Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Aliawati Longkumer, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as India’s ambassador to North Korea, marking the restoration of high-level diplomatic presence in Pyongyang after a four-year hiatus. This follows the reopening of the Indian embassy in North Korea in December 2024, which had been closed since July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Longkumer, who previously served as Charge d’affaires in Paraguay, will now assume responsibilities in Pyongyang. Her appointment is part of India’s strategic re-engagement with North Korea, balancing diplomatic outreach while remaining aligned with global sanctions and regional security considerations.

Arun Srinivas has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Head of India at Meta, effective July 1, 2025. With over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing and a background in companies like Hindustan Unilever, Ola, and Reebok, he joined Meta in 2020 to lead its ads business. His elevation to the top India role comes at a time of strategic expansion for Meta, following the resignation of Shivnath Thukral and the broadened responsibilities of Sandhya Devanathan. Srinivas is now tasked with leading Meta’s innovation, partnerships, and revenue strategies in one of its most important global markets.

Kirti Ganorkar has been appointed as the Managing Director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, effective from September 1, 2025. This leadership change marks a key phase in Sun Pharma’s succession planning, with founder Dilip Shanghvi transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman to focus on strategic oversight. Ganorkar, a long-standing executive who joined the company in 1996, has held various critical roles in business development, marketing, M&A, and project management. Most recently, he led Sun Pharma’s India Business, driving strong market performance. His appointment reflects the company’s commitment to leadership continuity and a strategic focus on sustained global growth.

R Doraiswamy has been recommended by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) for the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country's largest life insurer. With over 38 years of experience at LIC, Doraiswamy has served in various capacities, including operations, marketing, technology, and training. His extensive career background and leadership across critical functions made him the top candidate among four senior LIC executives interviewed on June 11, 2025. The final approval of his appointment now awaits the decision of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Mohd. Arif Khan has been appointed as the Deputy CEO of SBI General Insurance, effective June 11, 2025. With over 25 years of experience at the State Bank of India (SBI), Khan has held multiple leadership roles across retail banking, strategic training, and core banking implementation. His appointment underscores SBI General’s focus on strengthening its leadership for future-ready operations. Khan’s expertise in digital transformation and customer-focused strategies is expected to play a key role in boosting innovation, expanding into underserved markets, and improving operational efficiency. He will closely collaborate with MD & CEO Naveen Chandra Jha to drive profitable and sustainable growth.