Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Stuti Pradhan, a young leader from Sikkim, has been chosen to represent India at the World Youth Parliament 2026, a global platform for youth engagement in policy discussions. Her selection came after her success as the state-level winner of the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025, highlighting her leadership and policy insight. She will participate alongside representatives from several countries, contributing to discussions on international issues and governance. Her participation reflects India’s emphasis on youth involvement in shaping future policies and promoting global collaboration among emerging leaders.

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti assumed charge as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) on March 18, 2026. She brings significant experience as a former Member of Parliament and Union Minister of State, having handled portfolios such as Rural Development and Consumer Affairs. Known for her work in uplifting marginalised communities, her leadership is expected to strengthen the protection and socio-economic development of the backward classes. Alongside her, Kiran Umesh Mahalle also joined as a Member, contributing her experience in grassroots governance and social welfare initiatives.

Periasamy Kumaran has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom by the Ministry of External Affairs. He is a senior diplomat with extensive international experience and is currently serving as Secretary (East) in the MEA. Over his distinguished career, he has held key diplomatic positions in Cairo, Tripoli, Brussels, Islamabad, Washington D.C., and Colombo. He has also served as Ambassador to Qatar and High Commissioner to Singapore. His appointment reflects his vast expertise in international relations and diplomacy, making him well-suited for this important role in strengthening India-UK ties.

Kiran Mani has been appointed as the Managing Director for Asia-Pacific by OpenAI, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy in high-growth markets. He is set to take on this role in June 2026 and will be based in Singapore, reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer. Mani brings extensive experience from his leadership roles, including serving as CEO of JioStar and holding key positions at global companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM. His appointment highlights OpenAI’s focus on strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in countries like India with rapidly growing user bases.

P.V. Narayana Rao, a highly experienced Chartered Accountant, has been appointed as a Co-opted Member of the Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for the 2026–27 term. With a professional career spanning over 37 years, he has contributed significantly to advancing corporate governance and sustainability practices. The SRSB plays a key role in aligning Indian corporate reporting with global standards, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, and works closely with regulatory bodies like SEBI and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.