Current Affairs - Persons

On July 3, 2025, IndiGo Airlines appointed Amitabh Kant as a Non-Executive Director on its Board of Directors. Kant, a former CEO of NITI Aayog and India's G20 Sherpa, brings decades of policy experience and leadership in national programs such as Make in India and Startup India. His appointment is viewed as a strategic step to support IndiGo's ambitions for global expansion and operational excellence. With a strong background in governance, innovation, and international relations, Kant is expected to contribute significantly to the airline's long-term growth strategy and its vision of positioning India as a major travel and aviation hub.

Sakshi Chaudhary emerged as the gold medalist for India at the 2nd World Boxing Cup 2025 in the women’s 54kg category. She achieved this by defeating Yosline Perez of the USA with a unanimous verdict, showcasing her dominance in the final bout. This victory was especially notable as it marked India’s first gold medal in the tournament. A two-time youth world champion, Sakshi’s performance highlighted her continued excellence in international boxing. Other Indian participants like Meenakshi and Pooja Rani also performed commendably, securing silver medals, but it was Sakshi who stood at the top of the podium.

Shubman Gill etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first Indian and Asian Test captain to score a double hundred in England, achieving the feat at Edgbaston. This remarkable performance also saw him break the record for the highest individual score by an Indian on English soil, previously held by Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 221 runs at the Oval in 1979. Gill's double century not only surpassed Gavaskar's record but also went beyond the 193-run mark set by Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan at Lord’s in 2011, making it a historic moment for Asian cricket.

Teghbir Singh, a six-year-old from Punjab, made history by becoming the youngest mountaineer to scale Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in both Russia and Europe, standing at 18,510 feet (5,642 metres). His achievement marks a significant milestone in mountaineering, given the physical and mental challenges posed by such an elevation. Teghbir’s accomplishment not only set a world record but also followed his earlier success in August 2024, when he became the youngest Asian to scale Mt Kilimanjaro. His achievements at such a young age showcase exceptional determination, preparation, and endurance in extreme conditions.

R. Praggnanandhaa emerged as India’s top-ranked chess player following his victory at the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 held in Tashkent. The 19-year-old Grandmaster secured 5.5 points in the round-robin stage and won the tiebreaks to clinch the title. This marked his third major classical title of the year and elevated his live FIDE rating to 2778.3, pushing him to World No. 4. With this achievement, he surpassed fellow Indian stars D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, becoming the highest-rated Indian chess player in live rankings. His ascent highlights his remarkable consistency and growing dominance in global chess.