Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Ashok Meena, Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), chaired the 7th District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad on April 15, 2026. The meeting focused on accelerating the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen Phase 2. Key initiatives discussed included Jal Arpan for asset transfer to Gram Panchayats and Jal Seva Aankalan for performance assessment. The session also highlighted digital governance tools like Sujala Gaon ID and Sujalam Bharat App, along with district-level achievements in water supply, sanitation, and waste management across various regions.

Carlos Alcaraz was appointed as the Global Brand Ambassador of Infosys as part of a multi-year partnership announced on April 15, 2026. He represents the company in promoting the use of advanced technologies such as Generative AI and data analytics in professional sports. Alcaraz, a highly accomplished tennis player, has won seven Grand Slam titles and became the youngest male World No. 1 in history. His association also includes collaboration through his foundation for social initiatives, while Infosys leverages its AI platform, Topaz, to enhance performance analytics and coaching strategies.

In April 2026, a major political shift occurred in Bihar when Nitish Kumar resigned from the post of Chief Minister. Following this, Samrat Choudhary was elected as the leader of the NDA legislative party and took over as the new Chief Minister. His appointment marked a historic moment as he became the first Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. The swearing-in ceremony took place on April 15, 2026. The new government structure also includes two Deputy Chief Ministers from the Janata Dal (United), reflecting a coalition governance model in the state.

On April 10, 2026, Sunil Bajpai took charge as the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He is a senior officer from the 1990 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and has held several important roles in tax administration and governance. Before this appointment, he served as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax-5 in Mumbai. His experience includes positions in the National Security Council Secretariat and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. With strong academic qualifications from IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, and IIM Lucknow, he brings significant expertise to the role.

Roman Gofman is the individual appointed as the new head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. He succeeds the outgoing chief and is set to begin his five-year tenure in June 2026. His appointment is notable because he does not come from a traditional intelligence background, making him the first leader of the agency with such a profile. Having migrated from Belarus at a young age, he built a distinguished military career in the Israel Defence Forces, serving in key command roles and later as military secretary to the Prime Minister before assuming this position.