Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival was honoured with the ‘Silver Banyan Award for Best Cultural Music & Dance’ at THE WEEK Heritage Awards. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi. The award was received on behalf of the state by the Joint Resident Commissioner of Nagaland House, New Delhi. THE WEEK Heritage Awards aim to protect, preserve, and promote India’s rich heritage and culture. The recognition highlights the Hornbill Festival’s role in showcasing traditional music, dance, and cultural identity of Nagaland at the national level.

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The Government of India announced that Shri Mohanlal will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023. The award is the highest recognition in Indian cinema for outstanding contribution. The presentation will take place at the 71st National Film Awards on 23rd September 2025. Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair, born 21 May 1960 in Kerala, is an acclaimed actor, producer, and playback singer, primarily in Malayalam cinema. He is known as “The Complete Actor” with over 360 films and landmark performances in Kireedam, Bharatham, Vanaprastham, and Drishyam. Recipient of five National Film Awards, multiple Kerala State Film Awards, Padma Shri (2001), and Padma Bhushan (2019).

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Gram Panchayats were conferred National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025 under a new category for grassroots digital service delivery. Awards were presented during the 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Gold Award won by Rohini Gram Panchayat, Dhule District, Maharashtra – Sarpanch Dr. Anandrao Pawara. Silver Award won by West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, West Tripura District, Tripura – Sarpanch Smt. Anita Deb Das. Jury Awards won by Palsana Gram Panchayat, Surat District, Gujarat – Sarpanch Shri Pravinbhai Parshottambhai Ahir, and Suakati Gram Panchayat, Kendujhar District, Odisha – Sarpanch Smt. Kautuka Naik. Awards include trophies, certificates, and financial incentives (Rs.10 lakh for Gold, Rs.5 lakh for Silver).

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth award recognising innovators from India, Kenya , and the United States. The award is UNEP’s flagship youth engagement initiative for entrepreneurs under 30. The Young Champions program, founded by UNEP in 2017, was relaunched in 2025 with Mr. Kemper as UNEP’s Advocate for Partnerships. Jinali Mody (India) won the 2025 UNEP Young Champions of the Earth award for founding Banofi Leather, producing eco-friendly leather from banana crop waste, reducing water use, chemical pollution, and carbon emissions. Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya) won for HyaPak, converting invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging and seedling wrappers, reducing single-use plastics. Noemi Florea (United States) won for Cycleau, developing a compact greywater reuse system that turns household wastewater into drinking water with low energy consumption.

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Senior Advocate R. Venkataramani was re-appointed as Attorney General (AG) of India on September 26, 2025 for two years, effective October 1, 2025. His present three-year term ends on September 30, 2025. He had succeeded K.K. Venugopal as AG on September 30, 2022. The Attorney General is a constitutional post appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Union Government. The Attorney General can appear in any court of India and advises the government on complex legal matters. His expertise covers constitutional law, indirect taxes, human rights, civil, criminal, consumer, and service laws.

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India’s social security coverage expanded from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, covering over 940 million citizens. This achievement was recognized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). India received the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Award 2025 for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Social Security’ at World Social Security Forum (WSSF) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. India now holds 30 votes in ISSA General Assembly, the highest share globally. The award highlights India’s vision of inclusive and universal social protection under Antyodaya principles.

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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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R. Arthur James, Professor and Chair, Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University (BDU), received the Tamil Nadu Government’s Scientist Award in Environmental Science 2022. The award was presented by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TANSA) at the Resource Centre for Tribal Development, Udhagamandalam. The award includes a cash prize of ₹50,000 and a citation. Govi. Chezhiaan, Minister for Higher Education, and M. P. Saminathan, Minister for Tamil Development, Information and Publicity, presented the award. Prof. James is recognized for pioneering research on natural nanomaterials, including antibiotic agents for wound healing and food preservatives from extremophilic micro-organisms.

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Recently, the President of India presented the MY Bharat–National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for 2022–23 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The award was instituted in 1993–94 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The main objective is to honour youth for their exceptional work in social service, community development, and nation-building. The awards recognise and reward outstanding voluntary community service. They are given every year to NSS Volunteers, NSS Units, and Programme Officers for their exemplary contribution to society. The initiative highlights youth participation in building a responsible and service-oriented nation.

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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).