Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Anuradha Prasad has been appointed as a Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), bringing with her 37 years of extensive experience in the Indian civil services. She has held influential roles across major ministries such as Defence, Finance, and Labour. Her expertise spans critical areas including defence acquisitions, labour reforms, and welfare initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, she has made substantial contributions to policy development in domains like federalism, food safety, and reforms in the unorganized sector. Her appointment is expected to strengthen the UPSC with a wealth of practical administrative knowledge and reformist insight.

Justice B.R. Gavai has been appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India by President Droupadi Murmu on April 30, 2025. He is set to take the oath on May 14, 2025. Justice Gavai will serve as the CJI until November 23, 2025, when he reaches the retirement age of 65. Notably, he became the second person from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community to hold this prestigious position, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. Throughout his career, Justice Gavai has contributed to significant rulings on matters such as Article 370, Electoral Bonds, and environmental issues.

IAS Vinod Kumar Gunjiyal has been appointed as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar by the Election Commission of India ahead of the state’s 2025 Assembly elections. He is a 2007-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre and brings with him extensive administrative experience. His previous roles include Secretary in the Prohibition, Excise & Registration Department, and Director in the Animal Husbandry Department. Known for his administrative acumen, Gunjiyal is tasked with ensuring the smooth conduct of free and fair elections in Bihar in October-November 2025, replacing the previous CEO, H R Srinivas.

During the Civil Investiture Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Droupadi Murmu honoured 71 individuals with the Padma Awards. These prestigious civilian awards—Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri—recognize outstanding contributions across various fields, including art, public service, sports, science, and literature. Notable recipients this year include filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, actor S. Ajith Kumar, and late singer Pankaj Udhas. The wide-ranging backgrounds of the awardees reflect India's commitment to honouring excellence and dedication in diverse spheres of public life, both within the country and internationally.

Madhusudan Sai was awarded the prestigious ‘Companion of the Order of Fiji’ for his significant humanitarian work, particularly in the field of healthcare. His establishment of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital has had a transformative impact on the healthcare system in Fiji, providing essential medical services to children in need, irrespective of their background. This honour, conferred by the President of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, on April 25, 2025, highlights Madhusudan Sai's dedication to improving social welfare and healthcare, making him a respected figure in both Fiji and the global humanitarian community.