Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on June 3, 2026, through a notification issued by the Central Government. The appointment was made by the President of India based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. She succeeded Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, who retired on June 4, 2026. Before this elevation, she served as a Judge of the Sikkim High Court since April 2015 and held the position of Acting Chief Justice on multiple occasions. She also achieved the distinction of being the first woman from Sikkim to be elevated as a High Court Judge.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy on 31 May 2026, succeeding Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. Commissioned into the Navy in 1987, he has nearly four decades of distinguished service and is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. During his career, he commanded several important naval vessels, including INS Vikramaditya, and held key leadership positions such as Commander of the Western Fleet, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. A highly qualified officer with extensive academic credentials, he has also been honoured with the PVSM, AVSM, and VSM for his exceptional service to the nation.

Deepak Gupta has been granted an extension of his additional charge as Director (Projects) of GAIL (India) Limited for a period of six months starting from June 1, 2026, by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This arrangement will remain valid until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders are issued. He is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL, India’s largest natural gas processing and distribution company. GAIL, established in 1984 and headquartered in New Delhi, holds Maharatna status and operates under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, playing a key role in the country’s energy infrastructure and gas transmission network.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed Rohit Rajpal as India’s Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games 2026, scheduled to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026. Rohit Rajpal, who is also the Davis Cup captain and Vice-President of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), will lead the Indian contingent during the event. Alongside him, Ravi Bengani was named Deputy Chef de Mission, while Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami were appointed as General Team Managers. The leadership delegation also includes IOA President P T Usha and CEO Raghuram Iyer. The appointment aims to ensure efficient coordination and management of India’s athletes in a scaled-down edition of the Games.

Swara Lakshmi Nair, a 19-year-old chess player from Bengaluru, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the city’s first woman to earn the Woman International Master (WIM) title on May 24, 2026. She secured the title during the Sardinia World Chess Festival Open A after an important eighth-round victory against Switzerland’s Gut Rafael. Her journey toward the title included earning her first WIM norm in May 2025, demonstrating consistent progress at the international level. The WIM title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong recognition and ranks just below the Woman Grandmaster title. This achievement marks a significant advancement in her chess career and highlights her growing presence in international chess circuits.