Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Kesavan Ramachandran as Executive Director (ED) from July 1, 2025. As Executive Director, he will oversee the Department of Regulation (Prudential Regulation Division). Earlier, Kesavan was Principal Chief General Manager in the Risk Monitoring Department. He has over 30 years of experience in currency management, banking and non-banking supervision, training, and administration. He served as RBI’s nominee on the Board of Canara Bank for more than five years.

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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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Recently, Leila Aboulela, a Sudanese-Scottish author, won the 2025 PEN Pinter Prize for her bold and truthful literary voice. The award was announced at English PEN’s summer party in London, with live readings of her work by actors Khalid Abdalla and Amira Ghazalla. She writes from a Muslim and immigrant perspective, exploring faith, migration, and cultural identity. Aboulela will receive the prize on October 10 at the British Library, where she will also announce the Writer of Courage for 2025. Past Writers of Courage include Alaa Abd el-Fattah (2024) and Rahile Dawut (2023), both persecuted for defending free speech.

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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.

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Suhani Shah from Rajasthan recently won the title of ‘Best Magic Creator 2025’ at the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) World Championship of Magic. She became the first Indian ever to win this prestigious global award in the online magic category. The FISM World Championship of Magic, known as the Olympics of Magic, was held in Torino, Italy from July 14 to 19, 2025. FISM, founded in 1948, is held every three years and features stage magic, close-up magic, and online magic.

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Recently, State Bank of India (SBI) was named the World’s Best Consumer Bank for 2025 by Global Finance magazine. The recognition was announced on July 18, 2025. SBI is India’s largest public sector bank. The award was based on Global Finance’s research and analysis, along with inputs from corporate finance experts, analysts, and bankers worldwide.

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Recently, G P Birla Memorial Award was conferred on V. Narayanan, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. The award was presented by Nirmala Birla, Chairperson of G P Birla Archaeological Astronomical and Scientific Institute. The award has a prestigious legacy and has earlier been given to 32 Nobel laureates. Past recipients include Nobel Prize winner Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, physicist Jogesh Pati, former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and former ISRO chief Kasturirangan. The award recognises global leaders for their contributions to scientific progress and innovation.

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Pratyaya Amrit, a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Bihar. He is currently serving as Development Commissioner and also holds additional charge of Health and Disaster Management Department. He will replace Amrit Lal Meena, a 1989-batch IAS officer, who is set to retire on August 31, 2025. Pratyaya will assume charge as Chief Secretary on September 1, 2025. Till then, he will serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Secretary’s office.

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Hiromasa Urakawa, a 28-year-old Japanese boxer, died from brain injuries sustained in a fight in Tokyo. He was knocked out in the eighth round against Yoji Saito on August 2 and later died after surgery for subdural haematoma, a bleeding between the skull and brain. This comes after Shigetoshi Kotari also died from similar injuries in the same event at Korakuen Hall. The Japan Boxing Commission reduced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights from 12 to 10 rounds. Urakawa is the third high-profile boxing death in 2025, after Irish boxer John Cooney’s death from intracranial haemorrhage in February.

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The Bibi Fatima Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) from Dharwad district won the Equator Initiative Award 2025. The award is presented every two years by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Equator Initiative. It supports Indigenous Peoples and local communities in tackling land degradation, conserving biodiversity, and improving livelihoods. The award is often called the Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation. Bibi Fatima SHG introduced millet-based mixed cropping on rainfed farms. They promoted climate-resilient farming, livestock rearing, horticulture, and popularised millets.