October - 2024 Current Affairs

Correct Answer :   Nvidia

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Reliance Industries and Nvidia announced (24th Oct 2024) a partnership to build large-scale AI infrastructure in India in a move that could accelerate India's artificial intelligence capabilities. The announcement came during a fireside chat between Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the Nvidia AI Summit 2024 in Mumbai.

The partnership will see Reliance deploying Nvidia's latest GB 200 supercomputer technology to build a massive AI infrastructure.

"India will start with what is the absolute best technology you have," Ambani told Huang during their conversation at the Jio World Centre. "We are building infrastructure for 1 GW, which can be expandable to multiple at one location."

The collaboration aims to make AI accessible and affordable to India's 1.4 billion population, following a model similar to what Reliance's Jio did for mobile data. Ambani highlighted how Jio currently delivers data at 15 cents per gigabyte compared to the global average of $3.5, demonstrating the company's ability to democratise technology at scale.

Huang highlighted India's unique advantages in the AI race, citing the country's large pool of IT talent, vast amounts of digital data, and a massive user base that can create an "AI flywheel." Nvidia, which has over 10,000 engineers in India, sees the partnership as crucial for building indigenous AI capabilities.

The initiative aligns strongly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for AI in India. Huang revealed that PM Modi had articulated the importance of India manufacturing its own AI rather than "exporting data to import intelligence" during their previous interactions.

"Modi ji said, India should not just export flour to import bread. We should add value to the data ourselves," Huang said recalling his past meeting.

Both leaders also acknowledged the role of open-source AI models, particularly Meta's Llama, in democratising AI development. Mukesh Ambani suggested that Indian developers could use Llama as a foundation to potentially develop more advanced Indian language models in the future.

The partnership marks a significant step in India's AI journey, combining Nvidia's cutting-edge technology with Reliance's execution capabilities and infrastructure expertise..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Justice Sanjiv Khanna

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President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday (24th Oct 2024) appointed Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the 51st Chief Justice of India.

Justice Khanna, who is likely to take oath on 11 November 2024, will succeed CJI D Y Chandrachud who is due to retire on November 10, 2024.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 11 November 2024,” the government notification said.

Justice Khanna will have a relatively short tenure of just six months — he is due to retire on March 13, 2025.

A graduate of Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre, he enrolled as an advocate in 1983 and primarily practised before the Delhi High Court.

Before his elevation as judge of Delhi High Court in June 2005, he served as Senior Standing Counsel of the Income Tax Department and was also the standing counsel on civil matters for the Delhi government.

Justice Khanna carries an illustrious surname in the legal circles – his father Dev Raj Khanna was a judge of the Delhi High Court and his uncle Hans Raj Khanna was the most senior of the Supreme Court puisne judges who resigned after he was passed over for chief justiceship during the Emergency.

In the last few months, Justice Khanna has in fact been in the same courtroom as his uncle – Courtroom Number 2, where a life-size portrait of the senior Justice Khanna hangs..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Infosys

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Infosys has introduced two innovative small language models : Infosys Topaz BankingSLM and Infosys Topaz ITOpsSLM, designed to facilitate the adoption and scaling of AI technologies in enterprise settings.

Developed on the NVIDIA AI Stack, these models are part of the broader Infosys Topaz offerings.

They aim to provide a solid foundation for businesses to create specialized AI models tailored to their needs, enhancing efficiency and integration within banking and IT operations.

This launch signifies Infosys's commitment to advancing AI solutions in industry-specific applications.

Correct Answer :   Andhra Pradesh

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Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, aims to counter its declining fertility rate of 1.70, which is below the national average.

The proposed law would incentivize having more children, with Naidu suggesting only candidates with two or more children be allowed to contest local body elections.

This move addresses concerns about the state's ageing population and potential labour shortages. Southern states, including Andhra Pradesh, face significant demographic challenges due to low fertility rates.

Correct Answer :   October 24

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The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrates its Raising Day on October 24 annually to commemorate its founding in 1962, following the Sino-Indian War.

This elite paramilitary force safeguards India's sovereignty, securing the India-China border in the Himalayas.

With over 88,000 personnel, ITBP has evolved into a multi-dimensional force, handling border security, disaster relief, internal security, and international sporting events.

Correct Answer :   Riyadh

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The 2024 Pravasi Parichay event was inaugurated by Ambassador Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan in Riyadh, highlighting India's rich linguistic heritage through a unique play, quiz, and painting exhibition ¹.

This cultural celebration, launched in partnership with Indian diaspora associations, aims to promote India's diversity abroad.

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, hosted this significant event, demonstrating the country's efforts to engage with the Indian diaspora and foster cultural exchange.

The event showcased performances in all 11 classical languages recognized by India, including Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.

Correct Answer :   Shillong

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Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, has emerged as the top destination for Indian travellers in 2025, showcasing its growing appeal.

This picturesque city's scenic charm, rich cultural heritage, and natural beauty have propelled it to the forefront of travel trends.

Skyscanner's report highlights Indian travellers' increasing interest in exploring newer and offbeat destinations.

Shillong's popularity underscores the region's potential for tourism growth, offering a unique blend of natural attractions, cultural experiences, and adventure activities that cater to diverse traveller preferences.

Its ranking surpasses international destinations like Baku, Azerbaijan.

Correct Answer :   Hong Kong

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Hong Kong's government has taken measures to enhance cybersecurity by prohibiting apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Google Drive from being installed on official computers.

This decision aims to mitigate potential risks, acknowledging the territory's relatively low cybersecurity awareness.

While civil servants may use these apps on personal devices, the ban on government computers demonstrates Hong Kong's commitment to protecting sensitive information.

By implementing these guidelines, the government seeks to safeguard its digital infrastructure and maintain data integrity, setting a precedent for other regions to prioritize cybersecurity.

Correct Answer :   IIT Guwahati

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The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati's Centre for Career Development (CCD) successfully hosted the "Leadership Summit 2024," a two-day corporate-academia event centred around the theme "Grooming Young Talents."

The summit brought together nearly 50 delegates from leading companies, including Google, NetApp, BNY Mellon, Micron, Kanoria Foundation, Dalmia Cement, Groww, NRL, and Reliance-BP, among others.

During the event, Professor Lalit Mohan Pandey, Head of the Centre for Career Development, delivered the welcome address. This was followed by an overview of the summit from Prof. Vivek Padmanabha, Faculty Coordinator for Internship and Personality Development, at IIT Guwahati.

During his address, Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director, of IIT Guwahati, emphasised the institute's unwavering commitment to advancing skill development, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving research excellence..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   October 24

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World Development Information Day is observed annually on October 24, coinciding with United Nations Day.

Established by the UN General Assembly in 1972, this day aims to raise global awareness about development issues and promote international cooperation for sustainable development.

By commemorating this day, the international community emphasizes the importance of mobilizing public opinion and leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to address global inequalities and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The date highlights the interconnectedness of development challenges and the need for collective action.