Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Saurabh Vijay, an IAS officer of the 1998 Maharashtra cadre and the CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has taken charge as the CEO of the IndiaAI Mission. His appointment comes at a crucial time as India expands its artificial intelligence ecosystem through the ₹10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission. The initiative focuses on developing indigenous AI models, strengthening AI infrastructure, supporting startups and researchers, creating AI-ready datasets, and promoting responsible AI adoption. With extensive experience in public administration, finance, and governance, Saurabh Vijay is expected to play a key role in advancing India’s ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Neelkanth Mishra has been appointed as India’s next Executive Director at the World Bank. A highly respected economist, he has extensive experience in economic policy, financial markets, research, and public policy advisory roles. Before this appointment, he served as Chief Economist at Axis Bank and held several important positions, including membership in the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. As Executive Director, he will represent India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka at the World Bank. His appointment reflects India’s increasing role in global economic governance and international financial decision-making.

Veteran Diplomat Vipul, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Before this appointment, he was serving as India’s Ambassador to Qatar and had previously held several important diplomatic positions, including Consul General of India in Dubai and Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs. With nearly three decades of diplomatic experience and deep expertise in Gulf affairs, Vipul is expected to play a significant role in strengthening India’s relations with Saudi Arabia in areas such as energy, trade, investment, defence cooperation, and regional security.

Neelkanth Mishra, a distinguished economist and policy expert, has been appointed as India’s next Executive Director at the World Bank. He will represent the South Asian constituency comprising India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka for a three-year term. Before this appointment, he served as Chief Economist at Axis Bank and held several important positions, including membership in the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, UIDAI, and TRAI. With extensive experience in economic research, financial markets, and public policy, Mishra is expected to strengthen India’s voice in international economic decision-making and contribute significantly to discussions at the World Bank.

Ajay Rajan assumed charge as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Protean eGov Technologies on June 1, 2026. With more than three decades of experience in banking, fintech, digital transformation, and technology-driven innovation, he is expected to lead the company's next phase of growth. Before joining Protean, he held senior leadership roles at YES Bank, overseeing areas such as transaction banking, government business, multinational banking, and Digital Public Infrastructure initiatives. He also spent nearly two decades at Deutsche Bank, including serving as Global Head of Fintech. Under his leadership, Protean aims to expand its capabilities in AI-enabled solutions, Digital Public Infrastructure, and international markets.