News In Shorts: 19 March 2026

Cuba

Context: Amid a nationwide blackout triggered by U.S. oil blockade, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested “taking Cuba,” intensifying geopolitical tensions.

About Cuba

• Introduction: Cuba, with capital Havana, is the largest island nation in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles archipelago.
• Location: Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean, at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
• Borders (Maritime): Cuba shares maritime boundaries with the United States, Mexico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Haiti.
• Archipelagic Structure: Cuba comprises the main island, Isla de la Juventud, and over 4,000 smaller islands and cays.
• Relief & Mountains: Cuba features plains and hills with mountain ranges like Sierra Maestra, hosting its highest peak Pico Turquino.
• Climate: Cuba experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, influenced by maritime conditions and prone to hurricanes.
• Vegetation & Land Use: Fertile plains support agriculture, while forests and mangroves dominate coastal and mountainous regions.
• Water Bodies: Major rivers include the Cauto River and Toa River, supporting irrigation and ecosystems.
• Resources: Cuba is rich in minerals like cobalt, nickel, iron ore, petroleum, and has significant agricultural and forest resources.
• Geopolitical Importance: Cuba’s proximity to the United States and location near key sea lanes makes it a critical geopolitical and maritime hub in the Caribbean.

Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme to promote clean and decentralised energy.

About the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Objective: To promote generation of electricity from small hydro projects (SHPs) in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.
• Tenure and Financial Outlay: The scheme has been approved  for FY 2026–27 to 2030–31 with a total outlay of ₹2584.60 crore.
• Capacity: It supports small hydro projects with capacity between 1–25 MW and targets installation of ~1500 MW capacity.
• Focus Areas: Special emphasis on hilly regions, North Eastern States, and border districts with high hydro potential.
• Financial Assistance: Higher support for NE and border areas (₹3.6 crore/MW or 30% cost) and lower for other states (₹2.4 crore/MW or 20% cost), with project-wise caps.
• Investment & Economic Impact: Expected to attract ₹15,000 crore investment and boost clean energy and rural infrastructure.
• Significance: Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat, decentralised energy, and contributes to India’s renewable energy and net-zero goals.

Small Hydro Power (SHP)

• Small Hydro Power (SHP) refers to electricity generated from small-scale hydroelectric projects, typically with a capacity of up to 25 MW in India.
• Working Principle: It uses the natural flow or fall of water from rivers, streams, or canals to rotate turbines and generate electricity.
• Environmental Impact: SHP is a renewable and clean energy source with relatively low environmental impact compared to large hydro projects.

PM-POSHAN

Context: A Parliamentary panel reviewed PM-POSHAN and recommended expanding its scope to address adolescent nutrition gaps and improve educational outcomes.

Key Recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee

• Breakfast: Recommended providing at least a light breakfast along with the midday meal to improve students’ nutrition and concentration.
• Expansion up to Class 10: Suggested extending the scheme to cover students up to Class 10 to ensure continued nutritional support beyond Class 8.
• Further Extension to Class 12: Proposed expanding the scheme to Class 12 within the next five years to support adolescents.
• Focus on Adolescent Nutrition: Emphasised that adolescence is a critical growth phase, and better nutrition can reduce health issues and dropout rates (especially among girls).
• Improve Learning Outcomes: Highlighted the need to link nutrition with better cognitive performance, concentration, and exam preparedness.
• Reduce Inequality in School Infrastructure: Recommended extending benefits of PM-SHRI schools to more average government schools by relaxing norms.

About PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) Scheme

• Launched in 1995 as Mid Day Meal or the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE).
• Later expanded to upper primary classes and now renamed as PM POSHAN (2021).
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme that provides nutritious cooked meals to school children to support health and education outcomes.
• Beneficiaries: The scheme covers students from Class 1 to Class 8 in government and government-aided schools, including those in special training centres.
• Objectives: It aims to improve nutritional status, increase enrolment and attendance, and reduce dropout rates, especially among economically weaker sections.
• Nutritional Provisions: Meals are designed to meet prescribed calorie and protein norms, and in some cases include fortified foods and micronutrients to address malnutrition.

Achievements of PM-POSHAN

• Coverage: Covers ~11–12 crore children in over 11 lakh schools, making it the world’s largest school feeding programme.
• Improved Child Nutrition: The scheme has significantly enhanced calorie and protein intake, helping reduce malnutrition among school children.
• Increased Enrolment & Attendance: Availability of free meals has led to higher school enrolment, regular attendance, and retention, especially in rural areas.
• Reduction in Dropout Rates: It has contributed to lower dropout rates, particularly among economically weaker sections and girls.
• Improved Learning Outcomes: Better nutrition has led to enhanced concentration, cognitive development, and academic performance.

City Gas Distribution

Context: The Union Government has urged States and UTs to fast-track approvals for City Gas Distribution (CGD) pipeline projects.

About the City Gas Distribution

• City Gas Distribution (CGD) network is a system of pipelines that supplies natural gas to households, industries, and transport within a city or region.
• Types of Supply: 
  • Provides PNG (Piped Natural Gas) for domestic and industrial use.
  • Provides CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) for vehicles.
• Objectives: To promote clean energy, reduce pollution, and improve energy access in urban areas.
  • The initiative aims to increase adoption of piped natural gas (PNG) and helps reduce reliance on LPG cylinders.
• Energy Security: India’s heavy dependence on imported LPG (~60%), makes supply vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, necessitating a shift to PNG.
• Infrastructure: Includes pipelines, compressors, metering stations, and CNG filling stations forming an integrated network.
• Regulatory Authority: Regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in India.

Sejjil Missile

Context: Iran officially deployed the Sejjil ballistic missile for the first time in active combat against US and Israeli positions.

What is the Sejjil Missile?

• The Sejjil (also spelled Sajjil or Ashura) is an indigenous, two‑stage, medium‑range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by Iran.
• It represents a major technological leap from older liquid‑fueled missiles to more reliable solid‑fuel systems.
• It was developed by Iran’s aerospace industries.
• It is nicknamed the “dancing missile” because it can maneuver at high altitudes, making interception difficult.

Key Features

• Solid‑Fuel Propellant: Can be stored fully fueled for long periods, enabling near‑instant launches.
• Two‑Stage Design: Uses two solid‑propellant motors to achieve high altitude and speed.
• Extended Range: Operational strike range of about 2,000 km, covering the Levant region.
• High Payload Capacity: Can carry a warhead weighing around 700 kg.

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