Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Ramakrishnan Chander took over as the Managing Director of LIC, bringing with him decades of experience since joining the organisation in 1990. Over the years, he has contributed to several major segments including marketing, pensions, and group schemes, which helped shape his leadership abilities. LIC, being India’s largest insurer and its most influential institutional investor, plays a crucial role in the nation’s financial ecosystem. With its headquarters in Mumbai and administrative oversight under the Ministry of Finance, the organisation continues to be significant in the insurance and investment landscape, making leadership transitions like this highly noteworthy.

Usha Janakiraman has taken charge as the Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India, bringing with her more than thirty years of diverse experience within the central bank. Her background spans crucial departments such as regulation, public debt management, external investments, banking supervision, and currency management. This broad exposure equips her to lead the Department of Supervision, where she will focus on strengthening risk assessment, analytical frameworks, and vulnerability evaluation across regulated financial entities. Her appointment reflects RBI’s continuous effort to bolster supervisory systems, enhance risk governance, and adopt data-driven regulatory strategies, making this update especially important for those preparing for banking and regulatory examinations.

Paschal Donohoe has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group, bringing with him over twenty years of experience across public administration, economic policy, and the private sector. His background includes serving as Ireland’s Minister for Finance and holding the influential role of President of the Eurogroup, where he played a major part in steering EU financial coordination during challenging periods. With additional corporate experience from Procter & Gamble, Donohoe is well-positioned to lead the World Bank’s knowledge initiatives, strengthen global cooperation, and enhance evidence-based solutions for development challenges across emerging and developing economies.

Sipan Garg has taken on the additional responsibility of CMD of THDC India Ltd beginning November 16, 2025, after the sudden passing of R K Vishnoi. Alongside this new role, he continues to serve as Director (Finance), a position he has held since August 17, 2024. With over 24 years of experience in finance, taxation, and power-sector operations, he brings deep expertise to this leadership post. His earlier engagements as CFO in prominent NTPC subsidiaries further strengthen his capability to guide THDC during a crucial period of operational continuity and strategic expansion.

Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, appointed Piyush Gupta, former CEO of DBS Bank, as its non-executive Chairman for India, effective December 1, 2025. In this role, Gupta will guide India-focused investment strategies, support portfolio companies, and strengthen engagement with government and business stakeholders. Gupta’s extensive experience, including leading DBS Bank through a digital transformation and regional expansion across Asia-Pacific, positions him to provide strategic insight and deepen Temasek’s presence in India. His appointment reflects the firm’s commitment to long-term growth in key sectors such as financial services, technology, healthcare, and clean energy.