Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Dr R Balasubramaniam and Dr Joram Aniya were appointed as full-time members of NITI Aayog by the Union Government. Their appointment expanded the total number of full-time members in the government think tank to seven. Dr R Balasubramaniam is known as a physician, public policy expert, and founder of organisations such as the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) and GRAAM. Dr Joram Aniya is an academician from Arunachal Pradesh and is recognised as the first woman from the Nyishi community to earn a PhD in the state. NITI Aayog, established in 2015, functions as the premier public policy think tank of the Government of India.

Rohit Jain was appointed as the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a three-year term effective from May 3, 2026. Before this appointment, he served as an Executive Director at the RBI. He succeeded T Rabi Sankar, who retired after completing his extended tenure. Under the RBI Act, 1934, the central bank is required to have exactly four Deputy Governors, ensuring a balanced structure with internal experts and external professionals. The other serving Deputy Governors are Swaminathan J, Poonam Gupta, and S C Murmu. The RBI, established in 1935 and nationalised in 1949, is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Anugraha Narayana Das, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has taken charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). With over three decades of experience in defence finance and public administration, he has held several key positions across ministries and defence establishments. His expertise includes auditing, budgeting, procurement policy, and expenditure monitoring. As CGDA, he is responsible for managing defence accounts, ensuring transparency, auditing expenditures, and advising on financial matters. His leadership is expected to strengthen accountability and efficiency in defence spending, which is a crucial component of government expenditure.

Rohit Jain was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in banking supervision, financial regulation, and risk management. Prior to this role, he served as an Executive Director at the RBI, handling critical responsibilities in supervision and vulnerability assessment. His appointment reflects the government’s focus on strengthening the central bank’s leadership with experienced professionals. With strong academic qualifications and professional certifications, he is expected to play a key role in addressing emerging financial challenges and maintaining stability in India’s banking and regulatory systems.

Bharat Khera, a 1995-batch IAS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He brings over three decades of administrative experience across both central and state governments. His career includes key roles in the Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Secretariat, and Department of Consumer Affairs. With expertise in policy implementation and governance, he is expected to strengthen the MSME sector, which contributes significantly to India’s GDP. His leadership aims to enhance growth, innovation, and efficiency within this crucial segment of the economy.