Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais from the United Arab Emirates has been appointed as the first woman to head UN Tourism, marking a historic breakthrough in global tourism leadership. Her appointment was confirmed during the 123rd UN Tourism Executive Council session in Segovia, Spain, and she will assume office in January 2026 for a four-year term. With over 16 years of experience in corporate governance and tourism development, Al Nowais has held key roles including Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels and Chair of the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group. Her leadership emphasises sustainability, digital innovation, and women’s empowerment in global tourism.

Cricket legend Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Paradeep Phosphates Ltd. (PPL) to promote sustainable farming and balanced fertiliser use across India. Announced on 5 November 2025, this collaboration leverages Dravid’s reputation for integrity and discipline to connect with farmers and drive awareness about soil health and efficient nutrient management. Through campaigns like “Kheti Ka Game Changer” and “NPK and Organic Fertilisers Ki Winning Team,” the initiative aims to simplify agronomy using cricket-inspired themes, supporting national programmes such as the NMSA and PM-PRANAM for sustainable agriculture.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was conferred IIT Kanpur’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, the premier recognition given by the institute to its former students for exceptional professional achievements. A 1985 B.Tech graduate in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur, Gyanesh Kumar has had an illustrious career in public service and governance. Instituted in 1989, this award celebrates alumni who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. The honour was presented during IIT Kanpur’s 66th Foundation Day celebrations, marking both academic excellence and leadership in public administration.

Shri Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990 batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on November 1, 2025. With over 30 years of experience in defence finance, he has held several senior positions, including Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Finance Manager in the Ministry of Defence (MoD). An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Sahay has also represented India at international forums, contributing significantly to the modernization and transparency of defence financial management.

Karthik Narain, a seasoned technology leader and former Accenture Chief Technology Officer, has been appointed as the Chief Product and Business Officer at Google Cloud. With over 25 years of experience in cloud, AI, and enterprise transformation, Narain brings deep industry expertise to one of the world’s most competitive cloud ecosystems. In his new role, he will oversee product, engineering, and go-to-market strategies, helping Google Cloud expand its global presence and AI-driven enterprise offerings. His appointment strengthens Thomas Kurian’s leadership team and reinforces Google’s strategic push to accelerate innovation and compete effectively with AWS and Microsoft Azure in the enterprise cloud market.