Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Lieutenant Commander Yashaswi Solankee, aged 27, became the first woman officer to be appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India. The President usually has five ADCs — three from the Indian Army, and one each from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. Until now, no woman officer had ever served in this prestigious role. Solankee, from Bharuch in Gujarat, was selected in April 2025 and completed a month-long orientation. She received her aiguillette from President Droupadi Murmu after training. The ADC manages presidential schedules, attends all ceremonies, and serves as a 24/7 liaison with government and military.

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The Swedish startup NitroCapt won the 2025 Food Planet Prize for their innovative green fertilizer technology. This technology uses plasma and renewable energy to extract nitrogen from the air, eliminating the need for fossil fuels in fertilizer production. The $2 million prize, awarded by the Curt Bergfors Foundation, will help NitroCapt scale up its operations and further disrupt the global nitrogen fertilizer industry.

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Recently, the Indian literary world was shocked as the JCB Prize for Literature has been officially discontinued. The award, worth Rs 25 lakh for the best fiction work by an Indian author, ended with no future editions planned. It was established in 2018 by JCB India. The prize promoted Indian fiction and translations, awarding five out of seven winners for translated works in languages like Malayalam, Tamil, and Urdu. The JCB Prize, though short-lived, made a strong impact on regional literature and India’s literary ecosystem.

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Recently, China’s former Vice Finance Minister Zou Jiayi was named as the next president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, known as AIIB, during its 10th Annual Meeting. Zou will take over from Jin Liqun, the founding president, starting her five-year term on January 16, 2026. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a multilateral development bank focused on sustainable infrastructure, and started in 2016. China is the largest shareholder with 26.54% voting shares, while India holds 7.58%, followed by Russia and Germany.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a five-nation tour, was awarded Ghana’s highest civilian honour, the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 30 years. With this, PM Modi has now received top civilian honours from 24 countries, the highest for any Indian leader. PM Modi dedicated this award to 1.4 billion Indians, especially the youth, cultural heritage, and diversity.

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Recently, Manipuri classical dancer and Padma Shri awardee Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi passed away at age 85 after prolonged illness at her home in Keishampat, Imphal West. She was one of the 113 Padma Shri recipients this year. She joined Aryan Theatre as a child artist and performed in the Soviet Union in 1954. Later, she performed in China, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. She trained under Padma Meishnam Amubi and joined Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA).

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Recently, Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia became the first woman to enter the fighter stream of Naval Aviation, marking a historic first for the Indian Navy. She was awarded the prestigious Wings of Gold along with Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam. Her induction into the fighter stream breaks barriers and opens doors for more women in frontline combat aviation. This highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to gender inclusivity and promoting Nari Shakti, meaning women empowerment.

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The Prime Minister recently concluded a four-day visit to Brazil, strengthening South-South cooperation and India-Brazil strategic ties. The Prime Minister was conferred Brazil’s highest civilian honour, the “Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross,” for strengthening bilateral relations. The Prime Minister announced plans for adopting India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Brazil.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis. The award recognises his contributions to strengthening India-Namibia bilateral relations. This is the 27th international award received by PM Modi and the 4th during his current tour.

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Recently, Sonali Mishra was appointed as the first woman Director General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). She is a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Her appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. She will serve as DG, RPF till her superannuation on October 31, 2026. The RPF ensures the security of railway property and passengers. RPF was created by an Act of Parliament in 1957. It got the power to enquire, arrest, and prosecute in 1966. It was declared an armed force of the Union on September 20, 1985.