Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, has invited nominations for the National Youth Award (NYA) 2024. The award is sponsored by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The award is given to Indian youth for their outstanding work in social service and national development. The eligible age group for the award is between 15 and 29 years. The award is given in two categories: Individual and Organisation, with a maximum of 20 individual awards and 5 organisation awards each year. Prize money for individuals includes a medal, a certificate, and ₹1,00,000, while voluntary youth organisations receive a medal, a certificate, and ₹3,00,000.

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Former Prime Minister and economist Dr. Manmohan Singh was posthumously awarded the P V Narasimha Rao Memorial Award for Economics. The award honoured his pivotal role in India’s economic transformation and nation-building. The award was received on his behalf by his wife Gursharan Kaur in New Delhi last week. It was presented by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. The award is instituted by the P V Narasimha Rao Memorial Foundation (PVNMF) to recognise outstanding contributions in economics.

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Bidar district (Karnataka) won the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Award under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The initiative aims to enhance water recharge through rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, borewell recharge, and recharge shafts. The objective is to conserve every drop of water using a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.

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Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department won the Global Tourism Award 2025 for its initiatives to promote the State as a top tourist destination. The award was received by tourism consultant Nishitha Goyal at a function in New Delhi. The department implemented a new tourism policy and guided investors in developing tourist destinations. It contributed to building an eco-friendly capital city and boosting the State’s economy. It created employment opportunities and mobilised the private sector through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.

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Renowned Gandhian and freedom fighter G.G. Parikh passed away on October 2, 2025, at the age of 101 years. He participated in the Quit India Movement (1942) and was imprisoned for 10 months. He was also jailed during the Emergency and was linked to the Baroda dynamite case. He was founder of Yusuf Meherally Centre, which now operates in 12 states promoting rural industries and youth empowerment. He led a Bharat Yatra in 2005 for communal harmony and youth involvement. In recent years, promoted the zero-carbon movement and sustainable livelihoods.

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Recently, U.S.-based scientists John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for experiments that demonstrated quantum physics in action. Their work in the mid-1980s used superconducting electronic circuits to show that quantum mechanical properties could be applied on a macroscopic scale. The discoveries underpin modern quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers, and quantum sensors. The prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and includes 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million).

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The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan politician, as the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner. She was recognized for her work in promoting democratic rights. The laureate receives a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (around USD 1.17 million), a diploma, and a medal. Among the six Nobel categories, the Peace Prize attracts the most global attention. US President Donald Trump was also nominated and campaigned for the award, citing ending seven wars. Nobel Committee President Jorgen Watne Frydnes emphasized decisions are based on work and Alfred Nobel’s will, not media or campaigns.

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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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Recently, Vivek Menon, an Indian wildlife conservationist, was elected Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) for 2025–2029. He is the first Asian to hold this position in the commission’s 75-year history. The SSC is a global network of over 11,000 experts working to protect biodiversity and ensure species survival. Menon is the founder of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and co-founder of five conservation groups. He has received awards like the Clark R. Bavin Award, Whitley Continuation Award, and is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS).

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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.