Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Hakainde Hichilema was re-elected as the President of Zambia for a second consecutive five-year term on August 13, 2026. Representing the United Party for National Development (UPND), he secured 2,965,326 votes, accounting for approximately 61.4% of the total votes cast. The election was conducted under Zambia’s constitutional 50% + 1 majority rule, requiring a candidate to obtain more than half of the votes to avoid a second-round run-off. Hichilema’s new presidential term will span from 2026 to 2031. Zambia’s capital is Lusaka, and its currency is the Zambian Kwacha.

Lakshmanan Meyyappan became the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant at the age of 16 years and 141 days, earning recognition from Guinness World Records in Dubai. His interest in accounting developed during the COVID-19 pandemic after completing his Class 10 examinations. Inspired by his mother, an ACCA-qualified professional, he pursued the ACCA qualification and completed it in about one year. He later obtained the CFA charter and began pursuing an MSc in Finance. He also works as a Senior Research Analyst at Century Financial in Dubai, focusing on investment research and financial analysis.

210 Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) received UN Medals for their exceptional service. The ceremony was held in Juba and recognised their contributions during crises, medical emergencies, and lifesaving missions. Among the recipients were six women peacekeepers and seven staff officers. India has a long-standing role in UN peacekeeping operations and is one of the largest providers of military and police personnel to UN missions. As of April 2026, India was also the top troop contributor to UNMISS, with 1,775 Indian military personnel deployed in South Sudan.

Dhiraj Seth, the Indian Army Chief, received the honorary General rank of the Nepali Army on August 17, 2026, during his official visit to Kathmandu. The honour was conferred by Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel. This recognition follows the long-standing tradition between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army that dates back to 1950, reflecting the cordial and close military relationship between India and Nepal. During his visit, General Seth also received a Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters and paid homage at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel.

Shabnam Sinha will succeed Sunil Bharti Mittal as the chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank from October 1, 2026, for a three-year term. Her appointment was approved by the company’s Board and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sinha is currently an independent director on the bank’s board and chairs the Special Committee of the Board for Monitoring Frauds. She brings nearly four decades of leadership experience across development finance, financial services, public policy and institutional transformation. Her experience with the World Bank and expertise in financial inclusion and digital transformation are expected to support the bank’s continued growth.