1. Historic Return of Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian national to visit the International Space Station (ISS) on the Axiom-4 mission, a private human spaceflight organized by Axiom Space and launched by SpaceX Falcon 9. (Wikipedia)

• Launched on June 25, 2025, and docked with the ISS on June 26, he spent approximately 18 days on board, completing around 60 experiments, including those focusing on space agriculture, human physiology, and microgravity effects, with at least seven designed by ISRO and Indian institutions. (Wikipedia, The Times of India)

• The Dragon capsule "Grace" safely splashdown into the Pacific Ocean off California on July 15, 2025, concluding a 22-hour return journey. The nation celebrated his return with widespread enthusiasm. (Wikipedia, The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Economic Times)

2. India’s First Indigenous Carbon Fibre Foot Prosthesis (ADIDOC)

• On July 15, 2025, DRDO’s DRDL in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar unveiled ADIDOC—India’s first “Make in India” carbon fibre foot prosthesis. (The New Indian Express, UniIndia, ThePrint, Deccan Chronicle)

• The device can bear up to 125 kg, has three weight-specific variants, and is designed for active (K3-level) users. Production cost is projected to be as low as ₹20,000, compared to current imported equivalents costing around ₹2 lakh. (The New Indian Express, The Statesman, ThePrint)

• This innovation is expected to increase access to affordable prosthetics, reduce import dependency, and promote economic inclusion for persons with disabilities. (The New Indian Express, ThePrint)

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

Question 1:
Who became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station as part of a private mission?
A) Rakesh Sharma
B) Sunita Williams
C) Shubhanshu Shukla
D) Kalpana Chawla
Answer: C) Shubhanshu Shukla
Explanation: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew aboard the Axiom-4 mission in June–July 2025 and became the first Indian national to visit the ISS via a private spaceflight. (Wikipedia)

Question 2:
Approximately how many experiments did Shubhanshu Shukla conduct aboard the ISS?
A) 10
B) 60
C) 100
D) 150
Answer: B) 60
Explanation: During the 18-day mission, Shukla and the crew conducted around 60 experiments, with at least seven experiments developed in India by ISRO or Indian academic institutions. (The Times of India, Wikipedia)

Question 3:
What is the expected production cost of India’s first indigenous ADIDOC carbon fibre foot prosthesis?
A) ₹2,00,000
B) ₹1,00,000
C) ₹50,000
D) ₹20,000
Answer: D) ₹20,000
Explanation: The ADIDOC prosthesis is designed to be manufactured for as low as ₹20,000, significantly lower than the approximately ₹2 lakh cost of imported models. (The New Indian Express, The Statesman)

Question 4:
Which Indian institutions jointly developed the ADIDOC foot prosthesis?
A) ISRO and IIT Madras
B) DRDO’s DRDL and AIIMS Bibinagar
C) DRDO and NITI Aayog
D) AIIMS Delhi and HAL
Answer: B) DRDO’s DRDL and AIIMS Bibinagar
Explanation: The device was developed in collaboration between DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) and AIIMS Bibinagar. (The New Indian Express, UniIndia)

Question 5:
Where did the Axiom-4 Dragon capsule "Grace" splash down at the conclusion of the mission?
A) Arabian Sea
B) Indian Ocean
C) Atlantic Ocean
D) Pacific Ocean off California
Answer: D) Pacific Ocean off California
Explanation: The capsule safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California on July 15, 2025, after completing a 22-hour journey back from the ISS. (Wikipedia, The Indian Express)