Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Neelkanth Mishra, a distinguished economist and policy expert, has been appointed as India’s next Executive Director at the World Bank. He will represent the South Asian constituency comprising India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka for a three-year term. Before this appointment, he served as Chief Economist at Axis Bank and held several important positions, including membership in the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, UIDAI, and TRAI. With extensive experience in economic research, financial markets, and public policy, Mishra is expected to strengthen India’s voice in international economic decision-making and contribute significantly to discussions at the World Bank.

Ajay Rajan assumed charge as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Protean eGov Technologies on June 1, 2026. With more than three decades of experience in banking, fintech, digital transformation, and technology-driven innovation, he is expected to lead the company's next phase of growth. Before joining Protean, he held senior leadership roles at YES Bank, overseeing areas such as transaction banking, government business, multinational banking, and Digital Public Infrastructure initiatives. He also spent nearly two decades at Deutsche Bank, including serving as Global Head of Fintech. Under his leadership, Protean aims to expand its capabilities in AI-enabled solutions, Digital Public Infrastructure, and international markets.

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on June 3, 2026, through a notification issued by the Central Government. The appointment was made by the President of India based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. She succeeded Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, who retired on June 4, 2026. Before this elevation, she served as a Judge of the Sikkim High Court since April 2015 and held the position of Acting Chief Justice on multiple occasions. She also achieved the distinction of being the first woman from Sikkim to be elevated as a High Court Judge.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy on 31 May 2026, succeeding Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. Commissioned into the Navy in 1987, he has nearly four decades of distinguished service and is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. During his career, he commanded several important naval vessels, including INS Vikramaditya, and held key leadership positions such as Commander of the Western Fleet, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. A highly qualified officer with extensive academic credentials, he has also been honoured with the PVSM, AVSM, and VSM for his exceptional service to the nation.

Deepak Gupta has been granted an extension of his additional charge as Director (Projects) of GAIL (India) Limited for a period of six months starting from June 1, 2026, by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This arrangement will remain valid until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders are issued. He is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL, India’s largest natural gas processing and distribution company. GAIL, established in 1984 and headquartered in New Delhi, holds Maharatna status and operates under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, playing a key role in the country’s energy infrastructure and gas transmission network.