Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Rahul Himalian, a 1999-batch Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) following the resignation of Sanjay Kumar Jain. He continues to serve as Director (Tourism & Marketing) while taking on the new responsibilities. With over 26 years of experience in railway operations, tourism, marketing, and administration, Rahul Himalian has played a significant role in IRCTC's growth. He is also known for his exceptional academic achievements, including a President's Gold Medal from IIT Delhi and a Gold Medal from NIT Hamirpur.

Vivek Nishant Nath assumed charge as the Director (Commercial) of NMDC Limited on July 18, 2026. He brings nearly fifteen years of experience with NMDC, having served in various commercial roles since 1992, along with leadership experience as Chief General Manager at Odisha Mining Corporation Limited. He has also worked with Essar Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, strengthening his expertise in the mining and steel sectors. NMDC Limited, established in 1958, is India's largest iron ore producer and a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel and plays a key role in India's mineral sector.

Serhii Koretskyi was appointed as the Prime Minister of Ukraine on July 16, 2026, after receiving approval from the Verkhovna Rada with 289 votes in favour. He was nominated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and succeeded Yulia Svyrydenko as part of a significant wartime government reshuffle. Before becoming Prime Minister, Koretskyi served as the Chief Executive Officer of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s largest state-owned oil and gas company. His appointment is expected to strengthen governance and support the country's administration during ongoing national and geopolitical challenges.

Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the leader of the UK Labour Party and is set to assume the office of Prime Minister. He succeeds Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned from the party leadership. Burnham became the Labour leader unopposed and is expected to focus on restoring public trust, strengthening public services, promoting regional economic development, and encouraging greater local government autonomy. Having served as a Member of Parliament since 2001 and held several ministerial positions, Burnham brings extensive political experience and is expected to lead the Labour government through a new phase of governance and economic recovery.

Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) by the Government of India with the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He has over 30 years of experience in satellite oceanography, tsunami warning systems, climate services, disaster risk reduction, and coastal hazard management. Before assuming this role, he headed the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Secretariat under UNESCO-IOC in Perth, Australia. He also played a key role in establishing India's Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS, significantly strengthening the country's disaster preparedness and ocean science capabilities.