Society 

Centre to pay more for PM-POSHAN scheme in schools - The Hindu

The material cost for providing midday meals to schoolchildren under the PM-POSHAN scheme has been enhanced by 9.5%, which will translate to an additional cost of ₹954 crore to be incurred by the Centre in the 2025-26 financial year. 

PM Poshan Scheme

• Launch: Approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2021 with a financial outlay of Rs 1.31 trillion.
• Replacement: Replaced the National Mid-day Meal Scheme.
• Tenure: Launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22 to 2025-26).

• Coverage: Primary (1-5) and upper primary (6-8) schoolchildren receive 100g and 150g of food grains daily, ensuring 700 calories.
• Other beneficiaries: Includes children in pre-primary (balvatikas) classes (ages 3-5).
• Nutritional Gardens: Promotes use of locally-grown foods from "school nutrition gardens" to boost local economies.
• Implementation: Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
• Supplementary Nutrition: Provides supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those with high anaemia prevalence.
• Significance: Lifts the restriction on Centre funding for only wheat, rice, pulses, and vegetables, allowing additional food items like milk or eggs.
• Tithi Bhojan Concept: Community participation program where people provide special food on festivals or special occasions.
• DBT: States and UTs to implement DBT for compensating cooks and helpers, reducing leakages at district and administrative levels.
• Nutrition Expert: A nutrition expert is appointed in each school to monitor health aspects like Body Mass Index (BMI), weight, and haemoglobin levels.
• Social Audit: Mandates social audits in each school to assess scheme implementation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
   

World Affairs 

Why Trump blinked, why he is now focused only on China - Indian Express

China imposed retaliatory tariffs on the US after the latter escalated tariffs, which was a response to China's earlier retaliatory measures. The announcement of a 90-day pause on most tariffs by President Trump caught the US Trade Representative by surprise, sparking political conflict within Congress.

90-Day Tariff Pause

• Application: Applies to most countries, including India, but increases taxes on Chinese imports to 125%.
• Baseline Tariffs: The baseline 10% tariff on most nations remains in place & are primarily intended to fund tax cuts proposed by US administration.

Trump's Tariff Strategy

• Views trade imbalances as business deals: US believes that countries with trade surpluses "win."
• Influence: Largely influenced by mercantilist economists like Peter Navarro.
• Goal: To force global trade imbalances to be addressed, especially in countries like China and Germany.

China's Manufacturing Dominance

• China’s low-cost manufacturing: It has led to global dominance, with a significant share of global goods production.
• Role: This dominance has contributed to low global inflation but has also stifled domestic demand in China, exacerbating trade imbalances.
• Weak Chinese Imports: Due to China's reluctance to shift from low-value manufactured goods to higher-value products resulting in weak demand.

Structural Issues in the US Economy

• US Economic Dependence on Trade: The US economy consumes more than it produces, leading to a trade deficit.
• Impact: High tariffs disrupt the US economy, raising prices for consumers and reducing spending, which impacts overall growth.
• Economic Impact of Tariffs: Tariffs increase prices, which limits consumer spending and causes uncertainty for investors.
• Impact on growth: This reduces aggregate growth, raises inflation, and complicates the Federal Reserve’s ability to lower interest rates.
• Uncertainty of 90-Day Pause: It provides temporary relief, but it is unclear what will happen afterward, perpetuating uncertainty in the market.

Economy 

National Critical Mineral Mission - PIB 

The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector. Under this mission, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been tasked with conducting 1,200 exploration projects from 2024-25 to 2030-31.

National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)

• Objective:
  • Strategic initiative by the Ministry of Mines to ensure the long-term availability, security, and processing of critical minerals.
  • Focuses on minerals essential for clean energy technologies, economic development, and national security.
• Alignment with National Goals:
  • Supports India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
  • Aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels).

Critical Minerals

• Definition: Essential for modern technologies & national security but have supply chain risks due to limited availability/ geographical concentration.
• Identification: In 2022, a Ministry of Mines committee identified 30 critical minerals in India.
• Minerals: Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, Platinum Group Elements (PGE), Phosphorus, Potash, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium, and Cadmium.
• MMDR Act Amendments:
  • 24 minerals added to Part D of Schedule I of the MMDR Act, 1957, giving the Central Government exclusive auctioning powers.
  • A Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) will regularly review the mineral list and advise on policy.

Key Institutions and Their Role

• Geological Survey of India (GSI): Leads exploration under UNFC classification and MEMC Rules, 2015.
• Department of Atomic Energy: Identified 1,11,845 tonnes of REE oxide in Balotra, Rajasthan.
• IREL (India) Limited: Leads processing of beach sand minerals and operates Rare Earth Extraction and Refining Units.

International Cooperation

• KABIL Agreements:
  • Signed with CAMYEN SE (Argentina) for lithium exploration on 15,703 hectares.
  • Signed with Critical Minerals Office, Australia for lithium and cobalt projects.
• Top Global Producers of Critical Minerals:
  • Chile, Indonesia, Congo, China, Australia, and South Africa.

