Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Veteran journalist Harinder Baweja released her memoir “They Will Shoot You, Madam: My Life Through Conflict” on October 1, 2025, in Delhi. The memoir details over 40 years of fearless conflict reporting from regions like Kashmir, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Major assignments covered include Operation Blue Star, 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and an interview with Chhota Rajan. The launch was attended by Captain Amarinder Singh, Omar Abdullah, and Rajdeep Sardesai. Speakers praised her bold journalism and its vital role in democracy. The book highlights the challenges and risks of reporting from conflict zones.

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The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for discovering how the immune system decides what to attack or protect. The prize was announced on 6 October 2025 at the Nobel Assembly, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. The research focuses on peripheral immune tolerance, which involves immune components outside the central nervous system (CNS). They identified regulatory T (Treg) cells, which prevent the immune system from attacking the body itself. Their work explained how autoimmune diseases develop and confirmed Treg cell function. Sakaguchi previously won the Canada Gairdner Award (2015) for the same discovery.

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On October 7, 2025, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), launched the book “Above and Beyond – Exploring the Amazing World of Aviation” in New Delhi. The book is authored by Shiv Kumar Mohanaka, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The 445-page book showcases India’s aviation journey, highlighting achievements from dreams to destinations. It draws on Shiv Kumar Mohanaka’s 30 years of experience in CISF, providing a detailed view of the Indian aviation sector. Research includes a survey of 1,500 Indian flyers and explores future evolution of India’s aviation ecosystem to meet global standards.

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Recently, the Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve Sonali Ghosh received the Kenton R. Miller Award. The award is given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). IUCN, founded in 1948, works globally for nature conservation and sustainable resource use. The Kenton R. Miller Award, established in 2006, is presented every two years for innovation in national park and protected area sustainability. It honours exceptional contributions in management, finance, monitoring, and communication and carries a cash prize of US $5,000.

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Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. The award, formally called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million). Their work explains how innovation and “creative destruction” drive economic growth, replacing old products and methods with new ones. Sustained growth over the last two centuries has lifted millions out of poverty and improved living standards.

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In October 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), released the book “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force”. The book is authored by Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, and published by Pentagon Press. It provides a comprehensive, forward-looking plan to make India’s Armed Forces future-ready. Focus areas include cyberspace, space-enabled operations, cognitive warfare, and their growing relevance for modern military strategy. It highlights India’s strategic vision and adaptation to emerging warfare frontiers.

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Chhattisgarh was awarded the ‘Best Performing State’ under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for effective implementation, transparency, and near-zero claim pendency. The award was presented at the National Health Authority (NHA) Conclave held in Bhopal. 97% of hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY in Chhattisgarh are active, the highest in India, compared to 62% in Madhya Pradesh and 52% national average. The state’s health department reforms included wide-ranging inspections, disciplinary actions, and over 32,000 field audits to curb irregularities and fraud.

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Shri Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), received an award from the President of India for outstanding contribution to Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). The felicitation took place at the National Conclave on ‘Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan’ held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The recognition highlights MoWCD’s key role in implementing PM-JANMAN, focused on tribal welfare and inclusion. More than 2,000 Anganwadi Centres have been made functional in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) areas under the scheme. The initiative aims to empower tribal communities at the last mile through better access to nutrition, education, and child care services.

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Dr. Eknath Vasant Chitnis, pioneering Indian space scientist, passed away on 22 October 2025 at age 100 in Pune, Maharashtra. He was born on 25 July 1925 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1985 for his contributions to science and technology. He was a key architect of India’s early space programme and a close associate of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, founder of India’s space programme. He helped establish the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), which evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Dr. Chitnis was instrumental in selecting Thumba, Kerala, for India’s first rocket launch.

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Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaghlobeli from Georgia won the 2025 Sakharov Prize. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the European Union’s (EU) highest human rights award, established in 1988. The prize is named after Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace laureate Andrei Sakharov. It honours individuals or groups defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. The winners are chosen by the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, including leaders of all political groups, ensuring a European selection. The award carries an endowment of €50,000 and is presented annually in December at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.