Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed Rohit Rajpal as India’s Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games 2026, scheduled to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026. Rohit Rajpal, who is also the Davis Cup captain and Vice-President of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), will lead the Indian contingent during the event. Alongside him, Ravi Bengani was named Deputy Chef de Mission, while Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami were appointed as General Team Managers. The leadership delegation also includes IOA President P T Usha and CEO Raghuram Iyer. The appointment aims to ensure efficient coordination and management of India’s athletes in a scaled-down edition of the Games.

Swara Lakshmi Nair, a 19-year-old chess player from Bengaluru, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the city’s first woman to earn the Woman International Master (WIM) title on May 24, 2026. She secured the title during the Sardinia World Chess Festival Open A after an important eighth-round victory against Switzerland’s Gut Rafael. Her journey toward the title included earning her first WIM norm in May 2025, demonstrating consistent progress at the international level. The WIM title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong recognition and ranks just below the Woman Grandmaster title. This achievement marks a significant advancement in her chess career and highlights her growing presence in international chess circuits.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Elias George as the Part-time Chairman of Federal Bank on May 25, 2026, for a tenure of three years. Prior to this elevation, he served as an Independent Director on the bank’s board from September 5, 2023, reflecting his continued association with the institution. His professional background includes serving as the CEO of the Kochi Metro Rail project and as Chairman of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority. A retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, he brings extensive administrative and infrastructure experience. Federal Bank, headquartered in Aluva, Kochi, is one of India’s established scheduled commercial banks with a long legacy in the banking sector.

Piyush Singla, a 2012 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the AGMUT cadre, was appointed as the Director of the National Health Authority (NHA) for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). His appointment was made under the Central Staffing Scheme of the Department of Health & Family Welfare and was recommended by the Ministry of Home Affairs for central deputation. The tenure is co-terminus with the duration of the ABDM project and is subject to admissible staffing norms. The ABDM, launched in 2021, aims to create a digital health ecosystem in India through ABHA IDs and improved health record integration under the National Health Authority.

P. Jawahar, a 2007-batch IAS officer belonging to the AGMUT cadre, was appointed as the Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and assumed charge on May 26, 2026. His appointment brings significant administrative experience to the organisation, as he has previously served in key roles including Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry and Commissioner/Secretary in charge of Industries & Commerce and Education. MPEDA, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and headquartered in Kochi, is responsible for promoting India’s marine product exports. The appointment aims to strengthen institutional leadership in the fisheries export sector.