Current Affairs - Awards and Honours

Dr Syed Anwar Khursheed, an eminent Indian physician based in Saudi Arabia, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2025. With over 45 years of service, he has significantly contributed to healthcare, education, and community welfare, including pivotal efforts during COVID-19 and the Hajj Medical Program. As Vice President of the Saudi-Indian Healthcare Forum, he plays a crucial role in strengthening healthcare ties between the two nations.

IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency) achieved an 'Excellent' rating for the third consecutive year in its MoU performance for FY 2023-24, with a score of 98.24. This accomplishment highlights IREDA's dedication to promoting renewable energy goals and maintaining high standards of corporate governance. The agency's previous scores were 93.50 (FY 2022-23), 96.54 (FY 2021-22), and 96.93 (FY 2020-21), further underscoring its sustained excellence in performance.

Sanjeev Kumar Sharma has been named the CFO of Signature Global, effective January 7, 2025. He is a Chartered Accountant with nearly 30 years of expertise in finance, M&A, taxation, and strategic decision-making. He has held leadership roles at major organizations like Brookfield Properties, Blackstone, BPTP, M3M India, and ICICI, making him highly qualified for this role.

V. Narayanan has been appointed as the new chairman of ISRO, succeeding S Somanath. Starting January 14, 2025, he will also serve as the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission. With extensive experience in solid propulsion for rockets and critical contributions to ASLV and PSLV missions at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Narayanan has proven expertise in India's space program. Currently the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala, he is well-suited to lead ISRO into its next phase of advancements.

Bahadur Singh Sagoo, an Asian Games gold medalist in shot put and a Padma Shri awardee, has been unanimously elected as the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) during the Annual General Meeting in Chandigarh. He replaces Adille Sumariwalla, who stepped down after three consecutive terms as president. Sagoo's election marks a new phase for AFI, with several key initiatives planned to promote athletics in India, including a major javelin competition and hosting international events. His leadership is expected to drive further growth in Indian athletics.