• Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have succeeded the incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps of previous centuries as the world’s light-source of choice.

What is a diode?

• A diode is an electronic component about 5 mm wide.
• It has two points of contact, or terminals, called its anode and cathode.
• A diode’s primary purpose is to allow current to flow in only one direction.
• It achieves this using a p-n junction.
  • A p-n junction is made of two materials laid next to each other.
  • One material is a p-type material: its primary charge-carriers are holes.
  • The other is an n-type material: its primary charge-carriers are electrons.

About LEDs

• An LED is a diode that emits light.
• Inside the diode’s p-n junction, the electrons have more energy than the holes.
• When an electron meets and occupies a hole, it releases energy into its surroundings.
• If the frequency of this energy is in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, the diode will be seen to emit light.
• The overall phenomenon is called
• Since LEDs can produce all three primary colours – red, green, and blue – different LEDs can be combined on a display board to produce a large variety of colours.
• LEDs have several applications in industry, consumer electronics, and household appliances: from smartphones to TV screens, from signboards to ‘feeding’ plants light in greenhouses, from barcode scanners to monitoring air quality.

• The 12^th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace was recently held in New Delhi.
• The 12th ABCP General Assembly was held under the theme: “ABCP – The Buddhist Voice of Global South.”

About ABCP

• Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) was founded in 1970 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia as a voluntary movement of followers of Buddhism with both monastic (monks) and lay members.
• It is currently headquartered at the Gandanthegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• The Supreme Head of Mongolian Buddhists, Most Venerable Khambo Lama of Gandan, Gabji Demberel Choijamts is the ABCP President.
• Striving to disseminate and implement the teachers of the Lord Buddha – the Enlightened One, on peace and harmony, compassion and loving kindness for all sentient beings, ABCP aims to-
  • Bring together efforts of Buddhists in support of consolidating universal peace, harmony and cooperation among peoples of Asia,
  • Furthering their economic and social advancement and promoting respect for justice and human dignity, and,
  • Disseminating the Buddhist culture, tradition and heritage.

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers that would be able to strike targets at 120 km and 200 km.
• Two South American countries have shown interest in the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers.

About Pinaka MBRL

• The Indian-made Pinaka weapon system is named after the bow of God Shiva and has been developed by the DRDO.
• The present rockets can strike targets at up to 75-80 Kms.
• It has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE).
• Pinaka MBRL can launch 12 high explosive rockets in 44 seconds.
• The Pinaka MBRL has been one of the success stories in the indigenous weapon systems developed by the DRDO in partnership with private and public sector units.
  • While the launcher vehicles are made by the Tata Group and Larsen and Toubro, the rockets are made by the Solar Industries and the Munitions India Limited.
• It consists of a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle.
• Pinaka regiments of the Indian Army include launchers with automated gun aiming and positioning systems and command posts.

• The PM recently visited the Veerbhadra temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Lepakshi and offered prayers.

About the temple

• Location- Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The Veerabhadra Temple is believed to have been built by two brothers, Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna, who were governors under the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16th century.
• The temple is dedicated to Veerabhadra, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
• Legend has it that when Lord Shiva’s wife, Sati, self-immolated in her father’s yagna (sacrificial fire), he was consumed with grief and unleashed his fury by creating Veerabhadra.
• The shrine also has great significance in Ramayana.
  • According to legend, Lepakshi is believed to be the spot where the mythical vulture Jatayu landed after sustaining severe injuries while trying to rescue Sita from the demon king Ravana, who had abducted her.
• The Lepakshi temple complex also has idols of Lord Vishnu, Papanatheswara, Raghunatha, Rama and other deities.
• Veerabhadra Temple’s architecture is a fusion of Vijayanagara and Chalukyan styles.
• The temple complex comprises three main shrines – Veerabhadra Temple, Papanatheshwara Temple, and Durga Temple.
• It is placed in UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage Sites list.

• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) recently launched the MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application for revised fund flow procedure under MPLAD Scheme.
• It was launched for revised fund flow procedure under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) Scheme.
• It would offer convenience and accessibility, allowing MPs to propose, track, and oversee the projects at their fingertips.
• This real-time access enhances decision-making processes, enabling swift responses to emerging needs or issues.

About MPLADs

• It is a Central Sector Scheme which was announced in December 1993.
• The objective of MPLAD Scheme is to enable the Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs in areas of drinking water, primary education etc.
• Each year, MPs receive Rs. 5 crore in two instalments of Rs. 2.5 crore each.
• Funds under MPLADS are non-lapsable.
• Area of works
  • Lok Sabha MPs have to recommend the district authorities projects in their Lok Sabha constituencies,
  • Rajya Sabha MPs have to spend it in the state that has elected them to the House.
  • Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
• Recommendation by the MPs should be done annually with works costing at least 15 percent of the MPLADS entitlement for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 5 percent for areas inhabited by the ST population.
• District authority must inspect atleast 10% of all work under implementation every year.

• Himachal Pradesh has been recognised as the ‘Best Performer’ state under the ‘State’s Start-up Ranking 2022’ in B category (having population less than one crore).
• Himachal Pradesh is evaluated on seven reform areas and 27 action points that have a significant contribution towards propelling the start-up ecosystem.
• The State was recognised as a Capacity Building Pioneer, Funding leader, Sustainability Promoter, an Incubation Hub, Mentorship Champion, an Innovative Leader and an Institutional Champion.

• The Assam government has decided to launch the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan, a scheme that aims to promote entrepreneurship among 9 million women members of self-help groups in the state
• According to the scheme, in the first phase, each applicant will be provided with a grant of ₹10,000 for the first year to start any business from a list of 145 business plans prepared by the government.
• The total amount earmarked by the scheme as part of the state annual budget is ₹3,900 crores.

• Rohit Sharma, the captain of Team India, recently became the first men’s player to feature in 150 T20 International matches.
• He achieved the milestone during the second T20I against Afghanistan.

• In a significant move to deepen cultural ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that the Government of India has decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in India under the New Education Policy.
• India recognizes six languages as classical, including Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia.
• In addition to these classical languages Pali, Persian, and Prakrit and their works of literature are to be preserved according to India’s National Education Policy-2020.

• India recently has cut its windfall tax on petroleum crude to 1,700 rupees ($20.53) a tonne from 2,300 rupees a tone.

ABOUT WINDFALL TAX

• It is a higher tax levied by the government on specific industries when they experience unexpected and above-average profits.
• Imposing of tax
  • When the government notices a sudden increase in an industry’s revenue which cannot be linked to anything the company actively pursued, such as its business strategy or expansion, it impose this tax.
  • A Windfall Tax is imposed on an industry’s profits when it experiences a sharp increase in revenue due to unrelated external events.