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    Ajay Seth Appointed as New Finance Secretary of India

    The Government of India has designated Ajay Seth, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, as the new Finance Secretary on March 24, 2025. This appointment follows the elevation of Tuhin Kanta Pandey to the position of SEBI Chairperson.

    Ajay Seth, who previously served as the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, brings over three decades of expertise in public finance, taxation, and governance. Known for his pivotal role in shaping India’s economic policies, he has been instrumental in managing infrastructure investments, coordinating with global financial institutions, and steering macroeconomic strategies.

    With a strong academic foundation, including a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, Seth has also held key positions at the state level, such as Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by critical contributions to Union Budgets and economic recovery initiatives.

    Kirsty Coventry Elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

    Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe has been elected as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and the first African to hold this esteemed position. 🥇

    🏊‍♀️ A celebrated Olympian with seven medals, Coventry’s remarkable leadership journey includes her role as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation and her tenure as Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. She has consistently championed athlete welfare, grassroots sports development, and fair competition.

    📍 Elected at the 144th IOC Session in Greece, Coventry won a decisive 49 out of 97 votes in the first round. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized her commitment to fostering inclusivity, sustainability, and mental health support for athletes.

    💡 Coventry’s leadership comes at a critical time, as the IOC navigates challenges like gender equality, environmental sustainability, and global sports development. Her presidency is expected to bring a fresh perspective and drive positive change within the Olympic movement.

    Atul Kumar Goel assumes charge of Chief Executive (CE) of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)

    Atul Kumar Goel assumed the role of Chief Executive (CE) of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) on March 11, 2025. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in the banking sector, Goel brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new position.

    Prior to this appointment, Goel served as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Punjab National Bank (PNB) from February 2022 to December 2024. He also held the position of Chairman of the IBA for two consecutive terms, from 2021 to 2022 and again from 2022 to 2023. His predecessor, Sunil Mehta, also had a notable tenure as MD & CEO of PNB and Chairman of the IBA.

    Goel’s extensive banking experience includes key roles at Allahabad Bank (now Indian Bank), Union Bank of India, and UCO Bank. As a qualified Chartered Accountant, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision throughout his career.

    The IBA, under Goel’s leadership, is expected to continue its mission of representing and advocating for the banking industry in India, addressing key issues, and fostering collaboration among member banks.

    Vikas Kaushal Appointed as CMD of HPCL

    Vikas Kaushal has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) on March 7, 2025. His appointment is historic as he becomes the first private sector executive to lead a state-run oil refinery.

    With over 30 years of experience in the energy, oil & gas, and power sectors, Kaushal has previously served as Managing Director and Country Head for Kearney India. He holds a chemical engineering degree from Panjab University and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. His expertise in digital transformation, refinery maintenance, and net-zero strategies is expected to drive HPCL’s growth.

    Kaushal’s five-year tenure comes at a crucial time as the government strengthens public sector leadership. His vision and leadership are set to enhance HPCL’s strategic direction and contribute significantly to India’s energy sector.

    Tuhin Kanta Pandey appointed as new SEBI Chairman

    On February 27, 2025, Tuhin Kanta Pandey was appointed as the new Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), succeeding Madhabi Puri Buch. Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer from the Odisha cadre, brings extensive experience in financial and economic policy to his new role.

    As the 11th chairman of SEBI, Pandey will serve a three-year term, during which he is expected to focus on enhancing market transparency, investor protection, and the overall stability of the financial markets.

    Pandey’s predecessor, Madhabi Puri Buch, was the first woman to lead SEBI and served a three-year term that concluded on February 28, 2025. Her tenure was marked by significant regulatory advancements and initiatives aimed at strengthening the financial ecosystem in India.

    Shaktikanta Das Appointed Principal Secretary-2 to PM Modi

    Shaktikanta Das, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has been appointed as Principal Secretary-2 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and will be effective from the date he assumes office.

    Das brings a wealth of experience in finance and governance to his new role. He has previously held key positions in the Ministry of Finance and served as a Member of the 15th Finance Commission and India’s G20 Sherpa. His tenure as the 25th Governor of the RBI, from December 2018 to December 2024, was marked by significant decisions on monetary policy, inflation control, and financial sector stability.

    In his new role, Das will work alongside Pramod Kumar Mishra, who has been serving as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister since September 2019. Das’s extensive experience in both fiscal and monetary policy is expected to be a valuable asset to the Prime Minister’s Office.

    Das’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to bolster the financial management expertise within the Prime Minister’s Office, given the uncertain global economic situation. His deep understanding of economic policy, fiscal management, and governance will be crucial in supporting the Prime Minister’s agenda for economic growth and stability.

    Extension of Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran’s Term as Chief Economic Adviser

    The tenure of Chief Economic Adviser Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran has been extended by two years, now set to continue until March 2027. This decision, announced on February 20, 2025, reflects the government’s confidence in his economic policies and vision. Dr. Nageswaran, who first took office in January 2022, has been instrumental in drafting the Economic Survey and advising on various economic policies.

    Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran was born in 1963 and is an esteemed Indian economist. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Before his appointment as Chief Economic Adviser, he had a distinguished career in the private sector, including roles at Credit Suisse and Bank Julius Baer. He has also served as the Dean of the IFMR Graduate School of Business and a Visiting Professor of Economics at Krea University.

    Gyanesh Kumar appointed as new Chief Election Commissioner

    The Central government appointed Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on February 17, 2025, replacing Rajiv Kumar, who will retire on February 18, 2025. Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, is the senior-most among the three-member Election Commission panel.

    Along with this, Vivek Joshi was appointed as an Election Commissioner. He previously served as Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner.

    The selection was made by a three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) and Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) as members. This is the first CEC appointment under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioner Act, 2023, which became effective in December 2023.

    Rajiv Kumar, who served as CEC from May 15, 2022, oversaw Lok Sabha elections 2024, Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections 2022, and elections in 31 States/UTs during his tenure, ensuring smooth electoral management with minimal repolling and violence.

    V Narayanan appointed as the new Chairman of ISRO

    V Narayanan appointed as the new Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space. He will assume office on January 14, succeeding S Somanath.

    V Narayanan currently serves as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO in Valiamala, Kerala. He is a distinguished scientist with nearly four decades of experience in rocket and spacecraft propulsion. Joined ISRO in 1984 and has served in various capacities before becoming the director of LPSC.

    Bahadur Singh Sagoo elected as Athletics Federation of India (AFI) President

    Bahadur Singh Sagoo (Asian Games champion in Men’s Shot Put) elected as the new President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). Election announced during the two-day Annual General Assembly Meeting in Chandigarh (7 January 2025).

    Bahadur Singh succeeds Adille Sumariwalla, who served as AFI President since 2012. Sandeep Mehta, former senior joint secretary, elected as the secretary of AFI during the meeting.

    India will host its first World Athletics Continental Tour level event on 10 August 2025, presenting a major responsibility for the new chief.

    Arunish Chawla Named New Revenue Secretary; Major Government Appointments Announced

    Arunish Chawla: 1992 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer appointed as the Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Previously Secretary of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

    Amit Agrawal: Chief executive officer of Unique Identification Authority of India, appointed as the new Pharmaceuticals Secretary.

    Vineet Joshi: Manipur chief secretary, appointed as the Secretary of Higher Education.

    Neerja Sekhar: Special Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, appointed as the Director General of the National Productivity Council.

    Rachna Shah: Textiles Secretary, appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

    Neelam Shammi Rao: Secretary of the National Commission for Minorities, appointed as the new Textiles Secretary.

    Sanjay Sethi: Appointed as the Secretary of the National Commission for Minorities.

    President Appoints New Governors in 5 States

    The President of India announced the appointment of Governors for five states on 24 December 2024.

    New Appointments:

    • Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati: Appointed as the Governor of Odisha (previously Governor of Mizoram).
    • General (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.): Designated as the new Governor of Mizoram.
    • Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar: Currently Governor of Bihar, now appointed as the Governor of Kerala.
    • Arif Mohammed Khan: Previously Governor of Kerala, now assigned as the Governor of Bihar.
    • Ajay Kumar Bhalla: Former Union Home Secretary, appointed as the Governor of Manipur.

    Effective Dates: The appointments will take effect from the dates the appointees assume charge of their respective offices.

    Resignation Accepted: The resignation of Odisha’s outgoing Governor, Raghubar Das, has been accepted by the President.

    V. Ramasubramanian appointed as NHRC Chairperson

    Retired Supreme Court judge V. Ramasubramanian has been appointed as the new chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by President Droupadi Murmu on 23 December 2024.

    Other Appointments: Priyank Kanoongo and Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi (Retd.) have also been appointed as members of the NHRC.

    Background: Justice Ramasubramanian served as a Supreme Court judge from September 23, 2019, to June 29, 2023.

    Vacancy: This appointment fills the vacancy left by former NHRC chairperson Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, who concluded his tenure on June 1, 2024. Fllowing Mishra’s retirement, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani served as the acting chairperson.

    Indian-American Sriram Krishnan Appointed as Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI

    President-elect Donald Trump appointed Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as the Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    Collaboration: Krishnan will work closely with David Sacks, the White House AI and Crypto Czar, to shape AI policy across the federal government.

    Background: Born in Chennai, Krishnan moved to the United States after graduation and began his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure.

    Career: Besides being a seasoned tech leader, Krishnan is also a venture capitalist, podcaster, and author.

    Madan Lokur Appointed as Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC)

    Appointment: Former Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur has been appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC).

    Tenure: His term will last 4 years, ending on 12th November 2028.

    UN Secretary-General’s Communication: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed pleasure in appointing Justice Lokur, effective immediately.

    Purpose of IJC: The IJC was established by the UN General Assembly to ensure independence, professionalism, and accountability in the administration of the UN’s justice system.

    Justice Lokur’s Background: He retired as a Supreme Court judge on 31st December 2018, after serving for more than 6 years.

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