Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna to succeed him as the 51st Chief Justice of India. Justice Khanna, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019, has presided over significant cases, including those concerning the abrogation of Article 370 and granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal. He is expected to assume office after Justice Chandrachud's retirement on November 10, 2024, and will serve until his own retirement on May 13, 2025. His appointment is part of the tradition of succession in India's judiciary.

Aditi Anand, a 25-year-old artist from Karnal, Haryana, received the prestigious UK Illustration Award in the Emerging Illustrator category for her thought-provoking artwork "Marigolds." This piece addresses the critical issue of child labour in India. Selected from over 2,000 entries, Anand's work earned a GBP 3,000 prize and will be showcased at the renowned V&A Museum in London until September 2025. This recognition highlights Anand's talent and sheds light on social concerns through her art. Her achievement brings pride to India's artistic community.

Akash Tripathi, a 1998-batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has taken on significant leadership roles in digital governance as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Digital India Corporation (DIC) and President/Chief Executive Officer of the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). His dual appointment was approved by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). In these roles, he is responsible for implementing key projects under the Digital India initiative, promoting digital literacy, and managing the development of e-governance systems to enhance India's public administration and digital transformation. His tenure at DIC is for six months, while his role at NeGD continues until August 2024.

Praveen Vashista has been appointed as the Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, succeeding Sivagami Sundari Nanda, who will retire on December 31, 2024. Vashista, a 1991-batch IPS officer from the Bihar cadre, will serve in this key role until July 31, 2026. Prior to this appointment, he held the position of Additional Secretary in the Home Affairs Ministry and served as Officer on Special Duty. His experience in internal security matters positions him well for this significant responsibility within the government.

Aishath Azeema, a senior diplomat with extensive experience, has been appointed as the new Maldivian envoy to India, succeeding Ibrahim Shaheeb. Azeema began her foreign service career in 1988 and served as the Maldivian ambassador to China from June 2019 to September 2023. She has also previously held the position of deputy ambassador to the UK. Her appointment marks a continuation of strong diplomatic ties between the Maldives and India.