Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Nnena Kalu made history by becoming the first learning-disabled artist to win the Turner Prize, the United Kingdom’s most prestigious award in visual arts. A 59-year-old Scottish artist, she lives with autism and has limited verbal communication, yet her work has gained wide recognition for its originality and expressive power. Her achievement represents a significant milestone for inclusivity and representation in the global art community. The award ceremony took place in Bradford, northern England, where she was honoured with the £25,000 prize money, highlighting the growing recognition of diverse voices and abilities in contemporary art.

B P Kanungo has been appointed as the non-executive chairman of IIFL Finance, bringing extensive experience in central banking and financial regulation to the company. A former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2017 to 2021, he also served as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, which determines India’s key interest rates. His expertise spans currency management, payment systems, and financial stability. In his new role, Kanungo will guide strategic decision-making, strengthen governance standards, and ensure regulatory compliance, reinforcing IIFL Finance’s focus on long-term stability, transparency, and stakeholder confidence.

Bharti Airtel announced a key leadership transition as part of its long-term succession and strategic planning. Shashwat Sharma, who was serving as CEO-designate, has been approved by the company’s board to take over as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel India starting 1 January 2026. His appointment is for a five-year term and he will also serve as a Key Managerial Personnel. This leadership change ensures continuity in Airtel’s operations while allowing senior leaders to focus on strategy, governance, and financial oversight in a highly competitive telecom market.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the First Class of the Order of Oman, the highest civilian honour of the Sultanate, during his official visit to Muscat. This recognition marked his 29th major foreign state honour, reflecting India’s growing global influence and strong diplomatic leadership. The award has previously been conferred on internationally renowned leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. During the visit, high-level bilateral discussions were held covering trade, defence, energy, technology, and cultural cooperation. A major outcome was the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is expected to boost bilateral trade, investment, and people-to-people ties.

Air India was awarded the Best Domestic Airline title at the Travel + Leisure India & South Asia Awards 2025 for the second consecutive year. The recognition is significant as it is entirely based on reader and passenger votes, reflecting real travel experiences rather than jury assessments. The award highlights growing customer trust in Air India during its large-scale transformation phase, which includes fleet modernization, improved onboard comfort, enhanced service quality, and better operational reliability. With major investments such as large aircraft orders and fleet upgrades, the airline is strengthening its domestic market credibility and working toward becoming a world-class aviation brand.