Daily Static Quiz (Science and Tech) December 29, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Science and Tech) December 29, 2025

Q1. With reference to the ‘SPADEX’ (Space Docking Experiment) mission, consider the following statements:

1. It is a mission by ISRO to demonstrate the technology of docking two spacecraft in orbit.

2. The experiment involves a ‘Chaser’ satellite and a ‘Target’ satellite launching separately on two different launch vehicles.

3. It aims to test technologies essential for the future Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘LUPEX’ Mission:

1. It is a joint lunar mission between ISRO and NASA to explore the dark side of the Moon.

2. In this mission, the Rover is being developed by JAXA (Japan), while the Lander is being developed by ISRO.

3. The mission utilizes the LVM3 launch vehicle for its trajectory to the moon.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

Q3. Which of the following statements best describes the ‘Zero Trust Architecture’ in the context of cyber security?
(a) A security model that relies on strict perimeter defense, assuming everything inside the network is safe.
(b) A framework that requires all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated.
(c) A blockchain-based protocol that allows anonymous transactions without a central authority.
(d) A cryptographic method that uses quantum keys to secure data transmission between satellites.

Q4. With reference to the ‘NexCAR19’ therapy, recently seen in the news, consider the following statements:

1. It is India’s first indigenously developed CAR-T cell therapy for cancer treatment.

2. It is specifically designed to target solid tumors such as breast and lung cancer.

3. The therapy uses “humanized” antibody fragments to reduce the risk of immune rejection.

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q5. Consider the following pairs regarding recent advancements in Battery Technologies:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q6. With reference to the ‘Indian Pulsar Timing Array (InPTA)’, consider the following statements:

1. It is a collaboration of Indian scientists using the Upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT).

2. Its primary objective is to detect high-frequency gravitational waves resulting from supernova explosions.

3. It functions by monitoring the precise arrival times of radio pulses from millisecond pulsars.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q7. In the context of Artificial Intelligence, what is the primary difference between ‘Fine-Tuning’ and ‘Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)’?
(a) Fine-Tuning retrains the model on new data to update its internal parameters, while RAG fetches external data in real-time without retraining the model.
(b) Fine-Tuning is used for image generation, while RAG is strictly used for text summarization.
(c) Fine-Tuning requires a vector database to store knowledge, whereas RAG stores knowledge directly in the model’s weights.
(d) Fine-Tuning creates a smaller model from a larger one, while RAG combines multiple large models into one.

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘NVS-01’ satellite launched by ISRO:

1. It is the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the NavIC (IRNSS) constellation.

2. It carries an indigenous Rubidium atomic clock for the first time, replacing imported clocks.

3. It introduces the L1 frequency band to make NavIC compatible with wearable devices and civilian GPS trackers.

How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Q9. With reference to ‘Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)’, consider the following statements:

1. They are advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit.

2. Unlike conventional reactors, SMRs in India are planned to use highly enriched uranium (HEU) rather than natural uranium.

3. Their modular design allows them to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a site.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The term ‘Wolbachia Method’ is frequently talked about in the context of:
(a) Controlling the spread of viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
(b) Converting plastic waste into biodegradable polymers.
(c) Extracting rare earth elements from electronic waste using bacteria.
(d) Creating artificial rain using cloud seeding agents.

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

1. Answer: (b)

• Statement 1 is Correct: SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) is a twin-spacecraft mission by ISRO being developed to mature technologies related to orbital rendezvous, docking, and formation flying.

• Statement 2 is Incorrect: Both the ‘Chaser’ and ‘Target’ modules are launched together on a single launch vehicle (likely a PSLV). Once in orbit, they separate and then perform the docking maneuver. They are not launched on separate vehicles.

• Statement 3 is Correct: The success of SPADEX is a critical precursor for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), which requires the capability to assemble modules in space (docking) and transfer crew/cargo.

2. Answer: (b)

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration Mission) is a joint mission between ISRO (India) and JAXA (Japan), not NASA.

• Statement 2 is Correct: In this collaboration, ISRO is developing the Lander, while JAXA is developing the Rover and the Launch Vehicle. This is distinct from Chandrayaan-3 where ISRO built both the Rover and Lander.

• Statement 3 is Incorrect: The mission is scheduled to be launched using JAXA’s H3 rocket, not India’s LVM3.

