Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Ashiss Kumar Dash has been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Infosys, with his five-year term beginning on April 1, 2027, after Salil Parekh completes his tenure. A graduate of IIT Kharagpur, Dash joined Infosys in 1995 and has spent nearly three decades with the company, leading several global business portfolios and digital transformation initiatives. He also headed the Energy, Utilities, and Resources (EURS) business and worked for nearly a decade in Los Angeles. His appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first internally promoted CEO in Infosys' history, reflecting the company's focus on leadership continuity and AI-driven growth.

Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education following the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on July 23, 2026. A 1994-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, he succeeded Vineet Joshi, who was transferred to the Department of Panchayati Raj. Previously serving as Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Gangwar brings extensive administrative experience. He holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering, an M.Tech from IIT Delhi, and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Rajasthan, making him well-equipped to lead higher education policy reforms.

Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor, has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening the country's national security framework. The award, announced by the Tilak Smarak Trust, will be presented on August 1, 2026, in Pune by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A retired IPS officer of the 1968 Kerala cadre, Doval has played a vital role in intelligence coordination, counter-terrorism operations, and protecting India's strategic interests, making him one of the country's most respected security strategists.

Kanishka Narayan, an Indian-origin Member of Parliament from the Labour Party, was appointed as the United Kingdom's first-ever Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence (AI) on July 21, 2026, in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's cabinet. Born in Bihar, India, and raised in Cardiff, he also became the first ethnic minority MP elected from Wales, representing the Vale of Glamorgan constituency. His appointment marks a significant milestone in the UK's governance of emerging technologies and reflects the government's growing focus on artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation.

Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new CEO of NITI Aayog by the Central Government with the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He succeeds in the role at a crucial time as India advances its Viksit Bharat@2047 vision. With nearly four decades of administrative experience in both the state and central governments, Jain has contributed significantly to governance, industrial policy, and infrastructure development. His appointment is expected to strengthen NITI Aayog’s role in policy formulation, implementation, and driving economic and institutional reforms across the country.