About HbA1c Test:

• A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that shows average level of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past two to three months.
• An A1C test measures the percentage of RBCs that have glucose-coated hemoglobin.
• An A1C test can show average glucose level for the past three months because:
  • Glucose sticks to hemoglobin for as long as the RBCs are alive.
  • RBCs live about three months.
• High A1C levels are a sign of high blood glucose from diabetes.
• Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
• With treatment and lifestyle changes, blood glucose levels can be controlled.

About SCALP Missile:

• The SCALP missile, also known as Storm Shadow, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile.
• It was developed together by France and the United Kingdom.
• It is in service with multiple NATO and allied air forces.
• Features:
  • It is powered by turbojet engines and has a range of 250 km.
  • The missile has a tandem warhead configuration, comprising a shaped charge for initial penetration and a secondary high-explosive charge for enhanced lethality.
  • Capable of night and all-weather operations, SCALP is particularly effective for penetrating hardened bunkers and ammunition stores.

About Himalayan Griffon:

• It is one of the nine species of vultures found in India.
• It is a type of Old World Vulture.
• Scientific Name: Gyps himalayensis
• Distribution:
  • It is found along the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan region and is also found in the Central Asian mountains.
  • Occasionally it migrates to northern India, but migration usually only occurs altitudinally.
• Features:
  • These are monogamous, and pairs return to the same nesting and roosting sites from year to year.
  • Nests are built on ledges or in small caves.
  • These are diurnal and mostly solitary
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened.

About Kimberley Process (KP):

• It is a coalition of governments, civil society and the diamond industry to eliminate the trade in so-called conflict diamonds.
  • Conflict diamonds are defined by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSC resolution 1459) as “rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments”.
• Based on a mandate from the United Nations, the Kimberley Process regulates the international trade in rough diamonds.
• Participants in the scheme are required to:
  • Satisfy ‘minimum requirements’ and establish national legislation, institutions and import/export controls;
  • Commit to transparent practices and to the exchange of critical statistical data;
  • Trade only with other participants in the Scheme;
  • Certify shipments as conflict-free.
• Currently it has 60 participants, representing 86 countries (with the EU as a single participant) which account for more than 99% of the global rough diamond production and trade.
• The KP meets twice a year at the Intersessional and Plenary meetings. It is chaired by a participating country on an annual, rotating basis.
• As a consensus-based body, the KP relies on the constructive engagement from all participants of the tripartite structure.

What is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)?

• It is the mechanism the KP uses to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds.
• Under this scheme, the Government implements safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds and certifies the diamond as conflict-free.
• According to this Scheme, each rough diamond shipment must be accompanied by the Kimberley Process certificate and transported in a tamper-resistant container.
• The KP certificate states the authenticity of the rough diamond.
• Since 2003, India has been actively participating in the KPCS process.
  • The Department of Commerce is the nodal Department.
  • Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is designated as the KPCS Importing and Exporting Authority in India.
  • GJEPC is responsible for issuing KP Certificates and is also the custodian of KP Certificates received in the country. 

About Mons Mouton:

• Mons Mouton is a mountain located near the South Pole of the Moon.
• Its peak is largely flat, which is favorable for landing.
• It is situated in the South Circumpolar Region (SCR) of the Moon.
• It is believed to be positioned on the rim of the South-Pole-Aitken basin (the largest and most ancient impact basin on the Moon). 
• This area is also important because it receives sunlight for a long time.
• Importance of Mons Mouton Area:
  • The Mons Mouton area is of particular scientific interest because it lies near permanently shadowed craters believed to contain water-ice deposits.
  • Studying samples from this region could help scientists better understand the Moon’s geological history and the distribution of lunar resources.
  • Radio communication with Earth also remains clear from this region, which prevents any major contact issues during the mission.

About Ethylene Glycol:

• It is the simplest member of the glycol family of organic compounds.
• Properties:
  • It is a colourless, odourless, slightly viscous liquid with a faintly sweet taste.
  • It mixes easily with water and alcohol, does not evaporate quickly.
  • It remains stable over a wide temperature range, and is inexpensive to manufacture. 
• Impact of Human Health: Ethylene glycol metabolism produces toxic metabolites that can cause significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated.
• Applications
  • It is used to make antifreeze and de-icing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats.
  • It is also used in hydraulic brake fluids and inks used in stamp pads, ballpoint pens, and print shops.
  • It is also used as a reagent in making polyesters, explosives, alkyd resins, and synthetic waxes.

About Swavalambini Scheme:

• It is a woman Entrepreneurship Programme which empowers young women with the skills and confidence needed to establish their own businesses.
• It introduces a structured, multi-stage training approach to help young women transition from ideation to successful enterprise creation.
• It aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among female students, equipping them with awareness of available support mechanisms, schemes, resources and networks essential for pursuing entrepreneurship as a career.
• It is implemented through National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati.
• Programme Structure
  • Target group: 1200 female students from Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) and Universities
  • Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP): The female students undergo introductory programme on entrepreneurial awareness through entrepreneurial awareness programme.
  • Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): It covers business aspects like skilling, finance, market linkages, compliance, and networking
  • This is followed by mentorship and handholding support to help participants translate their ideas into sustainable enterprises.
• Support: MSDE will oversee the execution, supervision, and monitoring of the programme.
  • NITI Aayog will provide mentoring support, facilitate seed funding, and recognize successful entrepreneurs through the Award To Reward (ATR) initiative.

About Mangrove clam:

• Mangrove clams, commonly known as mud clams, locally called 'Kandal Kakka' in northern Kerala.
• It belongs to the genus Polymesoda or Geloina.
• Habitat: They are found in muddy, brackish and even nearly freshwater regions within mangrove swamps.
• Distribution: These are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Characteristics of Mangrove clam:
  • It is a burrowing bivalve inhabiting organic-rich muddy substrates in intertidal mangrove ecosystems. 
  • This species display remarkable tolerance, enabling them to thrive across a broad spectrum of salinity levels.
  • It is a filter-feeding species, primarily active during low-tide immersion stages characterized by frequent inundation.
  • It plays a crucial ecological role by recycling nutrients, stabilising sediments and strengthening mangrove ecosystems.
  • Threats: In India, particularly along the east coast and in island regions, wild stocks have been steadily declining due to indiscriminate harvesting, habitat degradation, pollution and coastal development.

About Eritrea:

• Location: It is located in the Horn of Africa.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti.
• Bordering Seas: It has an extensive coastline on the Red Sea to the north and east. 
• It is a member country of African Union, COMESA(Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa).
• Capital City: Asmara
• Geographical features of Eritrea:
  • Climate: The climate of Eritrea is tropical desert on the coast and the eastern plain, mild semiarid in the mountainous belt and tropical semiarid in the south-west.
  • Highest Peak: Mount Emba Soira
  • Major Rivers:  Tekezé, Mereb, and Barka
  • Islands: It includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands.
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of copper, potash, zinc, oil, natural gas, cement, gypsum, granite, marble, ceramics, limestone, and iron ore.