Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Researchers from Kerala received the Future Conservationist Award by the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) for their work on saving the Malabar Grey Hornbill. The CLP is a global partnership between Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The award supports young conservationists with less than five years of experience by offering funding and expert guidance. The Malabar Grey Hornbill is a bird found only in the Western Ghats of India, mostly at elevations above 50 meters from sea level. Its International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status is Vulnerable, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction.

Notes:
Daripalli Ramaiah (1937-2025), a famous environmentalist from Reddipalli village, Telangana, passed away recently. He was locally known as ‘Chetla Ramaiah’ or Vanajeevi (forest dweller). He was honored with the Padma Shri in 2017 for his significant contributions to environmental conservation. Ramaiah was a strong advocate for social forestry, having planted over 1 crore saplings in his lifetime. He was known as the “tree-man”, often wearing a green board to promote tree conservation. His awards include the Seva Award (1995), Vanamitra Award (2005), and National Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Award (2015).

Notes:
Five military personnel were awarded the MacGregor Memorial Medal by the Chief of Defence Staff for their outstanding work in military reconnaissance, exploration, and adventure for the years 2023 and 2024. The medal was established on 3rd July 1888 to honour General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, who founded the United Service Institution of India (USI). It was originally given for military reconnaissance and exploratory missions during British Army campaigns in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and Burma. After India’s independence, the scope was expanded to include adventure activities. The medal is open to all ranks, both serving and retired, from the Indian Armed Forces, Territorial Army, and Assam Rifles.

Notes:
The Central Government has appointed former Supreme Court (SC) judge, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, as chairman of the 23rd Law Commission. The commission was notified on September 2 last year and will function for three years till August 2027. Its role includes submitting a report on Uniform Civil Code (UCC), studying laws affecting the poor, and identifying laws that hinder India’s economic growth. The 23rd Law Commission will have one chairman, four full-time members including a member secretary, two secretaries from the Law Ministry, and up to five part-time members. Justice Maheshwari retired from the Supreme Court in May 2023. The previous 22nd Law Commission was headed by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who left early after being appointed as a member of the Lokpal. During his term, the panel used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse over 80 lakh public petitions regarding the Uniform Civil Code.

Notes:
Bhuwan Ribhu became the first Indian lawyer to receive the Medal of Honour from the World Jurist Association, a global legal recognition. The award acknowledges his lifelong legal work against child labour, trafficking, child marriage, and sexual abuse. He is the founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC), a global legal network with over 250 partner organisations in India, Nepal, Kenya, and the United States of America (USA). Bhuwan Ribhu has led more than 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to child rights in Indian courts. He was key in getting the Supreme Court of India to adopt the United Nations (UN) Protocol definition of trafficking. His efforts helped classify trafficking as a criminal offence in Indian law. He also ensured that First Information Reports (FIRs) became mandatory for missing children. He played a major role in banning child labour in hazardous occupations.

Notes:
Former Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body under Part XIV of the Indian Constitution. Articles 315 to 323 define the composition, powers, functions, appointment, and removal of UPSC members. The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India. Each member holds office for six years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. A former member of a Public Service Commission cannot be reappointed to the same office.

Notes:
Dr M.R. Srinivasan, a key architect of India’s civilian nuclear programme, passed away at the age of 95 on 20 May. He was a technocrat with strong engineering skills and a vision for building scientific institutions. He joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, just a year after it was formed. He worked closely with Dr Homi Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear programme, to develop Apsara, India’s first nuclear research reactor, which became operational in 1956. In 1959, he became Principal Project Engineer and led India’s early efforts in nuclear power generation. He received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to nuclear energy. His legacy reflects excellence in engineering and dedication to national scientific self-reliance.

Notes:
Eminent astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on May 20, 2025, at the age of 87. He was known for his pioneering work in cosmology, science communication, and institution-building in India. In 1988, he founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and served as its Director until 2003. He received the Kalinga Award from UNESCO in 1996 for popularising science through books, articles, and media. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1965, Padma Vibhushan in 2004, and Maharashtra Bhushan in 2011. In 2014, his Marathi autobiography won the Sahitya Akademi Award for regional literature.

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.

Notes:
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.