Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Justice A Muhamed Mustaque was appointed as the 24th Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court and took oath on January 4, 2026, at Lok Bhawan, Sikkim, administered by Governor Om Prakash Mathur. Prior to this, he served as Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. His appointment ensures smooth judicial administration, continuity in the legal process, and effective handling of constitutional, civil, and criminal matters. Leadership transitions like this strengthen the credibility, independence, and efficiency of the higher judiciary in India while supporting institutional stability at the state level.

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, marking an important transition in the state’s judicial leadership. He is currently serving as a judge of the Allahabad High Court and was recommended for the position by the Supreme Court Collegium. He will assume charge after the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice upon attaining the age of 62. The appointment reflects the functioning of the collegium system in judicial appointments and ensures continuity in court administration, effective case management, and constitutional oversight within the Uttarakhand High Court.

A K Balasubrahmanian has taken charge as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, marking an important leadership transition in India’s nuclear regulatory framework. He brings with him around four decades of experience as a nuclear engineer and is widely recognized for his expertise in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) safety, ageing management, and reactor technologies. Prior to this appointment, he chaired the PHWR Project Design Safety Committee and served on multiple AERB safety review panels. His appointment reflects continuity and depth of technical leadership in nuclear safety regulation.

Ramesh Kumar Juneja has taken charge as the Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), the apex body promoting Indian leather, footwear, and related products in global markets under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. With over 40 years of experience, including founding the JC Group and pioneering global collaborations, Juneja brings deep industry knowledge and long-standing institutional involvement with CLE. His leadership is expected to strengthen India’s international leather trade, focus on value addition, innovation, and market diversification, and address challenges such as sustainability standards and global competition, thereby supporting the sector’s growth and export potential.

Ida Liu was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HSBC Private Bank effective January 5, 2026, succeeding Gabriel Castello, who had been serving as Interim CEO. With over 25 years of global experience in private banking and wealth management, including leadership roles at Citi Private Bank, Ida Liu brings expertise in wealth management, strategic advisory, and business transformation. Her appointment underscores HSBC’s strategic focus on strengthening its global private banking operations and managing Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) client portfolios in an increasingly competitive financial sector.