Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Ravi Shastri, a former Indian cricketer and head coach of the Indian national team, was among the eleven sportspersons recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai. His illustrious cricketing career, followed by his impactful tenure as coach, made him a deserving recipient. The award ceremony also honoured other notable figures from diverse sports such as billiards, shooting, chess, hockey, and badminton, including names like Shubhangi Kulkarni and Michael Ferreira. Shastri’s contribution to Indian cricket, both on and off the field, has been widely acknowledged, and this award stands as a testament to his enduring legacy in sports.

Nandan Nilekani has been appointed as the Chief Mentor for the India Energy Stack, a major digital initiative launched by the Ministry of Power. The India Energy Stack aims to create a unified digital public infrastructure for the power sector, addressing the current fragmentation across energy producers, consumers, grid operators, regulators, and financial institutions. As a digital framework, it will enable real-time coordination and data exchange across the energy ecosystem. With his expertise in building large-scale digital platforms like Aadhaar, Nilekani’s leadership is expected to guide the successful development and implementation of this transformative national infrastructure.

Kesavan Ramachandran was appointed as the Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on July 1, 2025. With over three decades of experience in banking supervision, risk monitoring, currency management, and central banking training, his elevation is a strategic move to bolster the RBI’s regulatory framework. He previously served as the Principal Chief General Manager in the Risk Monitoring Department and as Principal of the RBI Staff College. His leadership is especially crucial as the central bank strengthens prudential regulation to enhance financial stability amid increasing global financial complexities and evolving non-banking sector dynamics.

Rear Admiral V Ganapathy, a highly experienced and decorated officer of the Indian Navy, has taken over as the new Commandant of the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT), Pune, on June 30, 2025. His appointment comes at a crucial juncture in India's defence landscape, where integration across the Army, Navy, and Air Force is being emphasized. MILIT, which functions under the Integrated Defence Staff, trains officers in advanced military technologies and joint operations. Rear Admiral Ganapathy brings strategic vision, operational experience, and academic depth to the role, making him well-suited to guide MILIT in the era of AI, cybersecurity, and multi-domain warfare.

Ravi Agrawal, a senior officer from the 1988 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), has been reappointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) till June 2026. His tenure extension was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, ensuring leadership continuity in the country’s apex direct tax policymaking body. Agrawal first assumed the role in June 2024 and had previously served as a Member (Administration) since July 2023. His reappointment highlights the government's trust in his ability to navigate ongoing economic challenges and reforms within India’s taxation system, particularly in a time of fiscal and administrative transformation.