Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Rajiv Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, was appointed as the Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat on May 22, 2026, following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur, where he led the police force during a challenging period marked by ethnic unrest. As Secretary (Security), he becomes the administrative head of the Special Protection Group (SPG), which is responsible for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and eligible family members. He succeeded Parag Jain, who had been holding additional charge of the position.

Medha Vishram Kulkarni, a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha, was nominated as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change on May 18, 2026. The appointment was made by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. The committee plays an important role in examining government policies, reviewing proposed legislation, and assessing budgetary allocations related to scientific and environmental sectors. Parliamentary Standing Committees are essential mechanisms for detailed legislative scrutiny and oversight, helping Parliament evaluate the functioning and performance of various government departments and ministries.

Bharat Singh Chauhan was unanimously re-elected as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Chess Association (CCA) for a four-year term on May 17, 2026. The election took place during the Annual General Body Meeting held in Wasakaduwa, Sri Lanka. Under his leadership, the association approved the launch of the Commonwealth School Chess Championship, with the inaugural edition scheduled to be hosted by Malaysia in October 2026. Chauhan is a prominent chess administrator who also serves as Chairman of the FIDE Advisory Board and Deputy President of the Asian Chess Federation, contributing significantly to the growth and development of chess across the region and the Commonwealth.

Dave Cousins, a former American world champion archer, was appointed as the chief coach of India’s national compound archery team by the Archery Association of India (AAI) on May 21, 2026. He will serve as the full-time coach until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and receive a monthly salary of USD 12,000. Cousins was expected to join the Indian team before the World Cup Stage 3 event in Antalya, Turkey. His appointment is particularly significant as compound archery is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games through a mixed team event, creating new opportunities for Indian archers on the global stage.

Gunveer Singh was appointed as the new Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India on May 18, 2026. Before this promotion, he served as the Chief General Manager-in-Charge within the RBI. In his new role, he will oversee the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, which manages India’s payment infrastructure and settlement ecosystem. The appointment highlights RBI’s continued focus on strengthening digital payment systems and financial stability. Alongside his appointment, several senior officers, including Monisha Chakraborty, Suman Ray, Sudhakar Malli, and Ravi Shanker, were also empanelled for future Executive Director positions within the central bank.