{"id":161769,"date":"2025-04-11T18:51:40","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T13:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=161769"},"modified":"2025-04-11T18:57:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T13:27:52","slug":"news-in-shorts-11-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/news-in-shorts-11-april-2025","title":{"rendered":"News in Shorts: 11 April 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Project ICE-CRUNCH<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Context: <\/b>The<\/span> Indo-Swiss Joint Research Project \u201cICE-CRUNCH<\/b> (Ice nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei properties in the North-Western Himalayas) has<\/span> been recently launched.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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  • The <\/span>first ever \u201cHimalayan High Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Research Centre\u201d<\/b> has also been inaugurated.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    About Project \u201cICE-CRUNCH<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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    • It is a <\/span>collaborative study between Indian scientists and researchers from ETH Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland<\/b><\/li>\n
    • Aim: <\/b>The project aims at <\/span>exploring the properties of ice nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei in the region.<\/b><\/li>\n
    • Significance: <\/b>To understand the <\/span>role of aerosols in cloud microphysics and their broader implications<\/b> on climate systems and precipitation in the Himalayan region.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      About the Himalayan High Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Research Centre<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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      • The centre will serve as a c<\/span>rucial gateway for cutting-edge climate research in the north-western Himalayas.<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Location:<\/b> The centre has been launched in the higher<\/span> hill reaches of Nathatop, Jammu and Kashmir.<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Collaboration: T<\/b>he centre is established in partnership with the, <\/span>Ministry of Science & Technology<\/b>, the <\/span>Government of Jammu and Kashmir<\/b>, the <\/span>Central University of Jammu <\/b>and the<\/span> Swiss National Science Foundation\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Objective:<\/b> To<\/span> study atmospheric processes in free tropospheric condition<\/b>s, a key requirement for <\/span>understanding cloud formation, weather patterns, and aerosol interactions.<\/b><\/li>\n
      • Affiliated To: <\/b>The Centre will be<\/span> affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization\u2019s (WMO) Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Programme.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u00a0<\/p>\n

        PM-POSHAN Scheme<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

        Context: <\/b>The Central Government has increased the material cost for midday meals by 9.5% <\/span>under the PM-POSHAN<\/b> scheme.<\/b><\/p>\n

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        • This w<\/span>ill lead to an extra cost of \u20b9954 crore for the Centre in the 2025\u201326 financial year.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          About PM-Poshan Scheme<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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          • The PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier called the Mid-Day Meal Scheme) was approved from 2021-22 to 2025-26.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Implemented by<\/span> the Ministry of Education.<\/b><\/li>\n
          • It provides one hot cooked meal to students in:<\/span>\n
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            • Bal Vatika (pre-primary)<\/b><\/li>\n
            • Classes 1 to 8<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Covers around 11.80 crore children in 11.20 lakh government and government-<\/span>aided schools.<\/b><\/li>\n
            • Implemented across all states\/UTs, without discrimination<\/span> based on gender or social class.<\/b><\/li>\n
            • Main Objectives<\/b>\n
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              • Fight hunger and improve education for schoolchildren.<\/span>
                \n<\/span>Improve nutritional status of students in government and aided schools.<\/span><\/li>\n
              • Motivate children, especially from poor and disadvantaged families,<\/span> to:<\/b>\n