About Urban Challenge Fund (UCF):

• It is a new centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It supports transformative and bankable urban projects through competitive "challenge-mode".
• Financial Outlay: Total Central assistance of ₹1 lakh crore.
• Tenure: It will be operational from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, with an extendable implementation period up to FY 2033–34.
• Under UCF, cities will be supported to do projects under three verticals,
  • Creative development of cities
  • Cities as growth hubs
  • Water and sanitation
• Cities will be expected to undertake reforms in urban governance, urban finance, and urban planning.
• Features:
  • Centre’s assistance under the scheme is capped at 25 percent of the cost of bankable projects.
    • This will lead to a total investment of ₹4 lakh crore in the urban sector in the next five years.
  • At least 50 percent of the project cost has to be mobilised through market-based sources such as municipal bonds, bank loans, and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
  • The remaining share may be contributed by States, Union Territories (UTs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), or other sources.
  • Projects will be selected through a transparent and competitive challenge mode, ensuring support to high-impact and reform-oriented proposals.
  • Private sector participation will be encouraged through structured risk-sharing frameworks and benchmarking of service delivery standards.
  • Credit Repayment Guarantee for Smaller Cities:
    • In order to facilitate first-time access to market finance for all Cities/ULBs in Northeastern & Hilly States and smaller ULBs (<1,00,000 population) in other States/UTs, a Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme of ₹5,000 crore has been approved.
    • The scheme will provide a Central guarantee of up to ₹7 crore or 70 percent of the loan amount (whichever is lower) for first-time loans.
  • The Fund will cover:
    • All cities with a population of 10 lakh or more (2025 estimates);
    • All State and Union Territory capitals not covered above; and
    • Major industrial cities with a population of 1 lakh or more
    • Additionally, all ULBs in hilly states, Northeastern States, and smaller ULBs with a population below 1 lakh will be eligible for support under the Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme.
    • In principle all cities will be covered under UCF.

About Kh-101 Missile:

• The Kh-101 (NATO: AS-23A Kodiak) is a Russian-made advanced stealthy long-range subsonic cruise missile that is launched from a strategic bomber.  
• The missile was developed in the late 1990s by Russia's Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (KTRV).
• It is designed to destroy ground targets such as buildings, bunkers, and military installations.
• The Kh-101 is primarily carried by Russia's strategic bombers, such as the Tu-95MS, Tu-160, and Tu-22M3, as well as the Tu-142 maritime surveillance aircraft.
• Features:
  • The missile has a streamlined airframe, which is optimized for low observability and minimal radar cross-section.
  • It has a length of approximately 7.5 m and a wingspan of about 4.4 m.
  • The missile is powered by a turbofan engine and is capable of flying at a maximum speed of Mach 0.76.
  • It has a range of 2,500 km to 3,000 km.
  • It can carry a variety of conventional warheads, including high explosive, penetrator, and cluster munitions.
  • The Kh-101 features advanced guidance and control systems, including inertial navigation, satellite navigation, and terrain mapping, which enable it to navigate and strike targets with high precision.

Kh-101 Variants:

• Over the years, the Kh-101 has undergone several upgrades and modifications to improve its performance and capabilities.
• For example, a newer version, the Kh-102, was introduced in 2015, which reportedly has a longer range and improved accuracy compared to the Kh-101. It is the nuclear-capable version of Kh-101.

About Moken People:

• Often called sea nomads or sea gypsies, the Moken are seafaring people who have been living off the coast of Thailand and Myanmar on the Andaman Sea.
• Their name, in their own language, means "sea drowned."
• The Moken have lived across the Andaman Sea for centuries, moving between the roughly 800 islands that stretch along the coastlines of Myanmar and Thailand.
• They are one of the last sea nomad peoples in the world.
• Traditionally, they travel in wooden vessels called kabang, moving with the seasons and tides.
• Fishing, diving, and gathering shellfish form the backbone of their subsistence lifestyle, and from a very young age, Moken children are immersed in the marine environment.
• Possessing a rich knowledge of the reefs, the Moken have exceptional underwater skills such as free diving and spear hunting.
• They speak an Austronesian language, a language family widely distributed across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
• Most Moken are stateless as a result of their nomadic lifestyle. They have no citizenship in Thailand or Myanmar.
• They came into the international spotlight following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami because they managed to sense warning signs from nature in the form of the sea receding, allowing them to move to higher ground away from dangerous areas.

About Crete Island:

• It is the largest island of Greece.
• It is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea.
• It is the fifth-largest Mediterranean Sea island.
• It is bordered by the Sea of Crete in the north, the Libyan Sea in the south, the Myrtoan Sea in the west, and the Karpathian Sea in the east.
• The island is characterized by a diverse landscape, including a mountain chain that runs the length of the island, sandy beaches, and fertile plains.
• Crete’s economy is primarily based on tourism, agriculture, and shipping.
• Capital and Largest City: Heraklion.
• History:
  • The island of Crete has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age by early hominids.
  • The earliest advanced European civilization, the Minoan Civilization, started on the island around 2700-1420 BCE.
  • The Minoan civilization ended after a major earthquake, and thereafter, the island’s rule was taken over by the Mycenaean civilization.
  • The island was then subsequently ruled by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Andalusians, the Venetians, and the Ottomans.
  • After the island’s independence from Ottoman rule, Crete became a part of Greece.
  • During the Second World War, the island was occupied by the Nazi German forces and also served as the battleground of the famous “Battle of Crete.”

