Context

• India signed an agreement with the US to set up its first national security semiconductor manufacturing plant 'Shakti'.

Key Highlights:

• It will produce chips for use in military hardware as well as critical telecommunications networks and electronics in both countries.
• It is also the world's first 'multi-material manufacturing plant' for national security.
• The semiconductor plant will be set up in 2025.

What is a semiconductor?

• Semiconductors are materials whose electrical conductivity is lower than conductors (such as copper, aluminum) but higher than insulators (such as glass, rubber). Their most special feature is that their electrical conductivity can be changed by temperature, light or other external factors.

Characteristics:

• Conductivity: Conductivity is between conductors and insulators.
• Temperature dependence: Their conductivity increases as the temperature increases.
• Effect of impurities: Their conductivity can be controlled by adding small impurities.
• Effect of light: Some semiconductors generate electric current when exposed to light.

Types of semiconductors:

• Intrinsic semiconductors: Semiconductors found in pure form, such as silicon and germanium.
• Extrinsic semiconductors: Semiconductors made by adding impurities to intrinsic semiconductors, such as n-type and p-type semiconductors.

Uses of Semiconductors:

Semiconductors are the basis of electronic devices. They are used in a variety of devices, such as:

• Transistors: These are used to amplify, switch and increase the signal.
• Diodes: These are used to allow electric current to flow in one direction only.
• Integrated Circuits (ICs): These contain millions of transistors and other electronic components, used in computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
• Solar cells: These convert sunlight directly into electrical energy, etc.

भारत का सेमीकंडक्टर मिशन (ISM):

• Launch: In the year 2021 (under the aegis of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)) 
• Main objective: To develop a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in the country