Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Saurabh Vijay officially assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on May 18, 2026. He is a 1998-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre and has extensive experience serving in various roles within the Government of India. UIDAI functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and is responsible for issuing Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identification number for residents of India. His appointment is considered significant for strengthening the administration and implementation of India’s digital identity and governance systems.

Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi was approved by the Iraqi Parliament as the new Prime Minister on May 16, 2026. He emerged as a consensus candidate to end a prolonged five-month political deadlock in Iraq. Despite having no prior political experience, he was chosen to lead the government during a period of economic and political challenges. His appointment came along with the approval of a partial cabinet, where only 14 out of 23 ministerial positions were filled. The remaining posts stayed vacant because of internal disagreements and external pressures influencing Iraq’s political system.

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) observes its Incorporation Day on May 17 every year. GeM was incorporated on May 17, 2017, as a Section 8 non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013, to create and manage India’s national public procurement portal. Operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the platform promotes transparent and efficient digital procurement for government departments and public sector organisations. Over the years, GeM has significantly supported Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), women entrepreneurs, SC/ST businesses, and startups by providing large-scale procurement opportunities, thereby strengthening local supply chains and supporting the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Akash Ambani was appointed as the Managing Director of Jio Platforms on April 9, 2026, for a five-year term. The appointment came at a significant time as the company prepared for its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO), with plans to file draft papers by May or June 2026. Akash Ambani has been associated with Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) since October 2014 as a board member and has played an important role in the company’s expansion. Reliance Jio, launched in 2016, rapidly transformed India’s telecom sector by achieving 100 million subscribers in less than six months after its launch.

P Kumaran, a senior 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, formally took charge as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on May 15, 2026. Before this appointment, he served as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He succeeded Vikram Doraiswami, who was appointed as India’s Ambassador to China during a senior diplomatic reshuffle. P Kumaran has also held important diplomatic positions earlier, including serving as India’s Ambassador to Qatar and High Commissioner to Singapore. The role of High Commissioner is specifically used between Commonwealth nations such as India and the United Kingdom.