Meet Indian-Origin Ajay Banga appointed in Gaza’s “Board of Peace” constituted by Trump
Washington: The White House on Friday announced the formation of a “Board of Peace” under US President Donald Trump to oversee the temporary governance of Gaza, even as violence continues in the Palestinian territory despite a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October.
According to the White House, the newly constituted board will be chaired by President Trump and includes Indian-origin World Bank Group President Ajay Banga as one of its members. The announcement comes amid ongoing instability in Gaza, marked by sporadic clashes and persistent security concerns.
Ajay Banga, 66, is currently the 14th President of the World Bank Group. He was nominated by former US President Joe Biden in February 2023 and confirmed to a five-year term in May the same year. He formally assumed office on June 2, 2023.
Banga completed his undergraduate studies in economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in 1981, before pursuing a postgraduate programme in management at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He began his career as an intern with Nestlé in India and spent over a decade with the company, holding senior roles in sales and marketing.
In 1994, he joined PepsiCo as head of marketing for its snacks division in India. He later moved to Citigroup, where he rose through the ranks of the global consumer banking business and eventually served as CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific in 2008. Prior to taking charge at the World Bank, Banga was elected chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce in 2020.
Born in Khadki, Maharashtra, to a Sikh family, Banga is the son of an Indian Army officer, a background that led his family to move frequently across the country. He is married to Ritu Banga, an alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, who is associated with the education and business sectors.
The White House said the Board of Peace has been set up to implement Phase Two of President Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict. This phase includes a 20-point roadmap aimed at bringing peace, stability, reconstruction and long-term development to the region. The board is expected to provide strategic oversight, mobilise international resources and ensure accountability during Gaza’s transition from conflict.
However, the White House did not spell out the specific roles of individual members of the founding executive board. It also confirmed that no Palestinian representatives have been included so far. According to a Reuters report, additional members of the board are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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DGCA slaps Rs 22.2-cr penalty on IndiGo for flight disruptions in December
Mumbai (PTI): Aviation watchdog DGCA on Saturday imposed a Rs 22.20-crore penalty on IndiGo for last month's massive flight disruptions and issued stern warnings to airline chief Pieter Elbers as well as two other senior executives.
Besides, the regulator directed the airline to furnish Rs 50 crore bank guarantee to ensure compliance with its directives and long-term systemic correction.
IndiGo cancelled hundreds of flights early in December, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the country, as the airline was not adequately prepared to implement the new flight duty norms for pilots.
Following the large-scale disruptions in IndiGo operations, aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) set up a four-member committee headed by Joint Director General Sanjay K Brahmane to carry out a comprehensive review and assessment of the circumstances that led to such disruptions.
The panel submitted its report to the DGCA on December 27 last year.
"We are not taking this situation easily. We are doing an inquiry. We will take very, very strict action not only for this situation but also as an example," Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu had said, on IndiGo's massive operational disruptions, in the Rajya Sabha on December 8.
