“APPOINTMENTS”

Hari Babu Kambhampati Takes Oath as Odisha Governor

Hari Babu Kambhampati was sworn in as the 27th Governor of Odisha on 3 January 2025 at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh of the Orissa High Court administered the oath of office, and Kambhampati succeeded Raghubar Das after his resignation. The Governor is the constitutional head of a state under Article 153 of the Constitution of India. The Governor is appointed by the President of India under Article 155 and holds office during the pleasure of the President under Article 156.

K. Venugopal Becomes First Indian Elected Fellow of Society of Experimental Test Pilots

K. Venugopal has become the first Indian test pilot to be elected as a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Venugopal is currently serving at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s leading aerospace and defence manufacturer. The Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) is a prestigious global organisation comprising renowned test pilots and aerospace professionals from across the world.

Centre Extends NCB Chief Anurag Garg’s Tenure Till July 2027

The Centre has extended the tenure of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg till 31 July 2027, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Garg, a 1993-batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau in September 2024, and his tenure was earlier scheduled to end on 23 May 2026. Under his leadership, the NCB recently cracked multiple drug trafficking syndicates and carried out India’s first-ever seizure of Captagon, also known as the “Jihadi Drug”.

Rohit Rajpal Appointed as India’s Chef de Mission for Commonwealth Games, Glasgow

Rohit Rajpal has been appointed as India’s Chef de Mission for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Indian Olympic Association has also named Ravi Bengani as Deputy Chef de Mission, while Vandana Rao and Rahul Swami will serve as general team managers for the Indian contingent.

“NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

India Introduces First Barrier-Free Tolling System on Major Highway in Gujarat

India has launched the first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system in Gujarat. This system was implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and it went live at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch stretch of NH-48. On the opening day around 41,500 vehicles passed through seamlessly without stopping and it marks the important shift towards the faster, smarter and technology driven toll collection.

Chief Justice Surya Kant Declares Sikkim First Paperless Judiciary in India

Respectable Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has announced that Sikkim has become the India’s first fully paperless judiciary. This declaration was made during a national conclave in Gangtok, Sikkim and highlighting the India’s push towards digital justice delivery. This transformation has ensures that court processes are no longer dependent on the physical paperwork and making justice more accessible and efficient.