India’s First-Ever Climate Change Station
▪ India has inaugurated the Himalayan High Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Research Centre at Nathatop, Jammu & Kashmir, marking a major milestone in global climate science.
▪ Strategic Location: The centre is located at an altitude of 2,250 meters above sea level in Nathatop, chosen for its clean air and minimal pollution.
▪ Which makes the centre Awards & Honours ideal for high-accuracy atmospheric and climate measurements.
▪ The centre will facilitate cutting-edge studies on cloud formation, aerosol interactions, and weather patterns.
▪ It will enhance India’s leadership in climate science and support efforts to meet global climate targets, including the country’s commitment to net-zero emissions (by 2070).
▪ ICE-CRUNCH: The inauguration marked the launch of the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Project, ICE-CRUNCH (Ice Nucleating Particles and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Properties in the NorthWestern Himalayas).
o It focuses on understanding Ice-Nucleating Particles (INPs) and cloud condensation nuclei (tiny suspended particles, either solid/liquid), pivotal to climate modelling and precipitation patterns in the region.
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025
▪ The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to boost self-reliance in the critical minerals sector and support India’s clean energy goals.
▪ It is a strategic initiative by the Ministry of Mines aimed at ensuring long-term availability, security, and processing of critical minerals that are vital for clean energy technologies, economic development, and national security.
▪ It aligns with India’s commitments to net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
▪ Critical minerals are those that are essential for modern technologies and national security, but have supply chain risks due to their limited availability or geographical concentration.
▪ Their ‘criticality’ changes over time depending on technological demand and supply dynamics.
▪ 30 critical minerals were identified by a Ministry of Mines committee in 2022- Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium, and Cadmium.
▪ Applications of Critical Minerals – Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Energy Storage Systems, Also used in electronics, defence, aerospace, and medical technologies.
