Current Affairs - Persons

Sheetal Devi, the remarkable para archer from Jammu & Kashmir, clinched her maiden gold medal in the Women’s Compound Open event at the 2025 World Para Archery Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea. She defeated Türkiye’s Oznur Cure Girdi, a three-time world champion, with a score of 146–143. Born without arms due to phocomelia, Sheetal uses her legs and chin to shoot, showcasing extraordinary determination and precision. Her achievement, along with silver and bronze in team events, marks a historic milestone for Indian para archery and highlights her exceptional talent and resilience on the global stage.

Grandmaster P Iniyan from Tamil Nadu emerged as the champion of the 62nd National Chess Championship held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. He remained unbeaten across 11 rounds, securing 7 victories and 4 draws. Although he finished with the same score as 15-year-old International Master H. Goutham Krishna from Kerala, Iniyan claimed the title based on a superior Buchholz score. His consistent performance and strategic brilliance throughout the tournament earned him the prestigious national title along with a prize of ₹6 lakh, further strengthening his reputation as one of India’s top chess players.

Dr. Kanad Das made history by becoming the first mycologist to assume the role of Director of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), taking charge as its 13th Director. The BSI, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has been a premier institution since 1890 for cataloguing, documenting, and conserving India’s vast plant biodiversity. Headquartered in Kolkata with 11 regional centres across the country, the BSI plays a crucial role in protecting floral resources. Dr. Das’s appointment highlights the growing recognition of mycology in India’s biodiversity conservation framework.

The debut book "Why the Constitution Matters" is authored by former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and will be released in 2025 by Penguin Random House. Justice Chandrachud is recognised for his progressive and landmark rulings in areas such as privacy, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of expression. With more than 25 years of judicial experience, his book aims to highlight the Constitution’s role as a living document shaping democracy, justice, and individual rights. This makes him an influential voice in the legal and constitutional discourse of India.

Justice Pavankumar Bhimappa Bajanthri was recently sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court at Raj Bhavan, Patna. The oath was administered by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary. The Patna High Court, established in 1916, has been pivotal in delivering landmark rulings across constitutional, criminal, and socio-economic matters. This appointment strengthens the leadership at the court, ensuring continuity in judicial excellence and upholding constitutional values in the state of Bihar.