Current Affairs - Science

Sambalpur in Odisha is the location where India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar was inaugurated under Mission Mausam on September 17, 2026. The radar is designed to strengthen regional weather monitoring and preparedness by providing meteorological data for Western Odisha and adjoining areas. Its coverage includes Southern Jharkhand, Northern Chhattisgarh, and parts of North Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. This became Odisha’s third Doppler Weather Radar, joining facilities at Gopalpur and Paradip. Mission Mausam aims to expand India’s weather observation network and improve high-precision forecasting, particularly for agriculture, power management and disaster preparedness involving thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall.

QDENGA is India’s first approved dengue vaccine and is also known as TAK-003. Developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, it is a live attenuated tetravalent vaccine designed to provide protection against the four dengue virus types: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorisation for QDENGA in July 2026 for individuals aged 4 to 60 years. The vaccine received WHO prequalification in 2024 and is administered in two doses given three months apart. It is expected to enter India’s private market by mid-2027, subject to regulatory and commercial procedures.

New Delhi will host the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2026) at Bharat Mandapam from October 27 to 29, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the conclave on October 27. The event will focus on the theme “Creative Minds, Catalysing Science, Empowering Technologies” and will bring together scientists, innovators, policymakers, startups, and industry representatives. Organised by CSIR under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, the conclave will feature 12 thematic areas, including quantum communication, semiconductors, and synthetic biology, along with participation from three Nobel Laureates.

“Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow” is the theme of the 11th Ayurveda Day, which will be celebrated on September 23, 2026, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The theme highlights the importance of Ayurveda in promoting better health and sustainable living while integrating traditional healthcare with modern approaches. The campaign focuses on three major pillars: integrative healthcare, evidence-based research and innovation, and community wellbeing with sustainable living. Key initiatives include the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards 2026, the release of Standard Treatment Guidelines for skin diseases, and the launch of Ayush Vision 2030. Ayurveda Day has been observed annually since 2016 on Dhanvantari Jayanti.

Rasonque (daraxonrasib) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 26, 2026, for adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Developed by Revolution Medicines, Inc., Rasonque is a RAS inhibitor that targets multiple forms of the RAS protein, a key driver of tumour growth. It is administered as a once-daily tablet and is intended for patients who have received at least one prior systemic therapy and are not candidates for multiagent systemic therapy. In a randomised clinical trial involving 500 adults, the treatment improved median overall survival to 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months with standard chemotherapy.