Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

The Federation of Indian Granite and Stone Industry announced its leadership team for the 2026–2028 term with a clear focus on strengthening India’s natural stone sector. Among the key appointments, Ishwinder Singh has been elected as the President of FIGSI. This role places him in charge of guiding the organization’s vision, supporting industry growth, and encouraging innovation across the sector. Alongside other office bearers such as the General Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Presidents, and Joint Secretaries, the President plays a crucial role in shaping policies and representing the interests of the granite and stone industry at national and international levels.

SeedlingLabs, an AI-native Product Development as a Service (PDaaS) company, appointed Dr Sudhir Kumar Patnaik as the inaugural member of its Advisory Board in January 2026. Dr Sudhir Kumar Patnaik currently serves as a Professor and CIR Director at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and is known for his role in connecting industry requirements with applied research and talent development. His appointment represents an important milestone for SeedlingLabs as it aims to scale its AI-native platform and strengthen production delivery capabilities for enterprise clients.

Raymond Lifestyle appointed Satyaki Ghosh as its Chief Executive Officer in January 2026, marking an important leadership transition for the company. Satyaki Ghosh brings over 25 years of professional experience across FMCG, textiles, and retail sectors. Prior to joining Raymond Lifestyle, he served as CEO at Grasim Industries under the Aditya Birla Group and held senior leadership positions at L’Oréal India. His appointment reflects Raymond’s strategic focus on operational excellence, sustainability-driven growth, and strengthening brand leadership as the company accelerates its expansion plans.

Sandeep Bakhshi has been reappointed as the Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank for another two-year term, ensuring leadership continuity at India’s second-largest private sector bank. His new tenure will extend till October 2028, subject to approvals from the Reserve Bank of India, shareholders, and other statutory authorities. Since assuming the role in 2018, he has guided the bank through a challenging period by strengthening risk management, improving asset quality, and enhancing governance standards. The reappointment reflects confidence in his prudent leadership and alignment with regulatory governance norms.

IIM Rohtak gained global recognition when its Director, Prof. Dheeraj Sharma, received the Exemplary Governance Leadership Award at the 46th World Management Congress in New Delhi. The award acknowledged outstanding contributions to institution-building and governance, selected from over 1,400 nominations worldwide. During his tenure, IIM Rohtak achieved prestigious international accreditations such as AMBA and BGA, marking quality benchmarks in management education. The institute also transitioned to a permanent campus and introduced integrated programmes in management and law, strengthening its academic profile and global standing.