Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, won the Gold Award at the Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Awards 2024 for its significant energy-saving efforts in the iron and steel sector. This award recognized the company's innovative methods, particularly in utilizing waste energy to improve energy efficiency. The recognition was presented by the State Energy Conservation Mission of Andhra Pradesh, reflecting RINL's leadership in sustainability and energy conservation within the industry.

Arunish Chawla, a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as the new Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. He succeeds Ajay Seth and will also continue to be in additional charge of the Ministry of Culture. Chawla’s extensive career includes pivotal roles in economic policy, public administration, and infrastructure development, such as managing Patna Metro Rail Corporation and serving as joint secretary in the Finance Ministry’s Expenditure Department. His appointment aligns with the government’s focus on implementing tax reforms, digital transformation, and fiscal policy reviews.

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been reassigned as the Governor of Kerala, succeeding Arif Mohammed Khan, who was transferred to Bihar. This reshuffle, announced by President Droupadi Murmu, also included Ajay Kumar Bhalla being appointed as the Governor of Manipur, replacing Anusuiya Uikey. Hari Babu Kambhampati was moved to Odisha to replace Raghubar Das, while General Dr. Vijay Kumar Singh was appointed as the Governor of Mizoram to replace Kambhampati. These strategic appointments aim to address political, administrative, and security challenges in the respective states, reflecting the significance of robust leadership in strengthening regional governance.

Justice V. Ramasubramanian, a former Supreme Court judge, has been appointed as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by President Droupadi Murmu. His tenure as a Supreme Court judge spanned from September 23, 2019, to June 29, 2023. Along with his appointment, Priyank Kanoongo and Dr Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi (Retd.) were also named as NHRC members, reinforcing the leadership of this key human rights body.

Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court by the Centre. He was formerly the senior-most puisne Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His appointment, recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, came after a delay of more than three months following the retirement of Justice Rajiv Shakdher in October 2024. Justice Sandhawalia's legal career includes a law degree from Panjab University and a practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.