Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Prateek Madhav, Co-Founder and CEO of the Assistive Technology Foundation (ATF), was honoured with the National Award for Individual Excellence by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu, recognizing his impactful contributions to the assistive technology landscape in India. His efforts have enabled over one million persons with disabilities by strengthening the AT ecosystem, supporting more than 500 assistive technology startups, and accelerating numerous ventures focused on inclusion. This recognition highlights his dedication to advancing disability empowerment on a national scale.

Brendan Nelson has been appointed as the new Chairman of HSBC, succeeding Mark Tucker, who stepped down after an impactful eight-year tenure. Nelson, who had been serving as interim chairman since October 2025, brings extensive experience in financial auditing and governance from his earlier senior roles at KPMG. His appointment signals a return to internal board leadership for the bank. As chairman, he will work closely with CEO Georges Elhedery to strengthen HSBC’s Asia-first strategic focus, navigate evolving geopolitical and financial challenges, and oversee governance until a new Audit Committee chair is appointed following the release of HSBC’s 2025 financial results.

Aparna Garg, a seasoned IRAS officer from the 1987 batch, has taken charge as the Member (Finance) of the Railway Board. With more than 36 years of experience, she has served in several key roles such as Divisional Railway Manager at Mysore, Chief Financial Advisor at the Rail Wheel Factory, and Director General of IRIFM. She is also a Chevening Fellow with an Advanced Master’s degree in Transport Economics and executive training from reputed global institutions. Her extensive background and leadership capabilities have made her well-suited for this prestigious position.

Ramakrishnan Chander took over as the Managing Director of LIC, bringing with him decades of experience since joining the organisation in 1990. Over the years, he has contributed to several major segments including marketing, pensions, and group schemes, which helped shape his leadership abilities. LIC, being India’s largest insurer and its most influential institutional investor, plays a crucial role in the nation’s financial ecosystem. With its headquarters in Mumbai and administrative oversight under the Ministry of Finance, the organisation continues to be significant in the insurance and investment landscape, making leadership transitions like this highly noteworthy.

Usha Janakiraman has taken charge as the Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India, bringing with her more than thirty years of diverse experience within the central bank. Her background spans crucial departments such as regulation, public debt management, external investments, banking supervision, and currency management. This broad exposure equips her to lead the Department of Supervision, where she will focus on strengthening risk assessment, analytical frameworks, and vulnerability evaluation across regulated financial entities. Her appointment reflects RBI’s continuous effort to bolster supervisory systems, enhance risk governance, and adopt data-driven regulatory strategies, making this update especially important for those preparing for banking and regulatory examinations.