Sci and Tech 

Early screening for gestational diabetes can ensure a healthy future for mother and child - The Hindu

This World Health Day (April 7), the WHO, chose an apt theme: ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.’ Diabetologists have, for decades, been propounding the theory of primordial prevention, or preventing diabetes in the womb itself, in order to ensure a happy and healthy future for both the mother and the baby.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) 

• Impact of GDM: GDM increases the risk of type 2 diabetes for mothers and metabolic disorders for children.
• Early Screening: Evidence suggests that glucose levels should be regulated as early as the eighth week of pregnancy to prevent long-term health issues.

The Case for Early Glucose Screening

• Current Screening: GDM is typically diagnosed in the second trimester, but early intervention may be more effective.
• Risks of Late Screening: Maternal hyperglycemia in early pregnancy affects foetal metabolism, increasing the likelihood of obesity and insulin resistance in the child.

Barker’s Hypothesis and Foetal Origin of Adult Diseases

• Barker’s Hypothesis: Conditions during pregnancy, such as high blood glucose, affect long-term health, leading to metabolic disorders in adulthood.
• Revised Prenatal Care: Experts urge glucose control from the beginning of pregnancy to prevent diabetes development.

Eight-Week Strategy for GDM Prevention

• Early Testing: Glucose testing should occur by the eighth week of pregnancy to detect issues early.
• Prevention of Foetal Hyperinsulinemia: Early intervention helps prevent metabolic disturbances and reduce long-term health risks for the child.
• Medical Nutrition Therapy: Postprandial blood sugar control through diet and low-dose metformin can prevent GDM later in pregnancy.

India's Diabetes Burden and GDM Challenges

• Prevalence of Diabetes: India has over 77 million people with diabetes, with 20% of pregnant women developing GDM.
• GDM Risks: Indian women are more prone to insulin resistance, making early intervention crucial.

Challenges in India’s Maternal Care

• Late Antenatal Care: Many women in India do not seek prenatal care until the second trimester, missing the crucial screening window.
• Knowledge Gaps: Lack of awareness among both healthcare providers and patients about first-trimester hyperglycemia.

Rethinking Clinical Guidelines

• Call for Early Detection: Diabetologists advocate for early glucose screening and risk modification starting from the pre-conception period.
• Long-Term Monitoring: Continuous blood glucose monitoring for high-risk pregnant women is essential throughout pregnancy.

Recommendations for Improving Maternal Care in India

• Early Screening: Implement glucose screening by the eighth week of pregnancy across all states and territories.
• Affordable Care: Ensure accessibility and affordability of tests and treatments for both mothers and foetuses.
• Educational Programs: Develop programs to train healthcare providers, especially in rural areas, on early glucose screening.

New Standard for Maternal Health

• Diabetes Prevention from the Womb: The first eight weeks of pregnancy are critical in preventing diabetes.
• Adapting Maternal Care Standards: Given the rising diabetes epidemic in India, adopting early glucose screening is essential for long-term health.

How black rats are driving hantavirus risk - Indian Express 

A new study has found that black rats - known as invasive species - are the sole carriers of hantavirus, a deadly virus, in the rural parts of madagascar.

Key Findings of the Study

• Black Rats as Exclusive Carriers:Exclusive carriers of hantavirus in rural Madagascar.
• Introduction: These rats, introduced between the 10th and 14th centuries, have spread widely across the island.

Hantavirus: Nature and Transmission

• Transmission: Hantavirus spreads through the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents.
• Primary transmission: Occurs through aerosolized rodent waste, direct contact, or rarely, through bites.
• Human-to-human transmission: Extremely rare, with environmental exposure being the main risk.

Symptoms and Risk Groups

• Prodromal Phase (1–8 weeks post-exposure): Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Severe Phase: Can progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) or Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), causing respiratory distress, fluid accumulation in lungs, and potential heart failure.

High-Risk Groups:

• Occupational Risk: Farmers, field workers, and construction workers.
• Environmental Risk: Campers, hikers, and individuals in rodent-infested environments.
• Vulnerable Populations: Children under five, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised are particularly at risk.
   

Defence 

Centre approves ₹63,000-crore deal for procuring 26 Rafale-M jets from France - The Hindu

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), recently approved a nearly ₹63,000-crore deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy. The deal includes 22 single-seater Rafale-M jets for carrier operations and 4 twin-seater trainer variants, which are non-carrier compatible.

Rafale Fighter Jet

• Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
• Type: 5th generation, twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter aircraft.
• Performance:
  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
  • Combat radius: Over 1000 km
• Role: Designed for air superiority, ground support, reconnaissance, and anti-ship missions.

• Avionics:
  • RBE2 AESA radar
  • SPECTRA electronic warfare suite
  • Front sector optronics
  • Omnidirectional warning systems
• Engines:
  • Powered by 2 SNECMA M88 turbofan engines
  • Capable of supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners)
• Payload:
  • 14 hardpoints for external payloads
  • Can carry up to 9,500 kg of external payload.

Rafale Variants

• Rafale C: Single-seat Air Force version.
• Rafale B: Twin-seat version for training, with full combat capability.
• Rafale M: Naval version for carrier-based operations, with reinforced landing gear and tailhook.
• Other Variants:
  • Rafale N (nuclear strike)
  • Rafale R (research and development).