Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Ravi Agrawal was reappointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for six months, from 1st July 2026 to 31st December 2026, or until further orders. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his extension on a contract basis by relaxing the Recruitment Rules, as he was due to retire on 30th June 2026. A 1988-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Ravi Agrawal, has been heading the CBDT since July 2024. The CBDT is the apex authority responsible for administering direct tax laws under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Ravi Agrawal has been reappointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for a further six-month term from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. A 1988-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, his extension was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) after his scheduled retirement. The CBDT is the apex policymaking body for direct taxes in India and functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. It is responsible for formulating direct tax policies, improving tax administration, combating tax evasion, issuing income tax guidelines, and enhancing transparency and taxpayer services across the country.

HDFC Bank has appointed former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as its part-time chairman for a three-year term, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He has also been appointed as an Additional Director (Independent Director) for a four-year term beginning on June 30, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Rajiv Kumar is a 1984-batch IAS officer with extensive experience in finance and public administration. He previously served as Secretary of the Department of Financial Services and played a significant role in banking reforms, including public sector bank consolidation, capital infusion, and increasing deposit insurance coverage.

Prabhjeet Singh has been appointed as the Managing Director for India by OpenAI, reflecting the company's commitment to expanding its presence in one of the world's fastest-growing artificial intelligence markets. Before joining OpenAI, he served as the President of Uber India and South Asia, where he played a significant role in business growth and market expansion. His extensive experience in scaling technology-driven businesses is expected to help OpenAI strengthen its operations in India. The appointment also highlights India's growing importance due to its large digital user base, thriving startup ecosystem, increasing enterprise adoption of AI, and strong government focus on artificial intelligence.

Pradeep Singh Kharola, a 1985-batch IAS officer and former Civil Aviation Secretary, was appointed as the Executive Advisor to Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran. He was also inducted as a full member of the airline's management committee. His appointment is intended to support the leadership transition as CEO Campbell Wilson prepares to step down. Kharola played a significant role in the privatisation of Air India during his tenure as Civil Aviation Secretary and has previously served as the Chairman of Air India, bringing extensive administrative and aviation sector experience to the organisation.