Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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NTPC Ltd. won the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category. The award was presented by UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) in Chennai on February 13. NTPC was recognized for its water conservation and sustainable water management initiatives. The award aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NTPC follows Reduce, Reuse & Recycle principles and uses advanced wastewater treatment. It promotes clean water access, restores water bodies, and raises conservation awareness. The company sets industry benchmarks in water efficiency and sustainability.

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The Ministry of Ayush conferred the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to three distinguished practitioners. Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav presented the awards in Mumbai on 20.02.2025. Awardees include Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, an expert Nadi Vaidya and author; Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal, a Dravyaguna Vigyana scholar with 60 years of service; and Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni, founder of Vishwa Vyakhyanmala. Each recipient received a citation, a trophy featuring Lord Dhanwantari, and ₹5 Lakh. The awards highlight India’s commitment to holistic healthcare and preserving traditional medicine.

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The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion held a discussion on Diyaslai. Diyaslai is the autobiography of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, detailing his journey from Vidisha to his fight for child rights. Kailash Satyarthi, born in 1954 in Madhya Pradesh, has led global efforts against child slavery and exploitation in 140 countries. His organization has rescued over 1,38,000 children from child labour and trafficking. He highlighted that compassion is the key to solving global issues.

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Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky, the 10th World Chess Champion, has passed away at 88. Spassky was known for his strategic brilliance, sportsmanship, and deep understanding of chess. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), he became an International Grandmaster in 1955. In 1969, he defeated Tigran Petrosian to become the World Chess Champion. Spassky was famous for his versatile playing style, excelling in both positional and attacking games.

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Dr. Anju Rathi Rana has become the first woman Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice. Her appointment marks an important step for gender diversity in top government positions. She has represented India at international forums, including the BRICS Ministers of Justice Meeting. She has contributed to legal reforms and gender representation in the judiciary.

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Chinese architect Liu Jiakun won the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize for designs that celebrate everyday life. The Pritzker Prize is the most prestigious award in international architecture. Liu is the 54th laureate and was chosen for his focus on people and communities over his 40-year career. He is the third Chinese architect to win, after IM Pei and Wang Shu. The Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called “architecture’s Nobel Prize,” is an international award established in 1979 by the Pritzker family through their Hyatt Foundation, recognizing a living architect (or architects) for their significant contributions to humanity and the built environment.

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Prasar Bharati received the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award 2024 for promoting and broadcasting hockey. The award was given at the Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 in New Delhi. Hockey India honored the 1975 World Cup-winning squad with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award and ₹50 lakh. Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh won the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024.

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Gunter Bloschl, a renowned hydrologist, won the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize for his research on flood risks and climate change impacts. The Stockholm Water Prize is a prestigious global award recognizing achievements in water science, management, and protection. It is presented by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Established in 1991 during the Stockholm Water Festival, it highlights Sweden’s commitment to clean water. The award honors individuals or organizations contributing to water conservation, management, and sustainability across science, engineering, policy, and environmental advocacy.

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Ajay Seth, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as India’s next Finance Secretary. He succeeds Tuhin Kanta Pandey, who became the 11th Chairperson of SEBI. His appointment was approved by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is currently the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and was previously given additional charge of the Department of Revenue. He serves as India’s Alternate Governor on the ADB Board of Governors, where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman represents India. He holds a BTech from IIT Roorkee and an MBA from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

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Telangana won the Best National Performance Award in NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) testing under the 100-Day ‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign. The award was presented by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on World TB Day in New Delhi. Telangana achieved over 100% screening in nine TB-affected districts, identifying over 4,600 new TB cases.