General Awareness

PERSONS IN NEWS - January 2025

Jan 2025

Jan 09, 2026

Agnivesh Agarwal, Vedanta Group director, dies at 49

Agnivesh Agarwal, 49, a director at Vedanta Group and son of metals tycoon Anil Agarwal, died after suffering a cardiac arrest following a skiing incident in the United States. Born in Patna on 3 June 1976, Agarwal studied at Mayo College in Ajmer and helped establish Fujairah Gold, a metals refinery in the UAE. He also served as chairman of Hindustan Zinc from November 2005 to February 2019, before taking charge of Talwandi Sabo Power (TSPL) in May 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended condolences, noting Agarwal’s role in expanding Vedanta’s metals and energy ventures in India.

Agnivesh Agarwal died at age 49
Director at Vedanta Group; former TSPL chairman
Died after a skiing incident in the United States
Born 3 June 1976; studied at Mayo College, Ajmer
Linked to Fujairah Gold; Hindustan Zinc leadership (2005–2019)

Jan 08, 2026

Renowned Ecologist, Champions of Earth Recipient Madhav Gadgil Dies

Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil, renowned for his work on the Western Ghats, passed away in January 2026 at the age of 83.
In 2024, the United Nations honoured him with the Champions of the Earth award, the organisation's highest environmental accolade, recognising his seminal contributions to the conservation of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
He had also chaired the government-appointed Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which studied the effects of population pressure, climate change, and development activities on the ecologically sensitive region.

BJP’s Northeast patriarch Kabindra Purkayastha passes away at 94

Assam BJP leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha passed away in January 2026 at the age of 94. Known as the patriarch of the Assam BJP, Purkayastha was respected for his simple, disciplined public life. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher. He later served as the Minister of Communications in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, among other roles, contributing to party organization and policy debates in the northeast. His demise is likely to prompt reflections on the party’s regional leadership and its long‑running presence in Assam politics.

Purkayastha died in January 2026 at age 94.
Widely regarded as Assam BJP's patriarch.
Former Minister of Communications in NDA government.
Had a background in teaching before politics.
Decades of service shaped party organization in the region.

Jan 07, 2026

Malayalam cinema loses veteran actor Punnapra Appachan

Veteran Malayalam actor Punnapra Appachan died at age 77, leaving behind a long career noted for versatility and prolific work. Beginning with the 1965 film Othenante Makan, Appachan appeared in more than a thousand films. A defining role came in Anubhavangal Paalichakal, where he played a trade union leader. Across decades, he became a familiar face in regional cinema, contributing to stage and screen. His passing is mourned by fans and colleagues, highlighting a career that spanned several generations and underscoring Malayalam cinema’s rich acting tradition.

Punnapra Appachan died aged 77
Acted since 1965; first film Othenante Makan
Featured in Anubhavangal Paalichakal as a trade union leader
Acted in over a thousand films
Significant figure in Malayalam cinema history

Jan 06, 2026

Suresh Kalmadi, former Union Minister, passes away

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Kalmadi passed away at the age of 81. Kalmadi served as Minister of State for Railways and was a former president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). A prominent political figure from Pune, he represented the city several times in the Lok Sabha and held key roles in sports administration over many years. His death marks the end of a long public career that spanned governance, railways policy, and national sports administration. Tributes poured in from across political and sports circles praising his contributions and leadership.

Suresh Kalmadi died at age 81.
Former Union Minister of State for Railways.
Former president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Represented Pune in the Lok Sabha multiple times.
Long career in governance and sports administration.
Tributes from political and sports communities.

Manoj Kothari, former billiards champion and coach, dies at 67

Manoj Kothari, a former world billiards champion and long-time national coach, died at the age of 67 in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He had led India’s billiards teams as chief national coach from 2011 and had guided players to international success, including IBSF World Billiards Championship titles in 1990 and the World Doubles in 1997. Kothari’s passing marks the loss of a key figure in Indian cue sports, who helped raise India’s profile on the global stage. He had been receiving treatment at a Tirunelveli hospital when the end came, leaving a legacy of coaching and achievement.

Manoj Kothari died at 67 in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
World billiards champion in 1990; World Doubles champion in 1997.
Served as Indian billiards chief national coach from 2011 onward.
Oversaw several players achieving international success.
Died while under treatment at a Tirunelveli hospital.
Widely regarded as a pivotal figure in Indian cue sports.

Jan 05, 2026

Delcy Rodríguez appointed interim President of Venezuela

Following the reported capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the office of interim president. Rodríguez, a long-time figure in Maduro's administration since 2018, now leads during a period of political uncertainty. The move raises questions about constitutional succession and potential shifts in regional diplomacy and governance. International observers are monitoring the situation for implications on Venezuela's internal stability and relations with external partners while lawmakers assess next steps amid ongoing constitutional questions.

Delcy Rodríguez named interim president
Context: Maduro's capture by U.S. forces
Supreme Court order formalizes transition
Implications for Venezuela's governance and diplomacy
International observers monitoring the situation

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