Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Eminent tabla player Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri from Kolkata received the ‘Rashtriya Tansen Samman’ for 2023. Sanand Nyas Sanstha from Indore was awarded the ‘Raja Mansingh Tomar Samman’ for 2023. The awards were presented during the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024, held in Gwalior to mark the centenary year of legendary music maestro Tansen. The ‘Tansen Award’ is the highest national music honor in Indian classical music, instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government. Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri thanked the state government for the prestigious recognition.

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Retired Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur has been appointed Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council. His term as chairperson will run until November 12, 2028, as per UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ appointment letter. The Internal Justice Council comprises five members, including Carmen Artigas (Uruguay), Rosalie Balkin (Australia), Stefan Brezina (Austria), and Jay Pozenal (USA). The council oversees the administration of the UN’s internal justice system. Justice Lokur served as a Supreme Court judge in India from June 2012 to December 2018. He authored landmark rulings on electoral integrity and raising the age of consent in marriages. Justice Lokur participated in the 2018 press conference addressing case allocation concerns in the judiciary.

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President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 to 17 children on December 26. The award celebrates the energy, determination, and enthusiasm of children. It is the highest civilian honor for children in India. It is instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Awards recognize exceptional achievements in seven categories: Art & Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Service, Sports, and Environment.

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Arunish Chawla, a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as the next revenue secretary, replacing Ajay Seth. Chawla currently serves as secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals since November 1, 2023, and holds additional charge of the Ministry of Culture until a permanent appointment is made. He has over three years left in service, with his tenure ending in July 2028. Chawla’s previous roles include joint secretary in the Finance Ministry, minister (economics) at the Indian Embassy in the U.S., and senior economist with the IMF. He holds a postgraduate degree and a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics. In Bihar, he served as additional chief secretary of planning, secretary of the State Planning Board, and project director for disaster rehabilitation.

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MT Vasudevan Nair, renowned writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker, was celebrated for capturing human emotions and rural life. Born in 1933 in Kudallur, Kerala, he became a prominent figure in Malayalam literature and cinema over seven decades. His works include novels, short stories, screenplays, and films, deeply resonating with diverse audiences. He passed away at 91, marking the end of an era in Indian literature and cinema. Early life influences came from Kudallur and Punnayurkulam; he completed schooling locally and graduated in chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953.

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Manohar International Airport (GOX) won the ‘Best Domestic Airport’ title at the Travel Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi, recognizing GOX as a top domestic aviation hub in India. A global survey with over 1,86,000 participants evaluated airports on accessibility, security, dining, shopping, and design. GOX excelled in all categories, becoming the preferred choice for domestic travelers. The airport features Goan cultural elements, modern amenities, and flexible flight schedules for comfort and convenience.

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Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), has been appointed as the new ISRO Chairman and Space Secretary. He will succeed S. Somanath on January 14, 2025, for a two-year term or until further orders. Dr. Narayanan, a propulsion expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and has worked on projects like ASLV, PSLV, GSLV Mk-II, and GSLV Mk-III. He chaired the expert committee for Chandrayaan-2’s hard landing and delivered propulsion systems for Chandrayaan-3. His predecessor, S. Somanath, led major missions, including Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan’s first flight.

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São Tomé and Príncipe Prime Minister Ilza Amado Vaz resigned after her proposed cabinet list was publicly leaked before informing President Carlos Vila Nova. Amado Vaz, a former justice minister, was appointed prime minister following the dissolution of Patrice Trovoada’s government. São Tomé and Príncipe is a small archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, covering just over 1,000 sq. km.

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Assam police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh is appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The CRPF, India’s premier central police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensures internal security. It was established in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police during political unrest in princely states.

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Manchester United Football player Denis Law passed away at the age of 84 on January 18. He began his football career with Huddersfield Town before gaining fame at Manchester United. He spent 11 years at the club, winning league titles in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968. He scored 237 goals in 404 appearances, making him the club’s third-highest goalscorer after Wayne Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton. He formed the iconic ‘holy trinity’ with Charlton and George Best, revered by Manchester United fans. He is the only Scottish player to win the Ballon d’Or, earning it in 1964.