Current Affairs - Persons

Anahat Singh, a 17-year-old Indian squash player, will represent India in the women's category at the World Squash Championships 2024-25 in Chicago. She earned her place in the tournament by winning the Asian Qualifiers held in Malaysia. As India’s top-ranked women’s squash player, Anahat is set to face world No. 28 Marina Stefanoni in the first round. The other names mentioned—Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, Ramit Tandon, and Velavan Senthilkumar—are members of the men’s squad.

On May 8, 2025, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. His election is historically significant as he became the first pope from the United States. Chosen during a conclave held in the Sistine Chapel with participation from 133 cardinal electors representing 70 nations, his swift election marked a new chapter in global Catholic leadership. Closely aligned with Pope Francis’s moderate and socially conscious views, Pope Leo XIV's selection comes at a time of considerable change and uncertainty for the Church and the world.

Bollywood actress Ananya Panday has been appointed as the first-ever brand ambassador from India for the prestigious French luxury fashion house, Chanel. This milestone came shortly after she appeared at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris, marking a significant moment in her fashion journey. Ananya’s association with Chanel adds to her growing portfolio of high-profile international brand endorsements, which already include names like Swarovski, Jimmy Choo, Lakmé, Beats, and Timex. Her rising global presence reflects both her personal style influence and the increasing recognition of Indian talent on international fashion platforms.

IndusInd Bank appointed Santosh Kumar as its Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO) starting on April 18, 2025. This appointment follows the end of Arun Khurana's term as the acting CFO. The move is part of the bank’s efforts to strengthen its leadership amid financial challenges, including issues with bad loans in the microfinance sector and discrepancies in accounting for currency derivatives. As Deputy CFO, Santosh Kumar will oversee the finance and accounts functions while the bank continues to search for a permanent CFO. The role is critical as the bank works to stabilize its finances and address regulatory scrutiny.

Union Minister George Kurian inaugurated key fisheries projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in Puducherry. These initiatives aim to enhance India's fisheries sector, which has seen remarkable growth with fish production increasing from 95 lakh tons to 184 lakh tons over the past decade. A significant aspect of the project includes equipping 2,300 fishing boats with transponders to provide updates on fish availability, offer emergency assistance, and alert fishermen when nearing international waters. The government has allocated ₹3,000 crore to support the Blue Revolution, underlining its commitment to sustainable and technology-driven fisheries development.