Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Renowned Odissi maestro Mayadhar Raut, known as the “Father of Odissi dance,” passed away on February 22, 2025, at age 92 in Delhi. He was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian classical dance. Raut played a key role in the revival and codification of Odissi dance in the 1950s. His work on Sanchari Bhava, Mudra Viniyoga, and Rasa Theory helped structure Odissi as a classical dance form.

Notes:
The Ministry of Ayush conferred the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to three distinguished practitioners. Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav presented the awards in Mumbai on 20.02.2025. Awardees include Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, an expert Nadi Vaidya and author; Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal, a Dravyaguna Vigyana scholar with 60 years of service; and Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni, founder of Vishwa Vyakhyanmala. Each recipient received a citation, a trophy featuring Lord Dhanwantari, and ₹5 Lakh. The awards highlight India’s commitment to holistic healthcare and preserving traditional medicine.

Notes:
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion held a discussion on Diyaslai. Diyaslai is the autobiography of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, detailing his journey from Vidisha to his fight for child rights. Kailash Satyarthi, born in 1954 in Madhya Pradesh, has led global efforts against child slavery and exploitation in 140 countries. His organization has rescued over 1,38,000 children from child labour and trafficking. He highlighted that compassion is the key to solving global issues.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados award. The award recognizes his strategic leadership and assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the highest national honors of Barbados, given for significant contributions to the country or international relations.

Notes:
Jayshree Vencatesan, co-founder of Care Earth Trust, is the first Indian to receive the Ramsar award for ‘Wetland Wise Use.’ She is among 12 women changemakers in wetlands, recognized by the Ramsar secretariat in Geneva. She has dedicated decades to conserving India’s wetlands, especially Chennai’s Pallikaranai Marsh. She leads an all-women research team and mentors future conservationists. She dedicates her award to her late father and advocates for women’s technical roles in wetland management. She stresses persistence in conservation efforts despite bureaucratic challenges. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is a global treaty for wetland conservation.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Mauritius’ highest civilian honor, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK). The award ceremony took place in Port Louis, highlighting India-Mauritius strong diplomatic and cultural ties. This is PM Modi’s 21st international accolade, marking global recognition of his leadership. He dedicated the honor to Indian ancestors who migrated to Mauritius and to all Indians. PM Modi reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening India-Mauritius strategic relations. He also presented the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card to Mauritius’ President and First Lady, strengthening cultural ties. His participation in global events reflects India’s rising international influence.

Notes:
Gunter Bloschl, a renowned hydrologist, won the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize for his research on flood risks and climate change impacts. The Stockholm Water Prize is a prestigious global award recognizing achievements in water science, management, and protection. It is presented by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Established in 1991 during the Stockholm Water Festival, it highlights Sweden’s commitment to clean water. The award honors individuals or organizations contributing to water conservation, management, and sustainability across science, engineering, policy, and environmental advocacy.

Notes:
The Abel Prize for mathematics was awarded to Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara. He is a specialist in algebraic analysis, representation theory, and sheaf theory. The 78-year-old was honoured for his work on D-modules and crystal bases. D-modules introduced a new way to study linear differential equations. The prize is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. It was created by Norway’s government to compensate for the lack of a Nobel Prize in mathematics.

Notes:
Nikhil Singhal, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide and President of the Noida High Rise Federation, received the Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award for his outstanding work in public relations and strategic communication. The award was presented by Shri Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, during a grand ceremony on March 31, 2025, at the Taj Lucknow, organized by the Tapasya Foundation Trust. The event gathered leading figures from media, corporate communications, and governance, recognizing Singhal’s role in transforming the public relations (PR) industry with innovative and impactful strategies.

Notes:
Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik became the first Indian to receive the Fred Darrington Sand Master Award for excellence in sand art. The award was presented at the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival in Dorset, England, marking the 100th birth anniversary of British sculptor Fred Darrington. To celebrate, Pattnaik made a 10-foot-high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha with the message of “World Peace”. A Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, he has taken part in over 65 international sand art events, gaining global fame for his spiritual and social themes. The Sandworld exhibition at Lodmoor Park features global artists using only sand and water to craft giant sculptures.