1. Who were the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award 2025?
[A] Amitav Ghosh and Mahasweta Devi
[B] Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
[C] R Rajashree and Anwar Ali
[D] Amrita Pritam and Krishna Sobti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya]
Notes:
President Draupadi Murmu recently presented the 58th Jnanpith Award to Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and poet-lyricist Gulzar at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, despite being blind, has made great contributions to Sanskrit and Hindi literature by memorizing texts like ‘Ramcharitmanas’ and the ‘Gita’. Gulzar is a famous poet, songwriter, and Oscar and Grammy winner, known for his work in literature, cinema, and television. The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honour, established in 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust. It is given to writers working in the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and in English. The award includes ₹11 lakh, a bronze statue of Goddess Saraswati, and a citation. The first award was given in 1965 to Malayalam poet G. Sankara Kurup for ‘Odakkuzhal’.
2. Who has become the first CISF personnel to conquer the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest?
[A] Ritika Singh
[B] Preeti Sinha
[C] Nilanjana Chauhan
[D] Geeta Samota
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Geeta Samota]
Notes:
Sub Inspector Geeta Samota has become the first personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to climb Mount Everest in the 56-year history of the force. She reached the summit of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, which stands at 8,849 metres, on Monday. This achievement marks a proud moment of courage and strength for both the CISF and the nation. Geeta is from Chak village in Sikar district, Rajasthan, and started her journey as a hockey player during college. She joined CISF in 2011 and is currently posted at the Udaipur airport unit.
3. The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Culture
[B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Defence
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]
Notes:
Recently, the President of India presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2025 to nurses at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Florence Nightingale Award was started in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It is a prestigious national honour given to outstanding nursing personnel from Central Government, State and Union Territories, and Voluntary Organizations. The award recognizes the meritorious services of nurses in hospitals, communities, education, or administration. The award includes a Certificate of Merit, a Cash Award of ₹1,00,000, and a medal.
4. Who has been elected as the President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly?
[A] Annalena Baerbock
[B] Paulina Kubiak
[C] Johannes Cullmann
[D] Audrey Azoulay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Annalena Baerbock]
Notes:
Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on June 2. She won the secret ballot with 167 votes, while 14 countries chose to abstain. Baerbock is the first woman from the Western European group and the fifth woman overall to lead the UN General Assembly. The 80th session begins on September 9, 2025, and will focus on global crises and reforms like the UN80 initiative and choosing the next Secretary-General before 2026.
5. Which senior journalist was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Ministry of Home Affairs in June 2025?
[A] Shekhar Gupta
[B] Rajdeep Sardesai
[C] Ram Bahadur Rai
[D] Madhavrao Bagal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ram Bahadur Rai]
Notes:
Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, a renowned journalist and President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust, was recently awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’ by Shri Satpal Chauhan, Director General, Ministry of Home Affairs. As Shri Rai could not attend the official ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the award was presented at the IGNCA office in the presence of Director Shri Pandey Pradeep Kumar and senior officials. The award included a citation with the signature and seal of the President of India and a medal. Shri Rai also serves as Chancellor of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, and guides many other institutions.
6. Who has become the first woman and first African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?
[A] Joyce Banda
[B] Wangari Maathai
[C] Bonang Matheba
[D] Kirsty Coventry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kirsty Coventry]
Notes:
Recently, Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe made history by becoming the first female and first African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 130-year history. Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist in swimming, won the election in one round with 49 out of 97 votes, beating Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. and other candidates. She aims to focus on athlete rights, gender equality, and the sustainability of the Games. She has pledged to expand Olympic participation, especially in Africa, and engage youth.
7. Who won the 2025 Shakti Bhatt Prize for her debut memoir The Lucky Ones?
[A] Kiran Desai
[B] Shashi Deshpande
[C] Geetanjali Shree
[D] Zara Chowdhary
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Zara Chowdhary]
Notes:
The Shakti Bhatt Prize 2025 was awarded to debut author Zara Chowdhary for her memoir The Lucky Ones, about surviving the 2002 Gujarat riots. She will receive a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh with the award. This year marks the final Shakti Bhatt Prize, which started in 2008 to honour debut authors in memory of publisher Shakti Bhatt, who died in 2007. The prize celebrated South Asian literature from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, remaining independent and free from corporate sponsorship.
8. Who has become the first woman to be streamed into the fighter stream of Naval Aviation?
[A] Riti Singh
[B] Vartika Joshi
[C] Payal Gupta
[D] Aastha Poonia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Aastha Poonia]
Notes:
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.
9. Which country recently honoured PM Narendra Modi with its highest civilian award, “Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross”?
[A] Indonesia
[B] Brazil
[C] Ghana
[D] Nigeria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brazil]
Notes:
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.
10. Which district in Kerala won the Fisheries Department Excellence Award 2025?
[A] Alappuzha
[B] Ernakulam
[C] Kasaragod
[D] Kollam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kasaragod]
Notes:
Recently, Kasaragod district won the Fisheries Department Excellence Award 2025 under the Popular Fish Farming Project in Kerala. It was declared the best district for achievements in the fisheries sector. The award is part of the annual State Farmer Awards to honour aquaculture excellence. Kasaragod earlier won the Matsya Karshaka Award and Best Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) Award in 2023. Its District Panchayat was the first in India to declare a tree, flower, and bird as district biodiversity symbols.