Current Affairs

Ajit Pawar

Maharashtras Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has died in a plane crash at Maharashtras Baramati on 28 January 2026. The Civil Aviation Ministry informed that a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) aircraft, operated by VSR, crash-landed at Baramati airport.

Chandrakant Lahariya

Chandrakant Lahariya, former staff member of World Health Organisation (WHO), has won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025. He is the first and only Indian so far to win this prize, which received over 2,000 nominations.

Inderjit Singh Bindra

Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra died. He was 84. He played a major role in ushering in a new era of cricket marketing. Bindra served as the board president from 1993 to 1996, and was also the president of the Punjab Cricket Association from 1978 to 2014.

Shubhanshu Shukla

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was conferred the Ashoka Chakra, the countrys highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Droupadi Murmu during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path on 26 January 2026.

Dr. William Foege

Dr. William Foege, a leader of one of humanitys greatest public health victories — the global eradication of smallpox — has died at the age of 89. He was director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and later held other key leadership roles in campaigns against international health problems.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired from the space agency after 27 years of service. She completed three missions aboard the International Space Station, setting numerous human spaceflight records throughout her career.

Vajja Srinivasa Rao

Vajja Srinivasa Rao was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner of the Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission on 20 January 2026. Paravada Simhachalam Naidu, Vanteru Ravi Babu, Adenna Gajula and Sarath Chandra Kalyan Chakravarthy Vattikuti took oath as Information Commissioners.

Sandeep Bakhshi

Sandeep Bakhshi was reappointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ICICI Bank. His further two-year term, beginning October 4, 2026 and ending October 3, 2028.

Praveen Vashista

Praveen Vashista took charge as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission on 16 January 2026

Rakesh Aggarwal

Senior IPS officer Rakesh Aggarwal was appointed as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 14 January 2026

Nalini Joshi

Indian-origin mathematician Nalini Joshi was named New South Wales Scientist of the Year, becoming the first mathematician to receive the states top science honour in Australia.

A. K. Balasubrahmanian

A. K. Balasubrahmanian has taken over charge as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). He succeeded Dr D. K. Shukla. Before joining AERB, Balasubrahmanian served as Chairman, Project Design Safety Committee

Ida Liu

HSBC has announced the appointment of Ida Liu as Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Private Bank. She brings more than 25 years of global experience across wealth management, strategic advisory and business transformation.

Manoj Kothari

Former world billiards champion Manoj Kothari died at the age of 67 in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu on 5 January 2026. He had won the world billiards championship title back in 1990. He also secured the State Champion title a total of 16 times during his career.

Karthikeyan Manickam

ESAF Small Finance Bank announced the appointment of Karthikeyan Manickam as its Chairman. He is a former executive director of the Bank of India. Manickam possesses expertise across key areas, including banking operations, risk management, regulatory compliance, human resources management, and credit monitoring and recovery.

Nagesh Kapoor

Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on 1 January 2025, following the superannuation of Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari. Nagesh is presently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command.

Zohran Mamdani

Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York Citys mayor, beginning a four-year term. He made history as he took his oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, becoming the first mayor of the city to be sworn in on Islams holy book.