Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Manohar International Airport (GOX) won the ‘Best Domestic Airport’ title at the Travel Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi, recognizing GOX as a top domestic aviation hub in India. A global survey with over 1,86,000 participants evaluated airports on accessibility, security, dining, shopping, and design. GOX excelled in all categories, becoming the preferred choice for domestic travelers. The airport features Goan cultural elements, modern amenities, and flexible flight schedules for comfort and convenience.

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Kaamya Karthikeyan, 17, became the youngest female to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents, completing the Seven Summits Challenge. She reached Mount Vinson in Antarctica on December 24, 2024, at 17:20 Chilean Standard Time with her father, Cdr S Karthikeyan. Previously, she scaled Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Elbrus (Europe), Mt Kosciuszko (Australia), Mt Aconcagua (South America), Mt Denali (North America), and Mt Everest (Asia). A Class 12 student at Navy Children School, Mumbai, Kaamya’s achievements have been praised by the Indian Navy and Prime Minister Modi. Her journey inspires young adventurers worldwide.

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Vitul Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, is appointed Acting Director General of the CRPF after Anish Dayal Singh’s retirement. Born in Bhatinda, Punjab, Kumar holds a degree in Electronics Engineering, enhancing his analytical skills in law enforcement. He has held key positions in the CRPF, progressing from Deputy Inspector General in 2009 to Special Director General in 2023. Kumar’s awards include the President’s Police Medal (2021) and Police Medal (2009).

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Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Messi is the first Argentine and first male soccer player to receive this award. He could not attend the ceremony due to prior commitments, sending a letter expressing gratitude. The award recognizes significant contributions to society, world peace, or public welfare. Messi was honored for being the most decorated soccer player and his philanthropic work through the Leo Messi Foundation and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

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Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), has been appointed as the new ISRO Chairman and Space Secretary. He will succeed S. Somanath on January 14, 2025, for a two-year term or until further orders. Dr. Narayanan, a propulsion expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and has worked on projects like ASLV, PSLV, GSLV Mk-II, and GSLV Mk-III. He chaired the expert committee for Chandrayaan-2’s hard landing and delivered propulsion systems for Chandrayaan-3. His predecessor, S. Somanath, led major missions, including Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan’s first flight.

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Assam police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh is appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The CRPF, India’s premier central police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensures internal security. It was established in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police during political unrest in princely states.

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Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad has been awarded the prestigious Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for 2025 in the Institutional Category. This award recognizes INCOIS’s significant contributions to disaster management in India, particularly in tsunami early warning, cyclone forecasting, and coastal risk mitigation. INCOIS operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), recognized globally by UNESCO. The organization has developed innovative tools like SARAT and SynOPS to enhance disaster response capabilities. This award highlights India’s advancements in disaster management and the crucial role of institutions like INCOIS in safeguarding lives and livelihoods.

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Uttar Pradesh’s Mahakumbh tableau won the best tableau award at the 76th Republic Day celebrations. Tripura’s tableau on Kharchi Puja secured second place, followed by Andhra Pradesh’s tableau on Etikoppaka Bommalu wooden toys. Jammu & Kashmir Rifles won best marching contingent among services, while Delhi Police topped in the CAPF/auxiliary forces category. Ministry of Tribal Affairs won for its Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh tableau. Special prizes were given to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for its Constitution of India tableau and the Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam Dance Group.

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Vishvaa Rajakumar, a 20-year-old Indian student, won the Memory League World Championship 2025. He memorized 80 random numbers in 13.50 seconds and 30 images in 8.40 seconds. The Memory League World Championship is a top-level online memory competition. Rajakumar, ranked No. 1 with a score of 5,000, studies at Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology, Puducherry. He credits hydration for improving memory speed and clarity. His goal is to become a memory trainer and establish a memory institute in India.

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Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) won the SKOCH Award 2024 at the 100th SKOCH Summit on February 15, 2025, in New Delhi. The award was received by ANGO Konyak and Venni Konyak on behalf of Nagaland’s Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC). NFMP focuses on forest conservation, jhum rehabilitation, and sustainable livelihoods. The SKOCH Award is an award given by the SKOCH Group to recognize people, projects, and institutions that make India a better nation.