Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Educate Girls, an NGO founded by Safeena Husain in 2007, has been honoured with the 2025 Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asia’s Nobel Prize for social impact. This milestone makes it the first Indian NGO ever to win this prestigious recognition. The organization has dedicated itself to enrolling out-of-school girls, ensuring their retention in classrooms, and working toward breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. The award ceremony is scheduled for November 7 in Manila, where recipients from countries like the Maldives and the Philippines will also be recognised for their contributions to society.

Dinesh K Patnaik, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, has been appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Canada, signaling a diplomatic reset between the two nations. The appointment comes after strained ties in 2023 following allegations related to the Nijjar controversy. Patnaik’s experience as Ambassador to Spain, Cambodia, and Morocco, along with his roles in the UK and ICCR, positions him to handle sensitive negotiations effectively. His parallel appointment alongside Christopher Cooter as Canada’s envoy to India reflects a joint effort to normalise relations, restore diplomatic channels, and revitalise cooperation in trade, education, and migration.

Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed as Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a three-year term beginning on August 28, 2025. Patel, who served as the 24th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from September 2016 to December 2018, brings vast experience in central banking, economic reforms, and global finance. His tenure at RBI witnessed significant events such as demonetisation, the implementation of GST, and debates on central bank autonomy. Now, as IMF Executive Director, Patel will represent India and other nations in his constituency, strengthening India’s voice in international financial policymaking.

J&K Bank has appointed veteran banker S Krishnan as its new non-executive chairman, with the appointment valid until March 2028 pending RBI approval. With over 40 years of experience in the banking sector, Krishnan has previously served as the Managing Director & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, and is currently an Independent Director on the J&K Bank board. His extensive expertise in governance, compliance, and financial inclusion makes him a strategic choice to strengthen J&K Bank’s oversight and align with national banking standards, while also boosting investor confidence during its ongoing reforms.

Teymur Abasguliyev, a senior executive from SOCAR Turkiye Enerji A.Ş., has been appointed as the new CEO of Nayara Energy. His appointment follows the exit of Alessandro Des Dorides and other European executives, who stepped down due to European Union sanctions linked to Nayara Energy’s association with Rosneft. An Azerbaijan national, Abasguliyev is an experienced professional with a background in finance and energy, having worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and served as CFO at SOCAR Turkiye Enerji A.Ş. His leadership is expected to provide stability for Nayara Energy, which operates one of India’s largest private refineries and a vast retail fuel network.