About Laos:

• It is located in the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
• It is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
• Official Name: Lao People's Democratic Republic
• History:
  • Colonization by the French from the late 19th to the mid-20th century infused Laos with a European cultural element, which intensified throughout the country’s embroilment in World War II and the Indochina wars, as well as a civil war of its own in the second half of the 20th century.
  • Guided by Marxist-Leninist ideology, Laos emerged from the turmoil in 1975 as a communist country.
• Bordering Countries: It is bounded to the north by China, to the northeast and east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia, to the west by Thailand, and to the northwest by Myanmar (Burma).
• Overall, the country extends about 650 miles (1,050 km) from northwest to southeast.
• Total Area: 236,800 sq km
• Highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
• Drainage:
  • All the major rivers—the Tha, Beng, Ou, Ngum, Kading, Bangfai, Banghiang, and Kong—are tributaries of the Mekong River, Southeast Asia's most significant river.
  • The Mekong flows generally southeast and south along and through western Laos and forms its boundary with Myanmar and most of the border with Thailand. 
• Climate: It has the typical tropical monsoon(wet-dry) climate of the region.
• Vegetation: Laos has tropical rainforests of broad-leaved evergreens in the north and monsoon forests of mixed evergreens and deciduous trees in the south.
• Major Mountain Ranges: Annamite Range, Luang Prabang Range
• Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
• Capita: Vientiane
• Religion: The predominant religion of Laos is Theravada Buddhism.
• Money: Kip
• Form of Government:
  • It is one of the world's few openly communist states.
  • It is a one-party state, and the general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party holds ultimate power and authority over the state and government.

Q1: What is Theravada Buddhism?

Theravada, meaning "Teaching of the Elders", is the most conservative and orthodox form of Buddhism. It emphasises attaining liberation from suffering through individual effort and meditation based on Buddha's earliest teachings in the Pali Canon. It believes in the historicity of a single Buddha, Gautama Shakyamuni.

Source: 47 Indians rescued from ‘cyber scam centres’ in Laos; embassy warns against ‘fake job offers’

About Acetanilide:

• It is a synthetic organic compound with a designated molecular formula of C8H9NO.
• It is also known as N-phenylacetamide, acetanil, or acetanilid.
• It is a white, odorless solid.
• It is functionally related to an acetic acid.
• It was introduced in therapy in 1886 as a fever-reducing drug.
• Its effectiveness in relieving pain was discovered soon thereafter, and it was used as an alternative to aspirin for many years in treating such common complaints as headache, menstrual cramps, and rheumatism. 
• Excessive or prolonged use of acetanilide engenders toxic side effects: it interferes with the function of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment of the blood. 
• In the body, acetanilide is mostly converted to acetaminophen (paracetamol), which has replaced acetanilide in therapy because it is less likely to induce blood disorders.
• It is used as an intermediate in the production of dyes, rubber, and other chemicals.

Q1: Which is hemoglobin?

It is an iron-containing protein found in the red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. It is made up of four protein molecules (globulin chains) that are connected together. Haemoglobin forms an unstable reversible bond with oxygen. In the oxygenated state, it is called oxyhemoglobin and is bright red; in the reduced state, it is purplish blue. It also plays an important role in maintaining the shape of the RBCs.

Source: Five hospitalised after inhaling some chemical compound in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizag

About Poba Reserve Forest:

• It is a rainforest located in the northeastern part of Assam.
• The Reserved Forest (RF) was created in the year 1924 and covers an area of 10,221 hectares.
• Boundaries: Towards the north are the foothills of the Himalayan range in Arunachal Pradesh; towards the east and south are the Siang, Dibang, and Lohit River systems confluence into the mighty Brahmaputra and the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park; and towards the west are the revenue villages of the Jonai Sub-division of the Dhemaji district of Assam.
• The peripheral area of the RF is inhabited by a few ethnic groups, such as Mising, Bodo, Sonowal Kachari, and Hajong (Rabha). 
• It is one of the richest rain forests of North-East India in terms of the flora and fauna found in it.
• It is home to various arboreal species, including the slow loris and capped langur. Among the most common mammal species is the wild boar.
• The forest is also a habitat for about 45 species of birds and reptiles, and the confluence of the Siang and Lohit rivers supports a diverse range of fish species.
• The forest is renowned for its variety of orchids.
• It serves as an important migratory route for various animals, particularly elephants, as it connects the D' Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal Pradesh), Kabu Chapri Proposed Reserve Forest, and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (Assam).
  • This corridor is the second significant elephant migration route from the north to the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, the other being the Panpur-Kaziranga route.

Q1. Which are the main tributaries of Brahmaputra?

The principal tributaries of the river joining from right are the Lohit, the Dibang, the Subansiri, the Jiabharali, the Dhansiri, the Manas, the Torsa, the Sankosh and the Teesta whereas the Burhidihing, the Desang, the Dikhow, the Dhansiri and the Kopili joins it from left.

