Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) observes its Incorporation Day on May 17 every year. GeM was incorporated on May 17, 2017, as a Section 8 non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013, to create and manage India’s national public procurement portal. Operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the platform promotes transparent and efficient digital procurement for government departments and public sector organisations. Over the years, GeM has significantly supported Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), women entrepreneurs, SC/ST businesses, and startups by providing large-scale procurement opportunities, thereby strengthening local supply chains and supporting the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Akash Ambani was appointed as the Managing Director of Jio Platforms on April 9, 2026, for a five-year term. The appointment came at a significant time as the company prepared for its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO), with plans to file draft papers by May or June 2026. Akash Ambani has been associated with Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) since October 2014 as a board member and has played an important role in the company’s expansion. Reliance Jio, launched in 2016, rapidly transformed India’s telecom sector by achieving 100 million subscribers in less than six months after its launch.

P Kumaran, a senior 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, formally took charge as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on May 15, 2026. Before this appointment, he served as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He succeeded Vikram Doraiswami, who was appointed as India’s Ambassador to China during a senior diplomatic reshuffle. P Kumaran has also held important diplomatic positions earlier, including serving as India’s Ambassador to Qatar and High Commissioner to Singapore. The role of High Commissioner is specifically used between Commonwealth nations such as India and the United Kingdom.

VD Satheesan was appointed as the next Chief Minister of Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved a decisive victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. The alliance secured 102 out of 140 seats, while the Indian National Congress emerged as the single largest party with 63 seats. VD Satheesan also won his sixth consecutive term as an MLA from the Paravur constituency. This result marked the end of the second consecutive term of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. Kerala’s capital is Thiruvananthapuram, and the state was formed on November 1, 1956.

Dr Harvansh Chawla was appointed as the Chairman of the BRISEC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI) on May 11, 2026. Before taking up this position, he stepped down as the Chairman of the BRICS CCI. The BRISEC Chamber focuses on promoting cross-border trade, investment, and economic collaboration among emerging and established markets. It also works to expand policy dialogue beyond the traditional BRICS framework into broader global economic corridors. The organisation is officially recognised by NITI Aayog and regularly organises forums, trade delegations, and policy interactions to strengthen international business cooperation.