Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Seema Agrawal, a senior IPS officer, has been appointed as the new Director-General of Police (DGP)/Director of Fire and Rescue Services. She stepped into this role following the retirement of the previous DGP, Abhash Kumar, on March 31. Before her current posting, she served as the DGP of Civil Supplies, demonstrating her strong leadership and experience in high-responsibility roles. Her appointment is part of a larger reshuffle involving several IPS officers, aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency within the state police force. This strategic move underscores the importance of experienced leadership in essential public safety departments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Mitra Vibhushana, the highest civilian honour for Heads of State and Government in Sri Lanka. The award was presented by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in recognition of Modi's efforts to strengthen the ties between India and Sri Lanka. This marks the 22nd international recognition by a foreign country for the Prime Minister.

Sohini Rajola has been appointed as the Executive Director of growth at NPCI, where she will focus on driving the adoption of NPCI’s payment solutions, enhancing product offerings, and managing strategic partnerships with banks and fintech companies. Her extensive experience in the payments and digital banking sectors, including roles at Western Union and Axis Bank, positions her well to contribute significantly to NPCI’s growth. This appointment is strategic, aimed at strengthening NPCI’s market presence and supporting the rapid expansion of digital payments, particularly through UPI, which has been setting new records in transactions.

Sivasubramanian Ramann has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for a tenure of five years. He currently serves as the Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) and Chief Technology Officer at the CAG of India. His role will involve overseeing and regulating India’s pension sector, strengthening the regulatory framework, and enhancing transparency and governance within pension schemes like the National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Nikhil Singhal, a distinguished media strategist, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide, and President of the Noida High Rise Federation, has been awarded the Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award. The ceremony took place at the Taj Lucknow, organized by the Tapasya Foundation Trust, and was graced by Shri Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This prestigious award recognizes Singhal’s outstanding contributions to the public relations industry, his innovative communication strategies, and his leadership in advocating for high-rise residents' rights in Noida. His work has significantly shaped the PR landscape in India.