Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Nikhil Singhal, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide and President of the Noida High Rise Federation, received the Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award for his outstanding work in public relations and strategic communication. The award was presented by Shri Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, during a grand ceremony on March 31, 2025, at the Taj Lucknow, organized by the Tapasya Foundation Trust. The event gathered leading figures from media, corporate communications, and governance, recognizing Singhal’s role in transforming the public relations (PR) industry with innovative and impactful strategies.

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President Droupadi Murmu was honoured with the “Key of Honour” and made an honorary citizen of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on 7 April 2025. The award was presented by Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, at the historic Câmara Municipal de Lisboa. This honour marks deepening ties between India and Portugal and acknowledges her role in promoting global friendship. President Murmu is on a two-nation official visit to Portugal and Slovakia from 7 to 10 April 2025.

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Researchers from Kerala received the Future Conservationist Award by the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) for their work on saving the Malabar Grey Hornbill. The CLP is a global partnership between Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The award supports young conservationists with less than five years of experience by offering funding and expert guidance. The Malabar Grey Hornbill is a bird found only in the Western Ghats of India, mostly at elevations above 50 meters from sea level. Its International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status is Vulnerable, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction.

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The Uttar Pradesh Police’s “Investigation, Prosecution, and Conviction Portal” recently won the SKOCH Award in the “Police & Safety” category. This in-house development by the Technical Services Unit of UP Police has been recognized for its role in enhancing justice delivery and public trust, particularly in identifying and monitoring serious crimes and facilitating timely convictions. The portal has led to nearly 85,000 convictions and resolved over 40,000 pending cases.

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Five military personnel were awarded the MacGregor Memorial Medal by the Chief of Defence Staff for their outstanding work in military reconnaissance, exploration, and adventure for the years 2023 and 2024. The medal was established on 3rd July 1888 to honour General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, who founded the United Service Institution of India (USI). It was originally given for military reconnaissance and exploratory missions during British Army campaigns in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and Burma. After India’s independence, the scope was expanded to include adventure activities. The medal is open to all ranks, both serving and retired, from the Indian Armed Forces, Territorial Army, and Assam Rifles.

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The government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) after the Pahalgam terror attack, appointing former intelligence chief Alok Joshi as chairman. National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) is an advisory body under the National Security Council (NSC) structure. It is chaired by the Prime Minister, supported by the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). Established in 1998 after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, it institutionalized India’s national security framework. The NSAB provides non-partisan strategic inputs on national security issues but is not a decision-making body. It reports to the NSCS and includes experts from various sectors.

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The Pulitzer Prizes 2025 were recently announced by the Pulitzer Prize Board to honor excellence in journalism and the arts. The Pulitzer Prize is considered the most prestigious award in journalism in the United States. It was established in the year 1917 and is administered by Columbia University. The award is overseen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, which consists of judges appointed by Columbia University. The prize is named after Joseph Pulitzer, a famous newspaper publisher who left funds in his will to create the School of Journalism and the Pulitzer Prize.

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Bhuwan Ribhu became the first Indian lawyer to receive the Medal of Honour from the World Jurist Association, a global legal recognition. The award acknowledges his lifelong legal work against child labour, trafficking, child marriage, and sexual abuse. He is the founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC), a global legal network with over 250 partner organisations in India, Nepal, Kenya, and the United States of America (USA). Bhuwan Ribhu has led more than 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to child rights in Indian courts. He was key in getting the Supreme Court of India to adopt the United Nations (UN) Protocol definition of trafficking. His efforts helped classify trafficking as a criminal offence in Indian law. He also ensured that First Information Reports (FIRs) became mandatory for missing children. He played a major role in banning child labour in hazardous occupations.

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Former Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body under Part XIV of the Indian Constitution. Articles 315 to 323 define the composition, powers, functions, appointment, and removal of UPSC members. The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India. Each member holds office for six years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. A former member of a Public Service Commission cannot be reappointed to the same office.

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Dr M.R. Srinivasan, a key architect of India’s civilian nuclear programme, passed away at the age of 95 on 20 May. He was a technocrat with strong engineering skills and a vision for building scientific institutions. He joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, just a year after it was formed. He worked closely with Dr Homi Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear programme, to develop Apsara, India’s first nuclear research reactor, which became operational in 1956. In 1959, he became Principal Project Engineer and led India’s early efforts in nuclear power generation. He received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to nuclear energy. His legacy reflects excellence in engineering and dedication to national scientific self-reliance.