Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth award recognising innovators from India, Kenya , and the United States. The award is UNEP’s flagship youth engagement initiative for entrepreneurs under 30. The Young Champions program, founded by UNEP in 2017, was relaunched in 2025 with Mr. Kemper as UNEP’s Advocate for Partnerships. Jinali Mody (India) won the 2025 UNEP Young Champions of the Earth award for founding Banofi Leather, producing eco-friendly leather from banana crop waste, reducing water use, chemical pollution, and carbon emissions. Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya) won for HyaPak, converting invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging and seedling wrappers, reducing single-use plastics. Noemi Florea (United States) won for Cycleau, developing a compact greywater reuse system that turns household wastewater into drinking water with low energy consumption.

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The Tamil Nadu government announced the Kalaimamani Awards for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Kalaimamani Awards are the highest civilian honour in Tamil Nadu. They are presented by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Tamil Nadu. Awards cover categories such as vocal music, Thevaram recital, mridangam, harmonium, nadaswaram, thavil, religious discourse, Bharatanatyam teaching, drama, folk singing, Valli Oyil Kummi, small screen acting, and painting.

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Amshi Prasannakumar, senior journalist from Mysuru, has been selected for the Hombale Samhita Harinikumar Alumni Krishi Media Award – 2025. The award recognises journalists in print and electronic media for their contribution to agricultural reporting and creating awareness among farmers. The award will be presented on 11 October 2025 at the Alumni Association (R), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Veterinary College Campus, Hebbal. Prasannakumar is the former president of Mysore District Journalists’ Association. The award highlights the importance of media in promoting agriculture and farmer awareness.

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Padma Vibhushan vocalist Pandit Chhannulal Mishra passed away on 2nd October 2025 at the age of 89. He was a doyen of Hindustani classical music, known for Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, and Bhajan styles. He was born in Azamgarh in 1936. He trained under his father Badri Prasad Mishra, Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of Kirana gharana, and Thakur Jaidev Singh. He was an exponent of the Banaras gharana and the Purab Ang tradition of Thumri. He received Padma Bhushan in 2010 and Padma Vibhushan in 2020.

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Renowned Gandhian and freedom fighter G.G. Parikh passed away on October 2, 2025, at the age of 101 years. He participated in the Quit India Movement (1942) and was imprisoned for 10 months. He was also jailed during the Emergency and was linked to the Baroda dynamite case. He was founder of Yusuf Meherally Centre, which now operates in 12 states promoting rural industries and youth empowerment. He led a Bharat Yatra in 2005 for communal harmony and youth involvement. In recent years, promoted the zero-carbon movement and sustainable livelihoods.

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R. Arthur James, Professor and Chair, Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University (BDU), received the Tamil Nadu Government’s Scientist Award in Environmental Science 2022. The award was presented by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TANSA) at the Resource Centre for Tribal Development, Udhagamandalam. The award includes a cash prize of ₹50,000 and a citation. Govi. Chezhiaan, Minister for Higher Education, and M. P. Saminathan, Minister for Tamil Development, Information and Publicity, presented the award. Prof. James is recognized for pioneering research on natural nanomaterials, including antibiotic agents for wound healing and food preservatives from extremophilic micro-organisms.

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Recently, U.S.-based scientists John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for experiments that demonstrated quantum physics in action. Their work in the mid-1980s used superconducting electronic circuits to show that quantum mechanical properties could be applied on a macroscopic scale. The discoveries underpin modern quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers, and quantum sensors. The prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and includes 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).

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On October 7, 2025, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), launched the book “Above and Beyond – Exploring the Amazing World of Aviation” in New Delhi. The book is authored by Shiv Kumar Mohanaka, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The 445-page book showcases India’s aviation journey, highlighting achievements from dreams to destinations. It draws on Shiv Kumar Mohanaka’s 30 years of experience in CISF, providing a detailed view of the Indian aviation sector. Research includes a survey of 1,500 Indian flyers and explores future evolution of India’s aviation ecosystem to meet global standards.

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The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has named Anant Goenka as its president-elect for 2025-26. Anant Goenka is currently the senior vice president of FICCI. He will take over from Harsha Vardhan Agarwal at FICCI’s 98th Annual General Meeting next month. Goenka is the vice chairman of RPG Group, a $5 billion conglomerate operating in tyre, infrastructure, pharmaceutical, IT, and other sectors. He served as managing director and CEO of CEAT from 2012 to 2023. Under his leadership, CEAT’s market capitalisation increased 25 times. He has also been chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA).

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Chhattisgarh was awarded the ‘Best Performing State’ under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for effective implementation, transparency, and near-zero claim pendency. The award was presented at the National Health Authority (NHA) Conclave held in Bhopal. 97% of hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY in Chhattisgarh are active, the highest in India, compared to 62% in Madhya Pradesh and 52% national average. The state’s health department reforms included wide-ranging inspections, disciplinary actions, and over 32,000 field audits to curb irregularities and fraud.