Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2026

Correct Answer :   IIM Shillong

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IIM Shillong has partnered with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to promote entrepreneurship in the Northeast through the STEM Program.

This 18-month initiative will offer training, mentorship, and incubation support to emerging entrepreneurs, aiming to foster sustainable and innovative businesses in the region.

The program will be overseen by the IIM Shillong Foundation for Incubation and Enterprise (IIMSFIE), reinforcing IIM Shillong's commitment to regional development and entrepreneurship support.

Correct Answer :   Asian Development Bank

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided significant financial support to Assam's renewable energy initiatives by approving a $434.25 million loan.

This funding will facilitate the construction of a 500 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic facility in the Karbi Anglong district, substantially enhancing the state's renewable energy capacity.

The project includes a battery energy storage system to ensure grid stability and meet peak power demands.

By promoting sustainable energy development, ADB's loan aligns with India's goals of reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy security.

This collaboration demonstrates ADB's commitment to supporting environmentally friendly infrastructure projects in developing regions.

Correct Answer :   Sweden

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The Government of India has appointed Dr. Neena Malhotra as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Sweden. Currently serving as an Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr. Malhotra is an esteemed Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1992 batch.

She has a distinguished career, having previously served as the Indian Ambassador to Italy, the Republic of San Marino, and the United Nations Organizations in Rome. Dr. Malhotra holds a PhD from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi and is expected to assume her new role shortly..

Source : MEA

Correct Answer :   Assam

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today (24th Oct 2024) approved a $434.25 million loan to increase renewable energy capacity and improve energy security in the state of Assam, India.

“Addressing the renewable energy capacity shortage in Assam is crucial to meet growing demand and reduce dependency on fossil fuels,” said ADB Principal Energy Specialist Jiwan Acharya.

“This project will help Assam develop a renewable energy road map and increase its solar energy capacity to achieve its target of 3,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030.”

The Assam Solar Project will construct a grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in Karbi Anglong district with a capacity of 500 MW. The project will support the development of a grid-connected battery energy storage system to ensure grid stability and meet peak power demand. This storage system will be established through a joint venture between the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. Tripura Power Company Ltd.

ADB will help attract private sector investment into renewable energy by strengthening the state’s public–private partnership (PPP) framework and build its capacity to develop and manage renewable energy PPP projects. The project will help establish a PPP agreement to develop an additional 250 MW solar PV facility in the Karbi Anglong district.

The project will improve the distribution of electricity around the solar PV facility and neighboring rural areas by replacing overhead power distribution lines with aerial covered conductor cable and installing new distribution transformers.

ADB will provide an additional $1 million technical assistance grant from its Clean Energy Fund under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility to support project implementation, awareness-raising, and capacity building of the APDCL and surrounding communities.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region..

Source : ADB

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.