3. Answer: (b)

• Explanation: Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a strategic initiative that helps prevent successful data breaches by eliminating the concept of trust from an organization’s network architecture. Rooted in the principle of “never trust, always verify,” Zero Trust is designed to protect modern digital environments by leveraging network segmentation, preventing lateral movement, providing Layer 7 threat prevention, and simplifying granular user-access control. Option (a) describes the traditional “Castle and Moat” security model, which ZTA replaces.

4. Answer: (b)

• Statement 1 is Correct: NexCAR19 is India’s first indigenously developed CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy, developed by ImmunoACT (an IIT Bombay spin-off) and Tata Memorial Centre.

• Statement 2 is Incorrect: Currently, CAR-T therapies (including NexCAR19) are most effective against hematological (liquid) cancers like B-cell lymphomas and leukemias. They have not yet shown consistent success against solid tumors (like breast or lung cancer) due to the difficulty of T-cells penetrating the tumor microenvironment.

• Statement 3 is Correct: NexCAR19 utilizes a humanized antibody fragment (scFv) rather than the mouse-derived fragments used in many western CAR-T therapies. This reduces the risk of the patient’s immune system rejecting the therapy (lower toxicity/Cytokine Release Syndrome).

5. Answer: (b)

• Pair 1 is Correct: Sodium-ion batteries utilize sodium ions (Na+) as charge carriers. They typically use hard carbon anodes. Since sodium is far more abundant and cheaper than lithium, and they do not require cobalt, they are cost-effective (though they have lower energy density than Li-ion).

• Pair 2 is Correct: Solid-state batteries replace the liquid or polymer gel electrolyte found in current Li-ion batteries with a solid electrolyte. This allows for higher energy density, faster charging, and significantly improved safety (no flammable liquid).

• Pair 3 is Incorrect: Lithium-sulfur batteries do require a cathode (Sulfur) and an anode (Lithium metal). The statement implies they don’t have a cathode, which is scientifically impossible; a battery must have both electrodes.

6. Answer: (c)

• Statement 1 is Correct: InPTA involves Indian researchers using the uGMRT (Upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) near Pune.

• Statement 2 is Incorrect: InPTA aims to detect nano-hertz (ultra-low frequency) gravitational waves, which are created by the movement of supermassive black hole binaries spiraling around each other, not supernova explosions (which produce high-frequency waves detected by LIGO).

• Statement 3 is Correct: The “Pulsar Timing Array” method works by observing millisecond pulsars (which act as precise cosmic clocks). As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and squeeze space-time, causing tiny deviations in the arrival time of these radio pulses, which InPTA detects.

7. Answer: (a)

• Explanation: This is a fundamental concept in Generative AI.

  • Fine-Tuning involves taking a pre-trained model (like GPT-4) and training it further on a specific dataset. The knowledge becomes part of the model’s “static” weights. It is expensive and doesn’t update automatically when facts change.

  • RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) connects the model to external data sources (like a company’s PDF database or the internet). When a user asks a question, the system “retrieves” relevant info and sends it to the AI to “generate” an answer. It does not change the model’s weights, making it dynamic and up-to-date.

8. Answer: (c)

• Statement 1 is Correct: NVS-01 (Navigational Satellite-01) is indeed the first of the second-generation satellites for the NavIC constellation, designed to replace aging IRNSS satellites.

• Statement 2 is Correct: Previous IRNSS satellites faced failures of imported atomic clocks. NVS-01 carries an indigenous Rubidium atomic clock developed by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.

• Statement 3 is Correct: NVS-01 introduces the L1 frequency band for the first time in NavIC. The previous satellites used L5 and S bands. The L1 band is the most commonly used frequency for GPS in wearables and smartphones, making NavIC more interoperable with civilian devices.

9. Answer: (b)

• Statement 1 is Correct: According to the IAEA definition, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.

• Statement 2 is Incorrect: SMRs usually use Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) (often slightly higher enrichment than conventional plants, but not Highly Enriched). India’s specific designs for SMRs (like the Bharat Small Reactor) are being adapted from the PHWR program which uses Natural Uranium, or will use LEU. Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) is weapon-grade and strictly controlled; it is not the standard fuel for commercial SMRs.

• Statement 3 is Correct: The defining feature of “Modular” reactors is that systems and components can be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation, reducing construction time.

10. Answer: (a)

• Explanation: The Wolbachia method involves infecting mosquitoes (specifically Aedes aegypti) with Wolbachia bacteria. These bacteria compete with viruses like Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever inside the mosquito, making it harder for the mosquito to transmit the virus to humans. It is a biological control method utilized widely (e.g., by the World Mosquito Program).

Daily Static Quiz