Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Anugraha Narayana Das, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has taken charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). With over three decades of experience in defence finance and public administration, he has held several key positions across ministries and defence establishments. His expertise includes auditing, budgeting, procurement policy, and expenditure monitoring. As CGDA, he is responsible for managing defence accounts, ensuring transparency, auditing expenditures, and advising on financial matters. His leadership is expected to strengthen accountability and efficiency in defence spending, which is a crucial component of government expenditure.

Rohit Jain was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in banking supervision, financial regulation, and risk management. Prior to this role, he served as an Executive Director at the RBI, handling critical responsibilities in supervision and vulnerability assessment. His appointment reflects the government’s focus on strengthening the central bank’s leadership with experienced professionals. With strong academic qualifications and professional certifications, he is expected to play a key role in addressing emerging financial challenges and maintaining stability in India’s banking and regulatory systems.

Bharat Khera, a 1995-batch IAS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He brings over three decades of administrative experience across both central and state governments. His career includes key roles in the Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Secretariat, and Department of Consumer Affairs. With expertise in policy implementation and governance, he is expected to strengthen the MSME sector, which contributes significantly to India’s GDP. His leadership aims to enhance growth, innovation, and efficiency within this crucial segment of the economy.

V. Hanumantha Rao was appointed as the Advisor for Backwards Classes Welfare and Development by the Telangana government. This position carries the rank of a State Cabinet Minister, highlighting its significance in policymaking and governance. He is an experienced political figure who has previously served as both a Member of the Legislative Assembly and a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament. His appointment reflects the government’s focus on strengthening welfare initiatives for backward classes. Alongside his appointment, other advisory roles were also filled, contributing to a broader administrative framework in the state.

Suresh Sethi was appointed as the Group Country Manager for India and South Asia by Visa, a major global digital payments company. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing business strategy and operations across six South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Based in Mumbai, he reports to the Regional President for Asia Pacific. Prior to this role, he served as Managing Director and CEO of Protean e-Gov Technologies Ltd, where he played a key role in developing Digital Public Infrastructure. His leadership experience makes him well-suited for this strategic regional position.