Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Suresh Goyal has been appointed as the Director General of NCAER, one of India’s most respected economic policy think tanks. With more than three decades of experience across public and private sectors, he brings strong expertise in infrastructure finance, policy implementation, and strategic leadership. Prior to this role, he served as the Managing Director and CEO of the National Highway Infra Trust, supporting India’s National Monetisation Pipeline. As Director General, he is tasked with expanding NCAER’s research capabilities, setting up new policy centres, strengthening engagement with governments, and enhancing evidence-based policymaking to support India’s long-term economic growth objectives.

Milan Nedeljković has been appointed as the new CEO of BMW, taking over from long-serving chief Oliver Zipse. With a career at BMW spanning three decades, Nedeljković brings extensive technical expertise and global production leadership, making him well-suited to guide the company through increasing competition and the shift to electric vehicles. His leadership will be critical for executing BMW’s next-generation all-electric “Neue Klasse” models and optimizing manufacturing efficiency. The transition reflects BMW’s strategic focus on innovation, cost management, and maintaining its global market position amid the rapidly evolving automotive sector.

Meta India has appointed Aman Jain as its new Head of Public Policy, reflecting the company’s focus on strengthening engagement with India’s evolving digital and regulatory environment. With over 20 years of experience across government roles and global technology firms, Jain is well positioned to lead Meta’s policy strategy in the country. In his role, he will oversee government and regulatory engagement, guide discussions on digital safety, data governance, competition, and artificial intelligence, and become part of Meta’s India leadership team, reporting to the Asia Pacific policy leadership.

PNB Housing Finance has appointed Ajai Kumar Shukla as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a key leadership transition for the company. With extensive experience in banking and financial services, Shukla is expected to strengthen the organisation’s growth strategy, enhance operational efficiency, and support long-term expansion in India’s housing finance market. His expertise in retail lending, credit operations, governance, and strategic planning positions him well to lead the company amid rising housing demand and increasing competition, while reinforcing confidence among investors, customers, and regulatory stakeholders.

Dinesh Khatak, a senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force from Jind district in Haryana, was conferred the Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal in recognition of his outstanding contributions to national security. His career is marked by exemplary leadership, operational excellence, and disciplined service across some of the most sensitive regions of the country. He has served extensively in Jammu and Kashmir during challenging periods, contributed significantly to counter-insurgency training at CIAT Shivpuri, and is currently posted in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district. The award reflects both his personal dedication and the crucial role of the CRPF in maintaining internal security.