About Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the eastern fringe of Guwahati city in Assam.
• The sanctuary was formed by merging three reserve forest areas: South Amchang Reserve Forest, Amchang Reserve Forest, and Khanapara Reserve Forest.
• It stretches from the Brahmaputra River in the north to the hilly forests of Meghalaya in the south, forming a continuous forest belt through Meghalaya’s Maradakdola Reserve Forests.
• Vegetation: Khasi Hill Sal Forests, East Himalayan Mixed Deciduous Forest, Eastern Alluvial Secondary Semi-evergreen Forests, and East Himalayan Sal Forests.
• Flora: The forest is dominated by teak, white iris, axle wood, terminalia, wild java plum, elephant rope tree, beechwood, bitter champa, black dammer tree, cluster fig, and arjun trees.
• Fauna:
  • Among the mammals found here are Asian elephants, leopards, fishing cat, Asian palm civet, tadpole, different species of monkeys, gaur or Indian bison, sambar, barking deer, porcupines, mongooses, wild pigs, rabbit, flying squirrel, and otter.
  • It shelters both resident and migratory birds such a jungle fowl, doves, egrets, teals, partridges, woodpeckers, hornbills, kingfishers, bulbuls, and many others.
  • Tree yellow butterflies (gancana harina) are also found at the Amchang wildlife sanctuary. These butterflies are indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Northeast India.

About Glutathione:

• Glutathione is an antioxidant produced in the body through enzymatic reactions.
• It is a tripeptide consisting of three amino acids (glutamate, cysteine, and glycine) and is naturally produced in the liver.
• These amino acids that make up glutathione are non-essential amino acids that our body can produce on its own when needed.
• In addition to being produced naturally by the body, glutathione can be given intravenously, topically, or as an inhalant. It’s also available as an oral supplement in capsule and liquid form.
• Some of the most abundant food sources of glutathione include cabbage, Brussels sprouts, garlic, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower.
• Benefits:
  • Glutathione is often called the “master antioxidant” because of its crucial role in protecting and detoxifying cells.
  • It is involved in tissue building and repair, making chemicals and proteins needed in the body, and in immune system function.
  • It also can play a role in treating certain genetic conditions.
• Glutathione levels in the body may be reduced by a number of factors, including poor nutrition, environmental toxins, and stress. Its levels also typically decline with age.

About Mogrus shushka and Mogrus pune:

• These are two newly discovered arachnids belonging to the genus Mogrus, a group of medium-sized jumping spiders typically found in the arid regions of Africa, Europe, and Asia.
• Mogrus shushka:
  • It was identified in Desert National Park, Rajasthan, a region better known for its sand dunes and iconic desert wildlife.
  • Derived from the Sanskrit word shushka for 'dry,' the name reflects the extreme, arid conditions in which the spider thrives.
  • It is highly adapted to intense heat, low humidity, and sandy terrain, conditions that define the Thar desert.
• Mogrus pune:
  • It was discovered in the Alfa Laval Biodiversity Park in Maharashtra. It was named after the city of Pune.

About Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in Jharkhand.
• It is situated around the Dalma Hills on the Chottanagpur Plateau.
• The Sanctuary gets its name from the “Dalma mai” a local goddess who is revered and worshipped by the local people and the people of adjoining villages of Dalma. 
• Terrain: The terrain here is hilly and rocky, with dense forests and grasslands. 
• River: The entire forest of Dalma Sanctuary falls in the catchment of the Subarnarekha River.
• It features two prominent waterfalls, Sitaguldi and Dassam.
• Vegetation: The forests of Dalma come under the category “Dry peninsular Sal” and “Northern dry mixed deciduous Forest”.
• Flora: Medicinal plants like Ananatmula, Satawari, Sarpgandha, etc. are abundant in the sanctuary. 
• Various types of trees, climbers, herbs, shrubs, and orchids are found here. 
• Fauna:  Besides elephants, the sanctuary has a considerable population of other wildlife like barking deer, wild boar, giant squirrel, porcupine, pangolin, sloth bear, etc.

