Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Michael Kremer was appointed as the new Chief Economist of the World Bank Group, with his tenure scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026. He succeeds Indermit Gill in the position and will lead the World Bank’s research division. Kremer is a Nobel laureate who received the 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences jointly with Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. He is a professor at the University of Chicago and heads the Development Innovation Lab. His research mandate includes poverty reduction, healthcare, education and access to clean water.

Dileep Sanghani was elected as an At-Large Director to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global Board for the 2026-2030 term on September 15, 2026. The election was finalised during the ICA General Assembly held at the Panama Convention Centre in Panama. A total of 116 voters representing 66 countries participated, with 16 cooperators from 16 countries elected to the Global Board. Dr Ariel Guarco was elected unopposed as ICA President, while Harsh Sanghani became President of the Youth Committee. Dileep Sanghani is also a former President of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI).

Luke Lindberg has been appointed as the next Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). A 37-year-old American agriculture official, Lindberg serves as the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. He will succeed Cindy McCain, who served as WFP Executive Director from April 2023 to May 2026. Before joining the USDA, Lindberg established South Dakota Trade and held senior positions at the US Export-Import Bank. His appointment comes at a time when the WFP faces significant funding challenges while millions of people worldwide continue to experience severe food shortages.

Anant Nag, the veteran Kannada actor, was announced as the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 for his exemplary contribution to Indian cinema. He has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Marathi cinema. Nag also gained widespread recognition for his work in the television series Malgudi Days. He completed 50 years in the film industry in 2023. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest cinema honour and was instituted by the Government of India in 1969. The award recognises outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, has been appointed as the ICC Deputy Chairperson until November 2027. He succeeds Imran Khwaja, who resigned from the ICC Board. Mukuhlani represents Zimbabwe Cricket at the ICC Board and has served on several ICC committees, including the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee and the Nominations Committee. He also heads the HR and Remuneration Committee. His appointment is historic as he becomes the first Zimbabwean to serve as ICC Deputy Chairperson. His tenure coincides with preparations for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.