Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Prof Uma Kanjilal made history in 2025 by becoming the first woman Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, the world’s largest open university. With over 36 years of experience in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), she has played a pivotal role in India’s digital education landscape. Her leadership in national initiatives like SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA has been central to advancing accessible and technology-driven education. Before her appointment, she served in several academic and administrative positions, including as Pro Vice Chancellor and Acting VC. Her elevation is a landmark achievement for gender equity in higher education and a major step toward digitally inclusive learning in India.

Ajay Seth, a 1987-batch IAS officer from the Karnataka cadre and former Finance Secretary, has been appointed as the new Chairman of IRDAI. His vast experience in economic affairs, infrastructure development, and public finance positions him as a strategic leader for India’s insurance regulator. With the post of IRDAI Chairman vacant since March 2025, his appointment brings much-needed stability and direction. Seth is expected to focus on expanding insurance access, driving digital innovation, improving regulatory transparency, and protecting policyholders. His leadership is seen as critical to advancing reforms and fostering trust in the fast-evolving insurance sector.

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.