IndiaAI and Meta announced the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Shrijan at IIT Jodhpur and the launch of the YuvAI initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building in partnership with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

This collaboration is aimed at propelling the advancement of open-source artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that the Center of Excellencewill identify and empower the next generation of AI innovators and entrepreneurs using open-source AI and exploring possibilities in Large Language Model LLMs.

It said that Srijan will encourage students and young developers in India to use open-source AI models to solve real-world problems and drive positive social and economic impact. It will mainly research in education, mobility, and healthcare domains with the global advancements in generative AI.

India and Germany today signed multiple MoUs and agreements ranging from green hydrogen to innovation and technology to boost bilateral relations. The MoUs and agreements were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New Delhi after the delegation-level talks.

India and Germany agreed on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information. Both nations also expressed their commitment to the Indo-German Green Hydrogen roadmap along with innovation and technology. They also signed an agreement for a mutual legal assistance treaty in criminal matters. India and Germany also signed a MoU on cooperation in the fields of skill development and vocational education and training. Besides, the two sides also exchanged three joint declarations of intent in the fields of employment and labour, research and development on advanced materials, and green urban mobility partnerships.

In the joint press statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s commitment to the restoration of peace in the wake of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. He said these conflicts are matters of concern for India and Germany, and India’s view has always been that problems cannot be solved through war.

NTPC has partnered with the Indian Army to establish a Solar Hydrogen-based Microgrid at Chushul, Ladakh. This significant step will provide a stable power supply using Green Hydrogen in off-grid Army locations. Today, Hon'ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of this unique project through video conferencing in the presence of Chief of India defence services, CMD, NTPC and other senior officials from Ministry of Defence, Indian Army and NTPC.

NTPC has designed this innovative Solar Hydrogen-based microgrid system to operate independently, using hydrogen as an energy storage medium to supply 200kW of power round-the-clock throughout the year. This system will replace existing diesel gensets at off-grid Army locations, providing a sustainable power supply despite harsh winter conditions, where temperatures drop to -30°C at an altitude of 4,400 meters. NTPC will maintain the project for 25 years, aiming to support Indian soldiers stationed in these strategically significant tough terrains and challenging climate.

The Solar-Hydrogen microgrid is set to replace existing diesel generators currently in use at off-grid Army locations. These systems offer numerous advantages, including the integration of renewable energy sources, a stable power supply under adverse conditions, reduced carbon emissions, and the promotion of a cleaner and sustainable energy ecosystem as they are highly scalable and suitable for various applications. Moreover, these systems combine the reliability of battery storage with the extended energy storage capability of hydrogen, ensuring a consistent power supply.

The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) will provide a 300 million euro (about Rs 2,800 crore) loan for Bengaluru suburban railway, a top official said on Friday.

"This loan of 300 million euro is for building a new suburban railway network covering four dedicated rail corridors in Bengaluru. The network will stretch over a total of 149 km and include 58 stations and two depots" EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer said here.

The project promotes a modal shift from road to rail and addresses congestion, air and noise pollution, road safety and greenhouse gas emissions while providing an affordable mobility solution to improve access to jobs and study opportunities, she said.

The second edition of the Indian Army’s flagship international seminar, the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, culminated in Delhi today. This two-day event brought together policymakers, strategic thinkers, academia, defence personnel, veterans, scientists, and subject matter experts from India and abroad to examine India’s strategic directions and developmental priorities. Prominent speakers from India, the United States, Russia, Israel, and Sri Lanka offered a global perspective on how security influences India’s developmental trajectory toward Viksit Bharat in 2047.

On the second day, the Chairman of ISRO, Dr. S. Somanath, emphasised the pivotal role India’s space sector plays in strengthening national security. The ISRO Chief discussed the significance of space in modern times, especially given the growing congestion and competition within the realm of satellite communication, navigation, space science, and earth observation.

Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, gave a lecture on India’s evolving and influential role in shaping today’s multilateral world.

The 18th edition of the NFDC Film Bazaar has announced its official selection for the Co-Production Market featuring 21 feature films and 8 web series from seven countries. Film Bazaar is organized every year alongside the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) scheduled to take place from 20th to 28th November, 2024 in Goa. This year, the Film Bazaar will be taking place from 20th to 24th November 2024, at the Marriott Resort in Goa.

This year’s official selection showcases a rich tapestry of languages, including Hindi, English, Assamese, Tamil, Marwari, Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Nepali, Marathi, Pahadi, and Cantonese. In the Film Bazaar, Filmmakers from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Australia, the UK, Germany, and Hong Kong will pitch their projects to a range of industry professionals, including producers, distributors, festival programmers, financiers, and sales agents.

The National Centre for Good Governance completed the 34th Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian Civil Servants in New Delhi today. The two-week program began on the 14th of this month in collaboration with the External Affairs Ministry. The program was attended by 35 civil servants from the Maldives, including directors, assistant directors, and senior administrators, among others. Further, this was the second program under the second phase for civil servants of the Maldives following the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding to train 1,000 Maldivian civil servants.

In wrestling, India bagged one Silver and a Bronze at the Under 23 Wrestling World Championship 2024 in Tirana, Albania last night. India’s Anjli clinched Silver in the women’s 59kg category. She finished in second place after losing to Solimiia Vynnyk of Ukraine in the final.

In Another win for India, Monika in the 68 kg scored a 5-3 victory over the Chinese opponent Xinze Du to grab a bronze medal. Earlier yesterday, India’s Vishvajit Ramchandra More bagged the Bronze medal by defeating Adam Ulbashev, 14-10, in the Men’s 55 kg Greco-Roman category.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has invited applications for Sports Awards 2024. Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson. The Arjuna Award is given for consistent outstanding performance by a sportsperson. The Arjuna Award (Lifetime) has been introduced and will be given for lifetime contribution to sports development. The Dronacharya Award goes to coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events. The applications of eligible sportspersons, coaches, and entities for the awards must be submitted at the online portal dbtyas-sports.gov.in by 14th November.

GM Arjun Erigaisi made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest Indian and only the second from the country after Viswanathan Anand to surpass the coveted 2800 Elo rating mark.

Arjun — playing for team Alkaloid in the European Chess Club Cup 2024 — beat Russia’s Dmitry Andreikin in the fifth round with White pieces to achieve the feat. This win also helped him become the World No. 3 in the live rating list.

Arjun became the 16th player to cross the 2800-rating mark.

Frenchman Alireza Firouzja, at 18 years and five months, is the youngest player to cross the 2800 barrier. Five-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen sits second on this list.