Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Two Indian heritage conservation projects won the prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024 Awards. The first project, the Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation in Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, won the Award of Distinction, while the BJPCI Conservation Project in Mumbai received the Award of Merit. These awards aim to recognize and promote efforts to restore, conserve, and transform cultural heritage sites, showcasing India's commitment to preserving its rich cultural legacy.

Bhavesh Jain has been appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of TransUnion CIBIL, succeeding Rajesh Kumar, who stepped down after a five-year tenure. Jain has a rich background in financial services, having worked at Citi, Kone, and Thomson Reuters. His experience as CIBIL's Chief Revenue Officer for five years played a key role in his promotion. Jain's leadership focuses on enhancing financial inclusion and digital transformation in India, with a vision to promote sustainable credit access and strengthen consumer trust.

Devajit Saikia, a former cricketer from Assam and the current joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been appointed as the Acting Secretary of the BCCI. He replaces Jay Shah, who assumed the role of ICC Chair on December 1. Saikia will serve in this capacity under a stop-gap arrangement until September 2025.

Ajay Seth, the Economic Affairs Secretary, has been given the additional charge of Revenue Secretary following the appointment of Sanjay Malhotra as the new RBI Governor. Seth, a 1987-batch IAS officer, brings over three decades of experience in public finance, taxation, and international financial institutions. He will handle both roles until a permanent replacement is appointed. His extensive background, including transforming Karnataka's commercial tax administration, positions him to effectively manage these key responsibilities in India's financial governance.

Jayen Mehta’s tenure as Managing Director of Amul has been extended until 2029-2030. He joined the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) in 1991 and has held several key marketing roles within the organization. Mehta became the interim MD in January 2023 after R.S. Sodhi's departure. His tenure extension ensures continued leadership and stability at Amul, a major player in the dairy industry, as the company looks to maintain its growth and success under his direction.