1. CRPF's Nalin Prabhat takes over as NSG Director General
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Senior 1992 batch IPS officer Nalin Prabhat of Andhra Pradesh cadre has been appointed as the Director General of the country's counter-terrorism force, National Security Guard (NSG).
An Overview of the News
Prabhat is currently serving as Additional Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The appointment was made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for a period up to August 31, 2028, which is the date of his superannuation.
Before Prabhat's appointment, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) chief Daljit Singh Choudhary held additional charge of NSG.
The ACC also approved the appointment of Sapna Tiwari, Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau, as Special Director in the agency for a tenure of two years from the date she assumes charge of the post or the date of her superannuation or till April 30, 2026.
National Security Guard (NSG)
The NSG, often known as the Black Cats, serves as a counter-terrorism unit within India.
Established on 16 October 1984 in response to Operation Blue Star, the NSG comes under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Its primary function is to counter terrorist activities and protect states from internal disruptions.
NSG is famous for its specialized training and quick response to security threats.
2. Ajit Kumar KK appointed as MD and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank
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Reserve Bank of India approved Ajit Kumar KK as Managing Director and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank.
An Overview of the News
The appointment of Ajit Kumar KK is for a tenure of three years, starting from the date he assumes charge.
The appointment follows the approval of extended tenure for outgoing MD and CEO, JK Shivan, until his successor takes charge.
Shivan's term was originally scheduled to end in January 2024.
Kumar's background:
Ajit Kumar KK has 36 years of banking experience primarily from Federal Bank Limited.
Currently working as President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Federal Bank Limited.
Awarded the Gold Award for HR Leader of the Year by the Economic Times Human Capital Awards.
Additionally, Kumar serves as the Director of Federal Operations and Services Limited, a subsidiary of Federal Bank Limited.
Approval Process:
Kumar's candidature was recommended to the RBI along with other candidates for the post of MD and CEO.
The board of the bank will meet to confirm the appointment and secure shareholder approval as per the rules.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
It acts as the central bank of India and the regulatory authority that oversees the Indian banking sector.
It is operated under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of India.
The primary responsibilities of the RBI include regulating and supervising the Indian financial system to ensure stability and efficiency.
One of its major functions is to control the issuance and circulation of the national currency, the Indian Rupee.
RBI is entrusted with the task of managing and maintaining adequate supply of currency in the economy to facilitate smooth transactions and economic activities.
Location: Mumbai, India
Established: 1 April 1935
Governor: Shaktikanta Das
3. Renowned Carnatic Musician KG Jayan Passes Away at 89
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KG Jayan, a renowned Carnatic musician and Padma Shri awardee hailing from Kerala, passed away at 89 in Ernakulam district.
An Overview of the News
Born on November 21, 1934, in Kottayam, Kerala, he commenced his Carnatic music journey at the age of 9, mentored by eminent figures like the Alathur Brothers and Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.
Musical Career:
Formed the renowned duo "Jaya-Vijaya" along with his brother, K.G. Vijayan.
Composed over 1,000 songs and contributed music to Tamil and Malayalam films.
Known for their devotional songs dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, including "Sreekovil Nadathurannu" and "Hariharasuthane".
Notable Works:
Compositions such as "Ayyanu Thunayay", "Mamala Vaazhum", and "Sreekovil Nada Thurannu" are timeless.
Their music featured in popular films like "Bhoomiyile", "Malakhamar", and "Sneham".
Award:
In 2013, I.K.G. Jayan received the Harivarasanam Award, a joint recognition by the Kerala Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board.
In 1991, he was bestowed with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, an annual honor conferred by the Kerala Government.
Recognized for his contributions to the arts, K.G. Jayan was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019, India's fourth highest civilian honor.
4. Kristalina Georgieva: Reappointment as Managing Director of the IMF
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Kristalina Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist, has been reappointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a second five-year term beginning on October 1, 2024.
An Overview of the News
She has been serving as the 12th Managing Director of the IMF since 2019, with her current tenure set to conclude on September 30, 2024.
Career Highlights:
Early Academic and Professional Experience:
Worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) from 1977 to 1993.
Joined the World Bank (WB) in 1993 as an environmental economist.
Leadership Roles at the European Commission:
Served as the Vice-President of the European Commission from November 2014 to December 2016.
Held positions including Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, and Vice-President for Budget and Human Resources.
Tenure at the World Bank:
Served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Bank from January 2017 to September 2019.
Additionally, acted as the interim President of the World Bank from February 2019 to April 2019.
5. Senior IPS Officer Anurag Kumar Appointed Joint Director of CBI
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Senior IPS officer Anurag Kumar, from the 2004 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS), has been designated as the Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
An Overview of the News
Anurag Kumar is from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and is currently working in Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
According to an order from the Personnel Ministry, Kumar's appointment to the role of Joint Director in the CBI was confirmed on Friday.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has endorsed his appointment for a tenure extending up to February 24, 2027.
About CBI:
It is serves as India's primary domestic crime investigation agency.
It functions under the purview of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.
Tasked with investigating a wide range of criminal offenses within the country, the CBI plays a crucial role in upholding law and order.