Source: Poba Reserve Forest to join wildlife sanctuary list in Assam

About Metal-organic framework: 

• These are uniform structured porous materials suitable for solid-phase extraction.
• These are the multifunctional coordination polymers.
• What are 2-dimensional (2D) materials? These are a class of nanomaterials defined by their typical and unique property of being hardly one- or two-atom thick.
• The MOFs and 2D materials possess several unique features that should project them as better alternatives as sensors, than other nanomaterials.
• Both MOFs and 2D class of materials are known for their large surface area, functionality, and optoelectronic properties.
• They also have a wide range of synthesis methods and can be developed into disposable electrodes, optical kits, fiber optic sensors, colorimetric strips, etc.
• Applications
  • To develop electrochemical and optical sensors for different analytes, such as bacteria, Aflatoxins, and heavy metals.
  • It can be used for rapid and convenient detection of several health, food quality, and environmental parameters. 
  • These are also useful for analyzing food toxins such as Aflatoxins and Zearaloene in water, milk and staple food samples.

Q1: What is Nanotechnology?

It is the study and manipulation of matter at dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena allow for novel applications. Nanomaterials enable lighter, stronger, and more functional materials while nanoelectronics power faster, smaller computing.

Source: Novel nano polymers pave way for low-cost, efficient sensors

About Fluoxetine: 

• It is a common antidepressant medication.
• It inhibits the uptake of serotonin by nerve cells (neurons) and helps people with depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
• Effects of fluoxetine
  • At low concentrations, fluoxetine reduces activity levels and increased refuge-seeking behaviour in male guppy fish.
  • It also altered their body condition, increased the size of their reproductive organs, and reduced sperm velocity. These effects could have significant implications for mating success and reproductive fitness in polluted waters.
  • Fluoxetine exposure reduced behavioural plasticity in the fish, suppressing within-individual variation in both activity and refuge.
  • Individual fishes are behaving more rigidly, potentially limiting their ability to respond flexibly to their environment. 
  • High fluoxetine concentrations increased variation in body condition between individuals, while low concentrations increased variation in sperm numbers. 

Key facts about Guppy Fish

• These are a small, pretty species of fish that are extremely popular for home aquariums.
• These are a species of small tropical freshwater fish.
• These are sexually dimorphic, meaning there are distinct differences between males and females of the species.
• Male guppies are brightly colored in shades of black, green, orange, red, white, and yellow and have patterns like speckles, spots, and stripes.
• Distribution: Guppies are native to certain countries and islands in South America: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. 

Q1: What is a neuron?

These are also known as a nerve cell, is a specialized cell in the nervous system that is responsible for transmitting information through electrical and chemical signals. Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system and play a crucial role in processing and transmitting information within the body.

Source: Pharmaceutical pollutants altering fish behaviour, reproductive patterns and life history: Study

About Dispute Resolution Scheme:

• The scheme aims to reduce litigation and provide a faster and more cost-effective resolution for taxpayers.
• This initiative, established under section 245MA of the Income-tax Act, 1961, will allow taxpayers to resolve disputes electronically through Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs).
• Eligibility: 
  • Taxpayers who meet certain conditions specified in section 245MA can apply for dispute resolution.
  • This includes cases where the disputed amount does not exceed Rs. 10 lakh and the taxpayer's income for the relevant year is below Rs. 50 lakh.
  • The dispute must not involve information from searches or international agreements.
• The DRC, established in all 18 regions across the country, can modify orders, reduce penalties, or waive prosecution. They are required to decide within six months of receiving the application.

Q1: What is Income tax?

It is a financial and legal obligation in India. All individuals earning above a certain amount are required to pay income tax on their earned income. The income tax rates, income slabs, and rules are regulated by the government and are subject to change from time to time.

Source: CBDT rolls out Dispute Resolution Scheme (e-DRS), 2022, to minimise litigation

About Guru Padmasambhava:

• Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, lived in the eighth century in ancient India andne of the most-revered figures in Buddha Dhamma.
• He was known in Tibet as one of the founding fathers of Tibetan Buddhism, who appeared in Tibet in 749 A.D.
• He is credited with having spread the message of Lord Buddha to the countries and regions located in the Himalayan belt, including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Tibet.
• He was a Tantrist and a member of the Yogācāra sect and taught at Nalanda, a centre of Buddhist studies in India.
• Guru Padamasambhava also represents a consolidation of many strands of culture ranging from Yogic and Tantric practices to meditation, art, music, dance, magic, folklore and religious teachings.

Key facts about International Buddhist Confederation

• It is a Buddhist umbrella body with its base in New Delhi that serves as a common platform for Buddhists worldwide.
• It was established under the patronage of the supreme Buddhist religious hierarchy, IBC currently has a membership comprising more than 320 organisations, both monastic and lay, in 39 countries.

Q1: What is Theravada?

It means "Teaching of the Elders", is the most conservative and orthodox form of Buddhism.It emphasises attaining liberation from suffering through individual effort and meditation based on Buddha's earliest teachings in the Pali Canon.

Source: International Buddhist Confederation to organize a Two-day Conference at Nalanda, Bihar on the Life and Legacy of Guru Padmasambhava