Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer, lawyer, and activist, became the first author writing in Kannada to win the International Booker prize 2025. She won for her short story collection Heart Lamp. Heart Lamp is the first short story collection to win the £50,000 prize. The International Booker Prize began in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. It is awarded annually for a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Its goal is to encourage reading quality fiction from non-English languages. The prize promotes global fiction among English-speaking readers, covering novels and short story collections.

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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.

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On June 6, 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances launched a new category in the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025. The category is called “Grassroots Level Initiatives for Deepening Service Delivery at Gram Panchayats or Equivalent Traditional Local Bodies.” It honors Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for their digital efforts to improve ease of living and citizen-centric service delivery. From more than 1.45 lakh entries, four Gram Panchayats were awarded: Rohini (Maharashtra) won Gold; West Majlishpur (Tripura) won Silver; and Palsana (Gujarat) and Suakati (Odisha) won Jury Awards. Winners receive a trophy, certificate, and up to ₹10 lakh to further improve their public welfare projects.

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The Government of Assam presented the Srimanta Sankardeva Award to Dr. Sonal Mansingh, a renowned classical dancer and cultural icon. The award was conferred by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati. It honors the legacy of 15th-century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, who promoted unity, harmony, and ecological balance. Dr. Mansingh, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, was praised for using dance to highlight women’s empowerment, social justice, and environmental issues.

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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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President Droupadi Murmu paid tribute to Adikabi Sarala Das on his 600th birth anniversary. Sarala Das was a 15th-century poet and scholar of Odia literature. The President honored Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with the Kalinga Ratna Award-2024. The event marked a significant celebration of Odia literary heritage. Adikabi Sarala Das is known for composing the Mahabharata in Odia, enriching Indian literature.

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Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025. The award was given for its excellent use of open-source spatial technologies. It was presented during the Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) Day (Edition 02) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. The award was handed over by the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), A.S. Kiran Kumar. This recognition highlights INCOIS’s contribution to geospatial innovation and open-source solutions in ocean services.

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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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Shashi Prakash Goyal, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh (UP) on 1st August 2025. He replaced Manoj Kumar Singh, an IAS officer of the 1988 batch, who retired from service. Goyal earlier served as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister (CM), handling Protocol, Civil Aviation, and Estate departments.