Founded - 1 April 1963
Headquarters - New Delhi
Founder - Government of India
6. Ashish Chauhan and Sridhar Vembu Appointed to UGC by Ministry of Education
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Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), and Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, have been appointed as members of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
An Overview of the News
Their tenure spans three years, as per the notification from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Other Appointments
Retired Professor Sachidananda Mohanty, former Vice Chancellor of Central University of Odisha, has been appointed to the UGC. Professor Mohanty brings his extensive experience in academia to the commission.
Professor Shashikala Gulabrao Wanjari, Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in New Delhi, Delhi, has been appointed as a member of the UGC. Her tenure, like others', is set for three years or until further orders.
About UGC
The UGC was proposed by the Sargent Report of 1944 to establish a national system of education in India.
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1956, the UGC plays a pivotal role in higher education governance.
The current Chairman of UGC is Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, and its headquarters are located in New Delhi, Delhi.
With these appointments, the total number of members in the UGC has increased from 4 to 8, enriching its expertise and diversity.
7. Appointment of Vo Thi Anh Xuan as Interim President of Vietnam
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Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vietnam's Vice-President, aged 54, was appointed as Interim President on March 21, 2024.
An Overview of the News
Vo Thi Anh Xuan succeeded Vo Van Thuong, who resigned from the presidency on March 20, 2024, having served since March 2023.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan will serve as the acting president until the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) elects a new president.
Previous Interim Presidency:
In the 2021-2026 term, Vo Thi Anh Xuan previously held the role of Interim President in January 2023, following the resignation of Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Vo Van Thuong was subsequently elected as President.
Background of Vo Thi Anh Xuan:
Vo Thi Anh Xuan originates from Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Vietnam.
She is an alternate member of the 11th Party Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and a member of the 12th and 13th Party Central Committee. Additionally, she is a delegate to the 14th and 15th National Assembly.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan was elected as Vice President of Vietnam in April 2021, becoming the youngest Vice President at the age of 51.
About Vietnam:
Prime Minister - Pham Minh Chinh
Capital - Hanoi
Currency - Vietnamese dong
8. Bjarni Benediktsson Becomes Iceland's Prime Minister, Replacing Katrín Jakobsdótti
Tags: Person in news International News
Benediktsson took office as Prime Minister of Iceland on April 9, 2024, succeeding Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
An Overview of the News
Before his appointment as PM, Benediktsson served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from October 2023.
He previously held the position of Prime Minister from January to November 2017.
Benediktsson's career began as a District Court attorney in 1998, followed by his election to the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, representing Southwest Iceland in 2003.
Since 2009, he has led the Independence Party.
Benediktsson also served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and resumed the position from November 30, 2017, until October 14, 2023.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir's Contributions:
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the second woman to hold the position of PM in Iceland after Jóhanna Sigurðardótti, served as PM since 2017.
She resigned to pursue the presidency and also stepped down as Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement.
Jakobsdóttir has been a Member of Althingi for the Reykjavík North Constituency since 2007.
Her previous ministerial roles include Minister of Education, Science, and Culture, as well as Minister of Nordic Cooperation, from 2009 to 2013.
Iceland's Current Landscape:
Iceland's current President is Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
Reykjavík serves as the capital.
The currency used is the Icelandic Króna (ISK).
9. Famous Physicist Peter Higgs Passes Away at the Age of 94
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Peter Higgs commenced his teaching journey as a Temporary Lecturer in Mathematics at University College London, UK.
An Overview of the News
In 1960, he relocated to Edinburgh and assumed the role of a Lecturer in Mathematical Physics at the Tait Institute.
Progressing steadily, he ascended through the academic ranks, culminating in his appointment to a Personal Chair of Theoretical Physics in 1980.
Upon retirement in 1996, he was granted the title of Professor Emeritus at the University of Edinburgh.
Awards and Honours:
2015: Royal Society's Copley Medal for his contributions to the theory of the Higgs boson.
2013: Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with François Englert, for their theoretical discovery explaining the mass of subatomic particles.
2013: Appointed as Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours List for scientific achievements.
2013: Edinburgh Medal from the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the Nonino 'Man of Our Time' Prize.
2004: Wolf Prize in Physics shared with Robert Brout and François Englert.
1997: High Energy and Particle Physics Prize from the European Physical Society shared with Robert Brout and François Englert.
10. India's Jagjit Pavadia appointed Chairman of INCB
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1979 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Jagjit Pavadia won re-election to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for his third term from 2025 to 2030.
An Overview of the News
Pavadia previously served two terms on the INCB: 2015–2020 and 2020–2025. Notably, she held the position of President of INCB from 2021 to 2022.
Prior to his tenure at the INCB, Pavadia held several senior positions within the Government of India, including roles in the Central Narcotics Bureau as Narcotics Commissioner of India (2006–2012), Commissioner of Legal Affairs (2001–2005), and . Chief Vigilance Officer at Power Finance Corporation (1996–2001).
About INCB:
The INCB, established in 1968 in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, acts as an independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations (UN) international drug control conventions.
Collaborating with governments around the world, INCB ensures adequate drug supplies for medical and scientific purposes while monitoring governments' control over chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs. Additionally, it helps prevent these chemicals from being trafficked.
About the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
ECOSOC is a primary organ of the United Nations.
It addresses economic, social, cultural and health issues as well as human rights.
ECOSOC monitors the UN's subsidiary bodies and ensures follow-up on major UN conventions.
Paula Narvaez is the current president.
Its membership includes 54 countries including India.
Established in 1945