About National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust:

• It is set up by the Central Government for the purposes of regional and detailed exploration of minerals using the funds accrued to it and in such manner as prescribed by the Central Government.
• It was established under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, (MMRDA).
• Structure: It has a two-tier structure:
  • Apex Body: It is the Governing Body, chaired by the Minister of Mines. It holds the overall control of the Trust.
  • Executive Committee: It is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, administers and manages its activities.
• Funding: To implement mandated activities an NMET Fund has been established.
  • The NMET Fund receives money from holders of mining lease or a prospecting license-cum-mining lease, an amount equivalent to two percent of royalty paid in terms of the Second Schedule of the MMDR Act.
• Functions of NMET:
  • Funding special studies and projects designed to identify, explore, extract, beneficiate and refine deep-seated or concealed mineral deposits;
  • Undertaking studies for mineral development, sustainable mining, adoption of advanced scientific and technological practices and mineral extraction metallurgy;
  • Detailed and regional exploration for strategic and critical minerals
  • Facilitating a national core repository for encouraging research in earth sciences and for evaluation of the mineral prospects.

About Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool:

• It is a new domestic maritime insurance scheme designed to safeguard the country's shipping and trade interests during periods of global instability.
• It is a Centre-backed mechanism designed to ensure uninterrupted and affordable maritime insurance coverage.
• Coverage: The BMI Pool will provide insurance support to Indian-flagged vessels, Indian-controlled ships, and vessels carrying cargo to or from India, including those passing through volatile maritime routes.
• It will cover a wide range of risks, including hull and machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity, and war risk insurance.
• The BMI Pool will initially run for 10 years, with the possibility of a five-year extension.
• Significance: It is expected to strengthen India’s self-reliance in marine insurance, build domestic expertise in underwriting and claims management, and ensure continuity of coverage in case of global disruptions or sanctions. 

About Dung Beetle:

• The Dung Beetle is scientifically known as the Scarabaeidae family within the Animal Kingdom’s order Coleoptera.
• Appearance:
  • They are robust, compact insects known for their hard, protective exoskeletons and strong, clawed legs adapted for digging and rolling dung.
  • They vary in color, with some species displaying dull, black or brown hues, while others exhibit metallic shades of blue, green, or copper.
• Distribution: Dung beetles are found worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica.
• Habitat: They live in habitats that range from desert to forest.
• They feed on the feces of large herbivores during both their larval and adult stages. 
• Dung beetles span three main lifestyles: rollers (ball-makers), tunnelers (bury beneath), and dwellers (live in the pat).
• Several dung beetles navigate using celestial cues; some use the Milky Way as an orientation reference during straight-line rolling.
• Many scarabs have fan-like (lamellate) antennae that open to sample odors-useful for locating fresh dung fast.
• Ecological Role: They play major ecological roles in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, seed dispersal, and parasite/flies suppression.

About Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana:

• It is a flagship rural development programme of the Government of India, launched in 2000.
• Objectives: Providing all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size.
• Eligibility Criteria of PMGSY Scheme:
  • The eligibility criteria under the PMGSY scheme were primarily based on population size and connectivity status.
  • In plain areas, habitations with a population of 500 or more were eligible, provided they were unconnected.
  • For regions in North-Eastern states, Himalayan states, and Himalayan Union Territories, the threshold was reduced to a population of 250 or more, as per the 2001 Census.
• It is implemented by the following agencies: 
  • State Governments / UT Administrations will designate Executing Agencies to implement the programme.
  • At the District level, the programme will be planned, coordinated, and implemented through Programme Implementation Units (PIUs).
  • PIUs will be manned by competent technical personnel.
  • State Governments will establish suitable linkages with District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs).
• Funds will be released to DRDAs
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development