Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Tewolde Gebremariam, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, was appointed as the new CEO of Air India in 2026. He succeeds Campbell Wilson, who led the airline during its initial stabilisation and integration phase after the Tata Group regained ownership in 2022. Gebremariam is known for transforming Ethiopian Airlines into a globally successful and profitable airline group by expanding international routes, modernising its fleet, strengthening cargo operations, and developing aviation training and maintenance facilities. At Air India, he is expected to focus on operational excellence, international connectivity, customer experience, safety, and the development of world-class aviation infrastructure.

Harshita Jakhar became the first Indian woman to feature in the Tour de France Femmes in 2026. The 19-year-old cyclist participated in the event in Switzerland and led the ceremonial start of Stage Two in Aigle, completing a 4.5 km ride ahead of the professional peloton. She was also selected for the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme, which provides elite international exposure to cyclists from developing nations. Jakhar won three gold medals at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games and earned a silver and two bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Junior Cycling Championships. She trains at the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Patiala.

K Rajaraman was re-appointed as the Chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) for a further period of 27 months. The Central Government extended his tenure beyond July 31, 2026, until he reaches the age of 65 years. His extended term will conclude on October 24, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Rajaraman was initially appointed as IFSCA Chairperson in 2023 for a three-year term. IFSCA was established in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, and is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

AS Rajeev assumed charge as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on August 3, 2026, following the completion of the tenure of Praveen Kumar Srivastava. His appointment was authorised by the President of India under Section 10(1) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. Rajeev has more than 38 years of banking experience and has worked with Syndicate Bank, Vijaya Bank, Indian Bank, and Bank of Maharashtra, where he served as Managing Director and CEO. He was originally appointed as a Vigilance Commissioner on February 9, 2024. The CVC was established in 1964 based on the Santhanam Committee’s recommendations.

Monisha Chakraborty was appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), effective August 3, 2026. Before her promotion, she served as Chief General Manager-in-charge in the Department of Supervision. In her new role, she will oversee the Foreign Exchange Department and the Financial Markets Regulation Department, two important areas of the central bank’s operations. Chakraborty has more than three decades of experience at the RBI, with professional expertise in supervision, foreign exchange, and government and bank accounts. The RBI was established on April 1, 1935, and was nationalised on January 1, 1949.