Nvidia’s Jetson Orin Nano Super: A Compact, Affordable AI Supercomputer

GS 3: Science and Technology: AI Supercomputer

Why is it in the news?

• Nvidia, the leading maker of graphic processing units (GPUs), recently unveiled its new compact generative AI supercomputer, the Jetson Orin Nano Super, on December 17. This latest offering combines enhanced performance, a software upgrade, and affordability.
• Notably, Nvidia has priced the developer kit for this supercomputer at just $249 (around Rs 21,147). Compact enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand, the Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit caters to a wide audience, from commercial AI developers to students, providing them with the capability to develop their own AI tools.

Features of Jetson Orin Nano Super

• Nvidia describes the Jetson Orin Nano Super as a “compact, yet powerful computer” designed to redefine generative AI for small edge devices. It offers up to 67 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) of AI performance, a 1.7x improvement over its predecessor.
• TOPS is a critical metric for assessing the computational capacity of AI and neural processing unit (NPU) chips, which mimic human brain functions to accelerate AI tasks. The supercomputer supports advanced generative AI models such as vision transformers, large language models, and vision-language models.
• With a memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s and a CPU frequency of 1.7 GHz, the Jetson Orin Nano Super is a high-performance machine. However, it does not come with built-in storage, requiring users to download the operating system onto a microSD card to boot the system, similar to the Raspberry Pi.

Applications of Jetson Orin Nano Super

• Nvidia CEO emphasized the versatility of the Jetson Orin Nano Super, highlighting its ability to run CUDA, CudNN, and TensorRT to create AI systems capable of reasoning and planning. Developers can use it to build robots, workstations, and various AI applications across industries.
• Key use cases include smart surveillance with real-time anomaly detection, facial recognition, and object identification through camera connectivity. Robotics can leverage its high-performance AI for autonomous manufacturing and logistics, while healthcare can use it for tasks like sorting and delivering.
• Small businesses can deploy predictive analytics and chatbots, making AI accessible for organizations of all sizes. It also supports applications in research, education, autonomous vehicles, and content creation, enabling innovation across diverse fields.

Romanian Presidential Elections Annulled Amid Allegations of Russian Interference

GS 2: International Relations: Romania’s court annulled Presidential elections

Why is it in the news?

• On December 6, Romania’s constitutional court annulled the presidential elections, just two days before the run-off ballot, amid allegations of Russian interference.
• The unprecedented decision followed suspicions of irregularities after Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner with 22.9% of the vote in the first round held on November 24.
• Georgescu, a professor of environmental sciences and an independent candidate, had previously polled in single digits but gained momentum. A former honorary member of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, he is known for his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticism of Romania’s NATO and EU memberships.
• The AUR had also proposed him as a Prime Ministerial candidate after securing second place in the December 1 legislative elections.

Why Were the Polls Annulled?

• The Constitutional Court ordered a recount following complaints from two eliminated candidates in the first round. The recount confirmed the initial results, and the judges approved the run-off scheduled for December 8.
• However, subsequent events led the court to conclude that the elections were marred by multiple irregularities, prompting the annulment.

Allegations of Russian Interference

• Romania’s National Security Council declassified documents from the Interior Ministry revealing evidence of Russian cybercrimes, information leaks, and sabotage. Reports highlighted the activation of 800 TikTok accounts, created in 2016, in support of Georgescu a month before the elections, with thousands more activated closer to the polling date.
• Over 100 paid influencers with millions of followers allegedly promoted Georgescu’s campaign. Romania’s secret service (SRI) identified thousands of cyberattacks originating from Russian platforms routed through multiple countries, distorting public information.
• TikTok was accused of giving preferential treatment to Georgescu by not labelling his video posts as political advertisements, although the platform has denied wrongdoing and removed thousands of disputed posts. Telegram and Discord were also implicated in these covert operations.

Status of Investigations

• Romania’s media watchdog has lodged a complaint with the EU regulator, alleging TikTok’s algorithms unfairly amplified Georgescu’s content.
• Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the commission could investigate TikTok for potential violations, with penalties reaching up to 6% of its global turnover. TikTok has been ordered to preserve all data related to European elections for further scrutiny.

Factors Behind Georgescu’s Appeal

• Georgescu’s rise cannot solely be attributed to TikTok’s influence. His ultra-nationalist rhetoric resonated with voters dissatisfied with the longstanding dominance of the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party.
• Economic hardships, including high inflation, a growing fiscal deficit, and balance of payments issues, along with widespread corruption and disregard for the rule of law, have fuelled populist and extremist narratives.

Russian Influence in the Region

• Concerns over Russian interference extend beyond Romania. Moscow’s strategies include disinformation, cyberattacks, and covert funding of pro-Russian figures.
• Investigations in Belgium and the Czech Republic have exposed Russian-backed campaigns, leading to sanctions and criminal proceedings.
• In Moldova, Russia has been accused of destabilizing the pro-EU government and meddling in President Maia Sandu’s re-election and an EU accession referendum.

What Lies Ahead?

• A re-run of Romania’s presidential elections is expected next year, with the Mayor of Bucharest declaring candidacy. Georgescu has vowed to challenge the annulment in the Supreme Court.
• Meanwhile, Romanian tax authorities have initiated financial investigations against social influencers involved in his campaign, some of whom have fled the country.

Parliamentary Panel Recommendations on MSP and Farmers’ Welfare

GS 3: Economy: Committee’s Recommendations on MSP

Why is it in the news?

