Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Sopna Kallingal, the agri-entrepreneur from Kallingal Plantation in Thrissur, was honoured with the Spice Award 2024 by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research. She was recognized for her innovative approaches to enterprise diversification and integrated crop management, particularly in promoting sustainable spice-based cropping systems. Her achievements underscore her commitment to agricultural innovation and holistic farming practices, combining diverse crops and livestock to optimize productivity and sustainability at Kallingal Plantation.

Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, succeeding Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra. His extensive legal career and experience, highlighted by his previous tenure as a judge in the Orissa High Court, positioned him as the choice for this prominent judicial role in Jharkhand.

Siddhartha Mohanty, who previously served as the Chairman of LIC, has been re-designated as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company from 30 June 2024. His extensive experience in various roles within LIC, coupled with his educational background in Political Science and Law, positions him as a seasoned leader capable of steering LIC through its strategic objectives in the insurance sector.

Charulatha S Kar has been appointed as Executive Director at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), effective July 1, 2024. With a career spanning over three decades at RBI, she brings extensive experience in areas such as Payment and Settlement Systems, Information Technology, and Government Banking. Her new role includes oversight of the Department of Communication, among other responsibilities. Charulatha S Kar's appointment underscores her expertise and leadership within RBI, focusing on enhancing communication strategies and managing key institutional functions in India's central banking system.

Dhirendra K Ojha, a senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer of the 1990 batch, has been appointed as the principal spokesperson of the central government. Alongside this role, he will also serve as the principal director general of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), playing a crucial role in managing government communications and interactions with the media. His appointment aims to enhance the government’s information dissemination strategy and streamline communication across ministries and departments.