025 PN7]
Notes:
Astronomers discovered asteroid 2025 PN7 in September 2025 as Earth’s latest quasi-satellite. ‘Quasi’ means almost; the asteroid is not gravitationally bound but orbits the Sun in resonance with Earth. It is an Arjuna-class near-Earth asteroid, named after Mahabharata’s Arjuna. 2025 PN7 orbits the Sun while staying close to Earth and will remain in this quasi-satellite state for approx 128 years. It was first spotted on August 2, 2025, by Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System 1 (Pan-STARRS 1) in Hawaii.
3. Which institutions recently created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome?
[A] California Institute of Technology and Harvard University
[B] Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of Oxford
[C] Harvard University and University of Cambridge
[D] Stanford University and the Arc Institute
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Stanford University and the Arc Institute]
Notes:
Researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome. The AI-designed virus can infect and kill bacteria, acting as a bacteriophage. Artificial Intelligence (AI) model named Evo was used, employing genome “language models” to design complete viral genomes. Evo was trained on about 2 million viral genomes to learn DNA patterns, gene order, and composition. Scientists guided Evo to mimic phiX174, a small bacteriophage with 11 genes and approximately 5,000 DNA letters. This achievement marks a significant advancement beyond AI-designed proteins or small multi-gene systems. It demonstrates AI’s potential to innovate in synthetic biology and genome engineering.
4. The SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) system facility was designed and developed by which institute?
[A] CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal
[B] CSIR-Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee
[C] CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), Pilani
[D] CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal]
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.
5. Where was India’s first Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) inaugurated?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Goa
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Goa]
Notes:
On the 10th National Ayurveda Day, the Ministry of Ayush inaugurated India’s first Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa. The IORCC is a first-of-its-kind centre combining Ayurveda, Yoga, Panchakarma, and modern oncology for holistic cancer care. The centre provides patient-centric rehabilitation aimed at reducing side effects, enhancing recovery, and improving quality of life. It is established in collaboration with Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) – Tata Memorial Centre. The facility will act as a hub for research, training, and clinical care in integrative oncology.
6. Which institution has launched a tool called “SARAL” to make scientific research more accessible?
[A] Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
[B] Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Ministry of Skill Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)]
Notes:
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) launched SARAL (Simplified and Automated Research Amplification and Learning) to make research easy and accessible. SARAL uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to simplify complex research into videos, podcasts, posters, and presentations. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to harness deep science and engineering to build deep tech products and start-ups. It is developing an AI Science and Engineering Open India Stack for drug discovery, aerospace design, climate studies, and advanced materials.
7. What is the primary objective of NASA’s Cassini mission?
[A] To study Jupiter’s atmosphere
[B] To explore Saturn and its moons
[C] To map the surface of Mars
[D] To study Moon’s atmosphere
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [To explore Saturn and its moons]
Notes:
A new analysis of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft data shows that Saturn’s moon Enceladus may support life. Cassini was a joint mission of NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and Italian Space Agency (ASI). It was launched on October 15, 1997, to study Saturn and its moons in detail. The mission had NASA’s Cassini orbiter and ESA’s Huygens probe, which landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. Cassini studied Saturn’s atmosphere, rings, and magnetosphere, along with Titan’s surface and atmosphere. It provided key insights into Saturn’s cloud properties, ring composition, and planetary evolution.
8. Which country has launched Southeast Asia’s first Coral Larvae Cryobank, a major step to protect marine biodiversity?
[A] China
[B] Thailand
[C] Indonesia
[D] Philippines
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Philippines]
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.
9. Rotovac vaccine, that was recently seen in news, is used for the prevention/treatment of which disease?
[A] Measles
[B] Tuberculosis
[C] Rotavirus
[D] Polio
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rotavirus]
Notes:
A recent study found that the indigenous rotavirus vaccine ‘Rotavac’ is as effective in real-world use as in clinical trials. Rotavac is an oral, live attenuated, monovalent liquid vaccine against rotavirus. It was developed through a public-private partnership involving the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Bharat Biotech, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Rotavirus is a viral disease that commonly causes diarrhoeal illness in children. There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus infection, and vaccination provides the best protection. This study highlights Rotavac’s continued role in child health.
10. Which country has developed the MAM01 monoclonal antibody that showed strong protection against malaria?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] United States
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
United States (US) researchers have developed a novel monoclonal antibody named MAM01 that showed strong protection against malaria in an early clinical trial. MAM01 targets a highly conserved region of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein, blocking infection before the parasite enters the bloodstream. The trial demonstrated dose-dependent full protection with minimal side effects. It is administered as a single long-acting injection, providing immediate and months-long protection. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are lab-made proteins mimicking the body’s natural immune defenses.