Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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In November 2025, an eminent author Salman Rushdie was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize (DLPP) event held in Ohio, United States. The award recognized outstanding literary contribution and advocacy for freedom of expression, tolerance, and human dignity. The Dayton Literary Peace Prize celebrates writers who promote peace through literature, with separate awards for fiction, nonfiction, and lifetime achievement. The 2025 edition marked the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War.

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Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations Specialized Agency for Tourism (UN Tourism). She is the first woman to lead the organization in its 50-year history. She will officially take office in January 2026 for a four-year term, marking a historic milestone for gender representation and global leadership.

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Mohan Chandra Kandpal becomes the first person from Uttarakhand to receive the National Water Award for Best Individual in the Water Sector (North Zone). President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He has worked over 36 years reviving springs, naulas and water sources in Himalayan villages. He leads the grassroots campaign “Pani Boao–Pani Uggao” (Sow Water–Grow Water). His efforts replenished water in nearly 40 villages in the Riskan river belt, combating deforestation and soil degradation.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar assumes the chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026. India is elected as Chair under the rotational system and will hold the post till 2033. India is among the 14 founding member states of International IDEA. The charge is assumed in Stockholm, Sweden, in the presence of Ambassador Anurag Bhushan. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is globally recognised as a credible Election Management Body (EMB). India has 900+ million voters across 28 States and 8 Union Territories (UTs).

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Parveen Shaikh, a scientist with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), won the Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2025 for leading community-based conservation of the endangered Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis). She began her research in 2016 at the National Chambal Sanctuary (National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary) located along the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Her work focused on understanding nesting behaviour, tracking survival rates, and identifying threats to the bird colonies. She found that Indian Skimmers nest on exposed sandbars, making eggs highly vulnerable to predators, livestock, and changing river flows.

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Elan Group, with Invincible Publishers, launched “The Art of Doing Nothing Right”, debut book by Ajit Navraj Hans, on 9th December 2025 at Elan Epic Mall, Gurugram. The event was attended by Daler Mehndi, Hans Raj Hans (Padma Shri), and Navraj Hans, celebrating creative legacy and family inspiration. The book explores embracing imperfections, learning from mistakes, and celebrating authenticity and resilience.

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The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Ministry of Culture, won two PRSI National Awards 2025 from the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI). One award was for the Har Ghar Museum initiative in the Best Use of Social Media in a Corporate Campaign category. The second award was for the “Waste to Art” publication under the Special/Prestige Publication category. “Waste to Art” documents NCSM’s initiative under Special Campaign 4.0 and Swachhata Hi Sewa, transforming around 1,250 kg of waste into art installations across NCSM units. The installations served as educational exhibits promoting circular economy principles, and workshops and competitions engaged students and communities.

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Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh was awarded Best Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Institute for the second consecutive year by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The award was presented during ARISE 2025 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. It was organised by organised by Health Technology Assessment in India (HTAIn), the central HTA body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. PGIMER earlier received the same recognition at the ICMR–DHR Health Summit last year.

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The Vice-President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, released the book Sanatan Sanskriti Ki Atal Drishti by Shri Vasudev Devnani, Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, at the Vice-President’s Enclave, New Delhi. The book is a tribute to former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his centenary birth anniversary. The Vice-President praised Vajpayee as an institution whose life embodied principles, values, and visionary leadership.

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The President of India confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) on Veer Bal Diwas to children with outstanding achievements. It is a prestigious national honour awarded annually by the Government of India. The award recognises excellence in Bravery, Art & Culture, Environment, Social Service, Science & Technology, and Sports. It is organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.