Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Vandana Gupta, a 1990 batch officer of the Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS), officially took charge as the Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) on September 22, 2025. With over three decades of experience, she has served in key telecom circles across Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat, along with critical roles in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Department of Posts (DoP). Her career also includes senior positions at GASAB under the CAG, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the National Commission for Women, and GGSIP University. Her appointment reflects her leadership in telecom finance, audits, and governance.

IndusInd Bank appointed Viral Damania as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Key Managerial Personnel effective September 22, 2025. His appointment comes during a leadership restructuring following a significant accounting lapse that impacted the bank’s financial stability. Damania brings over 27 years of experience in banking and professional services, having previously served as CFO of Bank of America, India, and held roles with Citibank across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, as well as with PwC. His credentials as a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, and Information Systems Auditor strengthen his ability to enhance governance, restore investor confidence, and ensure accurate financial reporting at IndusInd Bank.

Mohanlal, the legendary Malayalam actor, has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, India’s highest honour in cinema. The award will be presented during the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23, 2025. With a career spanning over four decades and more than 400 films, Mohanlal is celebrated for his versatility and contributions across Indian cinema, including Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu films. He has previously received Padma Shri (2001), Padma Bhushan (2019), five National Film Awards, and nine Kerala State Film Awards. This lifetime achievement award recognises his enduring impact on Indian cinema and his role in shaping the industry’s history.

Senior diplomat Gourangalal Das, a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to South Korea. Currently serving as Joint Secretary in the East Asia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, he has played a vital role in managing India’s diplomatic engagements with key East Asian nations, including overseeing sensitive negotiations with China during the Eastern Ladakh border standoff. His appointment reflects India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy, highlighting the growing importance of South Korea as a partner in trade, technology, defence, and regional security. With his extensive East Asia expertise, Das is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation and strategic ties between India and South Korea.

Shri M. Paramasivam’s tenure as Executive Director of Punjab National Bank (PNB) has been extended until March 31, 2027, or until further orders. The decision was formalized by the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance and reflects the government’s confidence in his leadership. As Executive Director, he has been instrumental in overseeing banking operations, driving credit growth, and enhancing corporate governance within PNB. His extension ensures continuity in leadership during a critical phase when public sector banks are implementing post-consolidation reforms, strengthening digital infrastructure, and navigating global economic and regulatory challenges.