About INS NIPUN:

• It is the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
• It has been designed and constructed in accordance with Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
  • ‘Nipun’ draws her name from Sanskrit signifying ‘one who is adept, capable, and well versed in a particular discipline’.
• This ship is highly specialised and is capable of undertaking deep sea dive operations and rescue operations at sea.
• Features of INS NIPUN:
  • The ship is installed with state-of-the-art Dive Equipment and has capability to undertake Deep Sea Saturation Diving. 
  • It is equipped with advanced dynamic positioning systems, saturation diving equipment, submarine rescue machinery, and deep-sea intervention tools.
  • It would also serve as the Mother Ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), to evacuate personnel in case of an emergency in a submarine.
  • It has nearly 75 percent Indigenous Content.

About Alanine aminotransferase:

• Also known as serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), it is an enzyme found predominantly inside liver cells.
• It is also found in other tissues such as the kidneys, heart, and muscle cells.
• It plays a crucial role in metabolism, turning food into energy.
• ALT is one component of the liver function test, which includes other liver enzymes and measures of liver function.
• The ALT test is often part of an initial screening for liver disease.
• What is an ALT test?
  • An ALT test is also known as a serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) test or an alanine transaminase test.
  • When liver cells are damaged or inflamed, ALT leaks into the bloodstream. This causes serum ALT levels to rise.
  • An increase in ALT is often the first sign of a liver problem, and ALT is often elevated before other symptoms appear.
  • ALT testing is performed on a blood sample.

About NAKSHA Project:

• NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) is a modern, GIS-based urban land parcel mapping initiative.
• It aims to revolutionize urban land records across Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in States and Union Territories.
• The program operates under the broader framework of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
• Technology: NAKSHA specifically leverages cutting-edge technology to create highly accurate digital maps for complex urban and peri-urban habitations across multiple states and Union Territories, ensuring our cities are future-ready.
• Implemented by: The initiative is being implemented with the technical support of Survey of India and National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI).
• Nodal Ministry: It was launched by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development.
• Objectives of NAKSHA Programme:
  • To create a comprehensive geospatial database for urban land records
  • To use aerial and field surveys integrated with GIS technology
  • To enhance land governance, streamlines property records, and supports urban planning
  • To improve decision-making, ensures efficient land use, and facilitates smoother property transactions

About Arctic Council:

• It was established by the Ottawa Declaration in 1996.
• It is an intergovernmental forum for addressing issues related to the Arctic Region.
• It is not a treaty-based international organization but rather an international forum that operates on the basis of consensus, echoing the peaceful and cooperative nature of the Arctic Region.
• Member Countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Russian Federation, and the United States
• It has six Permanent Participants (PP) groups representing the indigenous people of the Arctic.
• Observer States: Observer status in the Arctic Council is open to non-arctic states, inter-governmental and inter-parliamentary organizations, global and regional and non-governmental organizations.
  • India is currently one of the 13 observer countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, U.K., India, China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Italy and Switzerland) of the Arctic Council.
  • Observer countries do not have decision-making powers or voting rights. While they cannot independently direct Arctic Council policies, they may contribute to scientific research and provide capped financial support to specific Working Group projects.
• Function: The Council focuses its work on matters related to sustainable development, the environment, and scientific cooperation.
• Traditionally, the Council is chaired by the foreign minister of the country holding the chairmanship.

About Cloudburst:

• A cloudburst is an extreme weather phenomenon characterized by an intense and sudden downpour of rain.
• While it can also occur in plains, the phenomenon is most common in hilly regions.
• According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cloudburst occurs when a small area, around 20-30 sq. km, receives 10 cm or more of rain in an hour.
• Impact: Short spells of very heavy rainfall over a small geographical area can cause widespread destruction.
• How does a cloudburst form?
  • It typically begins with convection, when warm, moist air rises rapidly into the atmosphere.
  • In mountainous areas, this is called orographic lifting, where monsoon winds are forced upwards by steep slopes.
  • As the air rises, it cools and condenses into towering cumulonimbus clouds, which can be up to 15 km tall.
  • Water droplets begin to form inside these clouds and, as they get heavier, they would normally fall as rain.
  • However, if the currents of warm air moving upwards are very strong, they can keep the raindrops suspended in the air for longer.
  • Eventually, the weight of the water droplets becomes too great for gravity and the updrafts to hold, or the updrafts weaken, sending the water plummeting down like an ocean descending on the ground.