Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

210 Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) received UN Medals for their exceptional service. The ceremony was held in Juba and recognised their contributions during crises, medical emergencies, and lifesaving missions. Among the recipients were six women peacekeepers and seven staff officers. India has a long-standing role in UN peacekeeping operations and is one of the largest providers of military and police personnel to UN missions. As of April 2026, India was also the top troop contributor to UNMISS, with 1,775 Indian military personnel deployed in South Sudan.

Dhiraj Seth, the Indian Army Chief, received the honorary General rank of the Nepali Army on August 17, 2026, during his official visit to Kathmandu. The honour was conferred by Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel. This recognition follows the long-standing tradition between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army that dates back to 1950, reflecting the cordial and close military relationship between India and Nepal. During his visit, General Seth also received a Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters and paid homage at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel.

Shabnam Sinha will succeed Sunil Bharti Mittal as the chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank from October 1, 2026, for a three-year term. Her appointment was approved by the company’s Board and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sinha is currently an independent director on the bank’s board and chairs the Special Committee of the Board for Monitoring Frauds. She brings nearly four decades of leadership experience across development finance, financial services, public policy and institutional transformation. Her experience with the World Bank and expertise in financial inclusion and digital transformation are expected to support the bank’s continued growth.

Dr Padma Gurmet, Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, was conferred the UT Ladakh State Award 2025 on 13 August 2026. The award recognised his exemplary contribution to the preservation, promotion, and development of Sowa-Rigpa, a traditional system of medicine practised in the Himalayan region. The honour was presented by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena during the UT State Awards ceremony covering the years 2022–2025. A total of 36 distinguished individuals were honoured for exceptional contributions across various fields and for their efforts toward the development of society and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Archana Varma assumed charge as the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. She is a 1995-batch IAS officer of the Assam cadre and had served as the Mission Director of the National Water Mission since September 2022. During her tenure, she worked to expand the mission’s scope beyond the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain programme. She has also served as Additional Secretary in the Central Vigilance Commission and handled vigilance matters related to the Government of NCT of Delhi.