• A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing presented its first report on December 17, outlining a series of measures to improve farmers’ welfare.
• Chaired by former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the report was tabled in the 18th Lok Sabha and covered demands for grants (2024-25) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• The report is significant in light of ongoing farmer protests in Punjab and Haryana demanding a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Key Recommendations

1) Legal Guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP)

• Implement a legally binding MSP to ensure financial stability for farmers, reduce market volatility, alleviate debt burdens, and improve mental health.
• Develop a roadmap for legally guaranteeing MSP and present regular reports in Parliament on its implementation and impact.

2) Compensation for Paddy Stubble Management

• Provide compensation to farmers for managing and disposing of paddy stubble to mitigate environmental concerns caused by crop residue burning.
• Propose a ₹2,000 per acre bonus for farmers, with shared funding by the Centre and state governments.

3) Enhancing PM-KISAN Support

• Double the annual monetary assistance under PM-KISAN from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000.
• Extend seasonal incentives to tenant farmers and agricultural labourers.

4) Addressing Financial Imbalance in Rural Households

• Acknowledge the disparity between rising incomes and faster-growing expenditures, as highlighted by the NABARD Survey on Rural Financial Inclusion (2022-23).
• Implement measures to reduce dependency on loans and manage financial stress.

5) Debt Waiver for Farmers and Laborers

• Introduce a debt waiver scheme to alleviate financial distress and reduce farmer suicides.
• Address the increasing percentage of rural families relying on loans, which rose from 47.4% in 2016-17 to 52% in 2021-22.

6) Increasing Budgetary Allocations for Agriculture

• Reverse the declining share of agriculture in the central plan, which dropped from 3.53% in 2020-21 to 2.54% in 2024-25.
• Address the slowing agricultural growth rate, which fell to 1.4% in 2023-24, the lowest in seven years.

Other Key Recommendations

• Universal Crop Insurance: A compulsory insurance scheme for smallholder farmers with up to 2 acres of land, modelled on the PM-JAY health insurance scheme.
• National Commission for Minimum Living Wages: Establishing a body to address the rights of agricultural labourers.
• Department Renaming: Renaming the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to the Department of Agriculture, Farmers, and Farm Labourers Welfare to reflect a broader focus on agricultural labourers’ welfare.

Arun Kapur Conferred Bhutan’s Prestigious Honor for Contributions to Education

GS 2: Society: Recognising the contributions towards education

About the news

• Indian educationist Arun Kapur, known for founding schools in India, Bhutan, and Oman, was honoured with Bhutan’s prestigious ‘Bura Marp’ (red scarf) and ‘Patang’ (ceremonial sword) by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel during the 117th Bhutanese National Day celebrations at Thimphu’s Changlimathang stadium.
• The rare honour, accompanied by the title ‘Dasho,’ is typically reserved for senior Bhutanese officials. In 2019, Kapur had previously received the ‘Druk Thuksey’ award for his contributions to establishing the Royal Academy school and developing the Bhutan Baccalaureate educational system.

Gagan Gill and Easterine Kire to Receive Sahitya Akademi Awards

GS 1: Culture: Sahitya Akademi Awards

Why is it in the news?

• Hindi poet Gagan Gill and English novelist Easterine Kire are among the 21 recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Awards. Gill was selected for her poetry collection Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar, while Kire was honoured for her novel Spirit Nights.

More about the news

• The awards cover various categories, including eight books of poetry, three novels, two short stories, three essays, and works in literary criticism. Other winners include Sohan Kaul for his Kashmiri novel Psychiatric Ward, and Paul Kaur for her Punjabi poetry book Sun Gunvanta Sun Budhivanta: Itihaasnama Punjab.
• The poetry awardees include K. Jayakumar (Malayalam), Haobam Satyabati Devi (Manipuri), Dileep Jhaveri (Gujarati), Sameer Tanti (Assamese), Mukut Maniraj (Rajasthani), and Dipak Kumar Sharma (Sanskrit).
• Aron Raja won in the novel category for his Bodo book Swrni Thakhai, and Yuva Baral’s Chhichimira (Nepali) and Hundraj Balwani’s Purzo (Sindhi) were selected in short stories.
• Additionally, Mukesh Thali (Konkani), Mahendra Malangia (Maithili), and Baishnab Charan Samai (Odia) received awards for their essays. A.R. Venkatachalapathy (Tamil) was recognized for his research, and Maheshwar Sorn for his Santali play Seched Sawnta Ren Andha Manmi.

About Sahitya Akademi Award

• The Sahitya Akademi Award, established in 1954, is a prestigious literary honour conferred annually by Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters.
• It recognizes exceptional literary works in the languages recognized by the Akademi, as well as translations from and into Indian languages. The Akademi awards 24 prizes each year—one for each of the languages it recognizes.
• In addition to the 22 languages mentioned in the Constitution of India, English and Rajasthani are also included in the award’s scope.
• The Sahitya Akademi Award is India’s second-highest literary distinction, following the Jnanpith Award.

Criteria for Selection

• The author must be of Indian nationality.
• The book must be an outstanding contribution to its respective language and literature.
• In cases of equal merit, the author’s overall literary contribution and standing will be considered.

Other Sahitya Akademi Awards

• Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar: Awarded for significant contributions to children’s literature, based on works published within the five years preceding the award.
• Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar: Given to authors under the age of 35 for works published in the relevant year.