4.5/5
Current Affairs 12th May 2026
Heads of Intelligence & Investigation Organizations
-
CVC- Praveen Kumar Srivastava
-
Vigilance Commissioner, CVC - Praveen Vashishta
-
Director, CBI - Praveen Sood
-
CIC - Raj Kumar Goyal
-
Director, IB - Tapan Kumar Deka
-
Chief, RAW- Parag Jain
-
Director General, NIA - Rakesh Agrawal
-
Director, ED - Rahul Navin
-
Director General, NCB - Anurag Garg
1. Dr AK Panda assumed charge as CMD of SAIL
-
Extensive Internal Experience: Dr. Panda is a veteran of the company, having joined SAIL as a Management Trainee (Technical) in 1992. With over three decades of service, he has worked across various operational, financial, and commercial domains within the organization.
-
Previous Leadership Roles: Before becoming CMD, he served as Director (Finance) at SAIL and also held the additional charge of Director (Commercial) for approximately nine months. He is recognized as a "technocrat-cum-finance expert" due to his background in Electrical Engineering and his Doctorate in Business Management.
-
Vision for Expansion: Upon taking charge, he outlined immediate priorities including scaling SAIL’s production capacity to 35 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum), strengthening raw material security through domestic mining, and focusing on high-value-added products and workplace safety.
Footnotes: SAIL's Previous CMD: Amarendu Prakash,HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 1954
2. Prashant Pise appointed as next Ambassador of India to Sultanate of Oman
-
Seasoned Diplomat: Prashant Pise is a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. Before this appointment, he served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, specifically handling Emigration Policy and Welfare matters.
-
Extensive Regional Expertise: He has a wealth of experience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, having previously served as the Ambassador of India to Iraq and Tunisia. His earlier diplomatic career also included postings in Egypt, Libya, and London.
-
Succession in Muscat: He will succeed Amit Narang (who completed his tenure in late 2025/early 2026) and takes over from the interim leadership in Muscat to further strengthen the India-Oman strategic partnership, particularly in maritime security and trade.
3. Indian Coast Guard Commissions Indigenous FPV ‘ICGS ACHAL’
-
Make in India Milestone: ICGS Achal is the first in a series of eight FPVs designed and built entirely indigenously by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). It reflects the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" initiative, featuring nearly 70% indigenous content in its construction and machinery.
-
Advanced Capabilities: This 50-meter-long vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, including a 30mm CRN-91 Naval Gun and advanced sensors. It is designed to achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots, making it highly effective for high-speed interceptions.
-
Operational Role: The vessel will be primarily deployed for Coastal Surveillance, Anti-Smuggling, Anti-Poaching, and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. It will operate under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).
4. Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches PMGSY-IV
-
Expanded Connectivity Targets: PMGSY-IV aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to approximately 50,000 previously unconnected habitations across India. The focus has shifted toward smaller, remote habitations in plain areas (pop. 250+) and even smaller clusters in hilly, tribal, or desert regions (pop. 100+).
-
Massive Financial Outlay: For the financial year 2026-27, the central government has allocated approximately ₹19,000 crore for rural road development. During the launch, specific approvals worth ₹1,763 crore were handed over for over 970 road projects covering 2,117 km in Madhya Pradesh alone.
-
Socio-Economic Integration: Minister Chouhan described these rural roads as "gateways to prosperity," emphasizing that this phase is designed to link remote villages not just to each other, but to essential services like healthcare, higher education, and large agricultural markets.
5. CVC appointed John Hourican as CFO
-
Extensive Leadership Background: Hourican is a highly seasoned financial executive with over 30 years of international experience. He recently served as the CEO of NewDay (until April 2026) and was previously the CEO of the Bank of Cyprus, where he was credited with leading the bank's recovery following the 2013 financial crisis.
-
Succession and EffectiveDate: He will officially assume the role on September 1, 2026. He is set to succeed Fred Watt, who is retiring after nearly 20 years with CVC. Watt played a crucial role in CVC’s growth, including its recent Initial Public Offering (IPO) in April 2024.
-
Strategic Role at CVC: As CFO and Board member, Hourican will oversee the firm's global financial operations and strategy. His appointment is seen as a move to strengthen CVC’s institutional platform and support its expansion as a public company managing over €200 billion in assets.
6. DMRC partners with Airtel Payments Bank to launch Rupay NCMC cards
-
Interoperable "One Nation, One Card" Vision: These open-loop cards allow commuters to pay for travel across multiple transit systems nationwide, including metros and buses, using a single card. This is a major upgrade from the traditional DMRC-issued smart cards, which were restricted to the Delhi Metro network.
-
Flexible Card Options: The partnership introduces two types of co-branded cards: Debit Cards and PPI-MTS (Prepaid Payment Instrument for Mass Transit Systems). These cards will be made available at all DMRC stations within 10 days of the launch.
-
Digital Convenience & Discounts: Users can recharge their cards digitally via the DMRC or Airtel apps, reducing physical queues. Additionally, commuters using these NCMC cards continue to benefit from DMRC’s existing fare incentives, such as a 10% discount during peak hours and a 20% discount during non-peak hours.
7. President Droupadi Murmu conferred National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026
-
Recognition of 15 Awardees: A total of 15 nursing professionals from across the country were honored this year. The awardees included Registered Nurses, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), and Lady Health Visitors. Notable recipients included Sub Inspector Kulwinder Parhi (Ladakh), Poonam Verma (Chandigarh), Dr. Sharwan Kumar Dhaka (Delhi), and Maj Gen Lissamma P.V. (Indian Army).
-
Award Components and History: Instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, these are the highest national honors for nursing. Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a Medal, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. They recognize meritorious services that exemplify compassion, dedication, and clinical excellence.
-
Theme and Significance: The awards were presented on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. This year’s ceremony highlighted the theme "Our Nurses. Our Future.
8. Australian tennis 'true legend' Anderson dies aged 91
-
Historic US Open Champion: In 1957, Anderson made history by becoming the first unseeded player to win the men’s singles title at the US Championships (now the US Open). He defeated three seeded players during the tournament and dropped only two sets on his way to the trophy.
-
Grand Slam and Davis Cup Success: Beyond his US Open triumph, he won three major doubles titles (including the 1957 French Championships and 1958 Australian Championships) and played a pivotal role in helping Australia win the Davis Cup in both 1957 and 1973.
-
Mentor to Future Champions: After his playing career, Anderson was a revered coach and mentor in Queensland. He is credited with shaping the careers of several Australian tennis stars, most notably former world number one Pat Rafter, as well as Scott Draper and Wally Masur.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
-
International Nurses Day: May 12th
-
Theme 2026: "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives."
-
In India, the celebration was marked by President Droupadi Murmu conferring the National Florence Nightingale Awards to 15 distinguished nursing professionals.
1 like |
0 comment
