Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

KV Subramanian became the first Indian economist to receive the prestigious University of Chicago Alumni Award for Professional Achievement in the award’s 85-year history. The honour recognises his significant contributions to economic policy and research. During his tenure as Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India from 2018 to 2021, he authored three influential Economic Surveys that provided key insights into India’s economic strategy, emphasising competitive markets, policy autonomy, and inclusive growth. He has also served as Executive Director for India at the International Monetary Fund, focusing on issues affecting emerging markets. Currently, he works as a Professor of Finance at the Indian School of Business (ISB).

Justice SA Dharmadhikari was appointed as the 55th Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in 2026 after the retirement of Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava on March 5, 2026. The oath of office was administered by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. Justice Dharmadhikari began his legal career after enrolling as an advocate in 1992 and primarily practised before the Madhya Pradesh High Court. He also served as standing counsel for the Union of India. In 2016, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and later confirmed as a Permanent Judge. In 2025, he was transferred to the Kerala High Court before being elevated as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in 2026.

Dan Bailey, a veteran in the telecommunications industry with more than 35 years of experience, was appointed as the President of Jio Platforms to lead its global expansion initiatives. Based in London, he reports directly to Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, and is responsible for driving the company’s international business strategies. Bailey has previously held senior positions at major financial institutions such as Schroders/Citi, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Deutsche Bank, where he chaired the Technology, Media, and Telecom practice. His appointment reflects Jio’s commitment to expanding its digital platforms and telecom services beyond India as part of its long-term global growth strategy.

Deepak Gupta assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Limited on March 1, 2026, succeeding Sandeep Kumar Gupta, who retired on February 28, 2026. His tenure is scheduled to continue until February 28, 2029. Prior to this role, he served as Director (Projects) at GAIL from February 2022. A mechanical engineer from Delhi College of Engineering, he has extensive experience in natural gas transmission, LNG infrastructure, and large-scale energy projects. Before joining GAIL, he worked for over three decades at Engineers India Limited. His leadership is expected to support the expansion of India’s natural gas infrastructure and strengthen the country’s long-term energy strategy.

Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi received approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for reappointment as the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for an additional one-year term in March 2026. He was initially appointed in November 2023 on a contractual basis for two years with the possibility of extension. The extension ensures continuity in leadership at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India’s apex drug regulatory authority. With prior experience as Joint Drugs Controller (India) and other senior roles within CDSCO, Dr. Raghuvanshi brings significant expertise in regulatory science, pharmacovigilance, and biologics regulation, supporting ongoing reforms and global harmonisation efforts in India’s pharmaceutical regulatory system.