Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT and KISS, received the 2025 Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Award for his lifelong dedication to education and societal development, particularly for underprivileged and tribal communities. The award, presented in Kokrajhar, Assam, by the Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Trust, recognizes individuals making exceptional contributions to social upliftment. Samanta’s work has empowered thousands through free education, housing, and healthcare. In a notable gesture of generosity, he donated the Rs 1 lakh prize money back to the Trust. His commitment reflects the values of Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma, a spiritual leader and reformer known as the “Mech Gandhi of Assam.”

India nominated Ms M. Revathi, who currently serves as Joint Wireless Advisor at the Department of Telecommunications, for the position of Director at the International Telecommunication Union's Radiocommunication Bureau. With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, her nomination is not only significant in terms of her professional experience but also historic. If elected, she would become the first woman and the first individual from ITU Regions E and D to assume this prestigious leadership role in the Bureau, marking a milestone in gender and regional representation within the ITU.

The PoshanTracker application was honoured with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024, recognizing its innovative approach to promoting women and child nutrition. The award was presented to the Ministry of Women and Child Development during Civil Services Day. This recognition highlights the role of PoshanTracker as a key tool in the implementation of POSHAN 2.0 and Mission Saksham Anganwadi, both of which aim to strengthen nutrition and health delivery systems across the country. Its contribution to enhancing real-time monitoring and accountability within the nutrition mission was pivotal in securing this award.

Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey, a distinguished civil servant and former Finance Secretary of India, has been appointed Vice-President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). His appointment reflects India’s growing influence in global financial institutions. Pandey’s extensive experience in governance, finance, and infrastructure policy, including his leadership in launching Aadhaar and the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), makes him well-suited for his new role. As vice president, he will oversee crucial departments like Investment Solutions, Sustainability, and Portfolio Management, contributing to AIIB’s strategic goals in the international finance sector.

The National Highways Excellence Awards (NHEA) 2023 marked the celebration of its 6th edition, recognizing excellence in highway development across India. The event highlighted the achievements of infrastructure companies and their significant contributions through innovative practices. Awards were presented for exemplary work in areas like Project Management and Green Highways, with several firms receiving accolades for their work in different states. The 6th edition not only acknowledged technical excellence but also underscored the government’s emphasis on sustainable and efficient highway development.