Current Affair Category: Science & Technology

PCSK9 & VERVE-102 PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9): A protein that regulates LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. PCSK9 binds to LDL receptors on liver cells and promotes their degradation. Fewer LDL receptors → less LDL removed from blood → higher LDL-C. VERVE-102 VERVE-102 is an experimental gene-editing therapy designed to reduce PCSK9 production. Developed by Verve Therapeutics. Uses CRISPR-based gene editing delivered to liver cells. It aims […]

Why in News? Modern medicine possesses vast clinical knowledge, but bridging the gap between this expertise and patients who need it immediately remains challenging due to the limited number of trained clinicians and healthcare infrastructure. For India, where healthcare capacity is expanding alongside an increasingly complex disease burden, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scale medical […]

Why in News? Astrobase Space Technologies, a Bengaluru-based private space company, unveiled EVEREST, India’s first privately developed 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine on 7 August 2026. India has now joined Russia, USA and China in developing FFSC engine technology. What is FFSC? Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) is an advanced liquid rocket-engine architecture in which: Both fuel and oxidiser pass through […]

Why in News?A recent study published in Nature Genetics found evidence in mice that some inherited traits can be transmitted through epigenetic modifications, even without changes in the DNA sequence. Core Concept: DNA sequence = “what the gene contains”Epigenetics = “whether/how the gene is expressed” DNA methylation: Addition of a methyl group (–CH₃) to DNA, commonly at cytosine. It can generally silence […]

Why in news?: A fresh outbreak of the Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) during the monsoon season in western India—particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan—has claimed the lives of 22 children. This has prompted the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to deploy the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to assist state health authorities with […]

CONTEXT & CURRENT STATUS: India entered AI Frontier in Feb 2025 with “India AI Mission”. Big groups like Reliance, Adani, Tata committed investments. Indian AI Unicorn: Sarvam AI emerged as key player building homegrown LLMs for both govt + private sector. Investment surge: $400 billion invested in AI capex since Feb 2025. Earlier constraint was […]

UPSC GS2 – Health + GS3 – Science & Tech Why in the News?  Michigan, USA is facing its largest recorded cyclosporiasis outbreak with 11,234 confirmed cases and 2 deaths as of August 2025. Response: In response, Michigan State University’s Rose Lab is developing wastewater surveillance to detect Cyclospora cayetanensis and track outbreak hotspots. What […]

Why in News? The government approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) on 31 July 2026. The scheme aims to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar projects with energy storage. It will help increase clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and improve energy security. India’s Solar Growth: India’s solar capacity has increased rapidly: 2014: Around […]

Why in News? India is transitioning its military structure from a single-service model to Integrated Theatre Commands, which is nearing its final stages: An editorial in The Hindu highlights that this major transformation may temporarily reduce operational readiness, making a well-structured Readiness Framework essential: UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS Paper Two (Governance and Security): India’s defense […]

Why in News? India’s space-tech sector is witnessing rapid growth, with total funding reaching approximately $871 million as of July 2026. Private sector milestones, such as Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 reaching low Earth orbit, have marked a major shift from research to commercial maturity. Key Highlights: Strong surge in private investment catalyzed by the 2020 Space […]