CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) held a high-level technical review meeting at the UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, to assess the progress of Chandrayaan-5, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX).

India has celebrated 25 years of successful operations of the 2-metre Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) at Hanle, Ladakh. A three-day conference organized by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) highlighted the telescope's achievements, scientific contributions, and future expansion plans.

India's drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has approved Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4 mg injection) for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious form of fatty liver disease.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) to manufacture M72/AS01E, a promising tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials.

The Government of India has launched Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) with an investment of ₹1,500 crore.

The United Nations (UN) has released the Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI), marking the first-ever scientific assessment of AI commissioned by the UN.

India is set to achieve another milestone in its clean energy transition as the Prime Minister is scheduled to flag off the country's first hydrogen-powered train.

The world's first commercially built nuclear-powered satellite, BOHR (Betavoltaic Orbital High-Reliability), has successfully entered orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-17 rideshare mission.Developed by City Labs, a Florida-based aerospace company, BOHR demonstrates betavoltaic nuclear battery technology, which generates electricity from the radioactive decay of tritium. 

According to the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026 and GLOBOCAN 2022, cancer is emerging as one of India's biggest public health challenges.

DRDO recently conducted successful flight-tests of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket.