Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Deepak Bagla has taken on the role of Mission Director for the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a major initiative under NITI Aayog aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship across India. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Managing Director and CEO of Invest India, showcasing his experience in investment and policy implementation. His leadership at AIM is expected to strengthen the mission's goals of scaling innovation-driven initiatives and aligning them with India's national development objectives. This appointment is seen as a strategic move to boost the impact of AIM through experienced governance.

The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), were conferred in New Delhi by the President of India. This 9th edition introduced new changes like the Super Swachh League (SSL) category to ensure consistent top performers, such as Indore, do not dominate the regular rankings, giving a fair chance to emerging cities. Additionally, for the first time, cities were ranked based on population brackets to foster equitable competition among Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Hosting the awards in New Delhi highlights the national importance of the Swachh Bharat Mission and urban sanitation efforts.

Dr J Ravishankar, a 2001-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), replacing Maheshwar Rao. His appointment comes during a critical period of metro expansion and public scrutiny following fare hikes and delays in key metro projects. Dr Ravishankar brings extensive administrative experience, having served in various state departments including Agriculture, Housing, and Urban Development. His leadership is expected to improve transparency, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery as BMRCL expands its network to over 220 km by 2029, particularly with the commissioning of the Yellow, Pink, and Blue lines.

Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Education Minister, was honoured with the Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu. The award ceremony took place in Cuttack, Odisha, during the 600th birth anniversary celebration of Adikabi Sarala Das. The Kalinga Ratna Award is an annual recognition given by the Sarala Sahitya Sansad to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the fields of education, literature, culture, or public service. This prestigious recognition highlights Pradhan’s contributions in the area of education and public service at the national level.

Ajay Kumar Shrivastava has been appointed as the Director (Engineering & R&D) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), bringing with him nearly four decades of experience in the aerospace sector. Starting his journey as a Management Trainee in 1988, Shrivastava has held key leadership roles, including heading the Aircraft Research & Design Centre (ARDC) and the Transport Aircraft Research & Design Centre (TARDC). His work has significantly advanced indigenous aircraft programs and reduced import dependence through successful indigenisation. His appointment is poised to strengthen HAL’s R&D framework and accelerate India's progress in defence and civil aviation innovation under the Make in India initiative.