Which Nobel laureate delivered the ESTIC 2026 plenary talk on cryo-electron microscopy in target discovery and drug design?
- A.Sir Richard J. Roberts
- B.Prof. Joachim Frank
- C.Prof. Ajay K. Sood
- D.Dr Tessy Thomas
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Prof. Joachim Frank of Columbia University, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017. His plenary covered cryo-electron microscopy for target discovery and drug design, including the computational and mathematical frameworks used in high-resolution single-particle work and the three-dimensional visualisation of macromolecular complexes. Option A is wrong because Sir Richard J. Roberts, the Physiology or Medicine laureate of 1993, gave a separate plenary on split genes, gene splicing, microbial genomics and restriction-modification enzymes. Option C is wrong because Prof. Ajay K. Sood is the Principal Scientific Adviser and is not a Nobel laureate; he spoke on priority domains and chaired the evening panel. Option D is wrong because Dr Tessy Thomas was listed as a panellist in the evening discussion on science and disruptive technologies for Atmanirbhar Bharat, not as a plenary speaker on structural biology.
Read the full article: PM Modi Opens ESTIC 2026 Conclave at Bharat Mandapam
Practice Questions
Who inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026?
- A.The President of India
- B.Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- C.Dr Jitendra Singh
- D.Prof. Ajay K. Sood
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He inaugurated ESTIC 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on the conclave's opening day and used his address to ask scientists, researchers and young innovators for outcomes that are concrete, measurable and able to be scaled, within an operating horizon of three years.
Read the full explanation →ESTIC 2026 is organised around how many core thematic priority domains?
- A.Eight
- B.Ten
- C.Twelve
- D.Fifteen
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Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, described the 12 core thematic priority domains around which the conclave is built, and called for closer alignment of research, industry and policy across them.
Read the full explanation →According to the figures cited at ESTIC 2026, how many startups did India have in 2014?
- A.About 400
- B.About 4,000
- C.About 40,000
- D.About 1 crore
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Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, cited the growth of the startup ecosystem from roughly 400 startups in 2014 to more than 2.3 lakh today, and added that an estimated 50 to 60 per cent of them are based in…
Read the full explanation →Which new centre was launched on the first day of the ARISE Cities Forum 2026?
- A.Centre for Urban Water Security
- B.Centre for Sustainable Urban Mobility and Integrated Transportation
- C.Centre for Coastal Resilience Studies
- D.Centre for Municipal Finance Reform
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It was launched during the inaugural and technical sessions on the first day of the forum.
Read the full explanation →The Delhi Declaration adopted at the ARISE Cities Forum will be presented at which global meeting?
- A.COP31 in Antalya, Turkiye
- B.COP30 in Belem, Brazil
- C.The G20 Summit in Johannesburg
- D.The World Urban Forum in Cairo
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The Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals 2026 is the outcome document of the forum, and it will be adopted on 28 October 2026 before being carried to the climate conference at Antalya.
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