Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Amshi Prasannakumar, senior journalist from Mysuru, has been selected for the Hombale Samhita Harinikumar Alumni Krishi Media Award – 2025. The award recognises journalists in print and electronic media for their contribution to agricultural reporting and creating awareness among farmers. The award will be presented on 11 October 2025 at the Alumni Association (R), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Veterinary College Campus, Hebbal. Prasannakumar is the former president of Mysore District Journalists’ Association. The award highlights the importance of media in promoting agriculture and farmer awareness.

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The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University), Richard Robson (University of Melbourne), and Omar M. Yaghi (University of California, Berkeley). They were recognised for the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a novel molecular architecture. Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystals formed by metal ions as cornerstones linked with long organic (carbon-based) molecules, creating large cavities. These structures can capture/store specific substances, drive chemical reactions, and conduct electricity. Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded since 1901, with 195 individuals receiving it; only 8 women have won.

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On October 7, 2025, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), launched the book “Above and Beyond – Exploring the Amazing World of Aviation” in New Delhi. The book is authored by Shiv Kumar Mohanaka, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The 445-page book showcases India’s aviation journey, highlighting achievements from dreams to destinations. It draws on Shiv Kumar Mohanaka’s 30 years of experience in CISF, providing a detailed view of the Indian aviation sector. Research includes a survey of 1,500 Indian flyers and explores future evolution of India’s aviation ecosystem to meet global standards.

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Sunil Amrith, Indian-origin historian and Professor of History at Yale University, won the British Academy Book Prize 2025 for his book The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years. The prize awards £25,000 for outstanding non-fiction works in humanities and social sciences. Amrith was born in Kenya to South Indian parents, grew up in Singapore, and graduated from the University of Cambridge, England. The book explores 500 years of environmental history, linking human activity, colonisation, industrialisation, and settlement patterns to the current climate crisis.

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Eminent physicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar has been posthumously selected for the Vigyan Ratna Puraskar 2025 for his lifetime contributions in physics. The award is part of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, the country’s highest recognition for excellence in science, technology, and innovation, modeled on the Padma Awards. A total of 23 individuals and one institution have been selected this year. Vigyan Yuva recognizes young scientists across similar domains for their research and innovation. The Vigyan Team Award has been conferred on Aroma Mission CSIR in agricultural science.

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Recently, the Central Government appointed Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai as the Chairperson of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Justice Desai earlier headed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Committees in both Uttarakhand and Gujarat, playing a key role in drafting their UCC reports. She began her career as Government Pleader (Appellate Side) in the Bombay High Court in 1995 and became a Judge of the Bombay High Court in 1996. She was elevated to the Supreme Court of India in 2011 and retired in 2014. After retirement, she chaired the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (2014) and the Advance Ruling Authority (2018). She also headed the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir, which increased constituencies from 83 to 90

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Ramdarash Mishra, renowned Hindi poet, writer, and academic, passed away in Delhi on October 31, 2025, aged 101. He was born on August 15, 1924, in Dumri village, Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh. He received the Padma Shri (2025) for his outstanding contribution to Hindi literature. His career spanned over seven decades, shaping post-independence Hindi literature. His writings reflected India’s rural ethos, social transitions, and human emotions. He was admired for blending creative writing and literary criticism with equal mastery. He authored over 150 books, including 32 poetry collections, 15 novels, and 30 short-story anthologies.

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Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations Specialized Agency for Tourism (UN Tourism). She is the first woman to lead the organization in its 50-year history. She will officially take office in January 2026 for a four-year term, marking a historic milestone for gender representation and global leadership.

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The 6th National Water Awards 2024 highlighted India’s push for better water management in the recent context of rising water challenges. Maharashtra ranked 1st in the Best State category, followed by Gujarat and Haryana. The National Water Awards are given by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The awards aim to create awareness about the importance of water and promote best water-use practices. They are presented in 10 categories, including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School or College, Best Industry, Best Water User Association, Best Institution, Best Civil Society and Best Individual.

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The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024 was awarded to Michelle Bachelet, the first and only woman President of Chile and former UN (United Nations) High Commissioner for Human Rights. Bachelet served two presidential terms in Chile (2006–2010, 2014–2018) and led major education, tax, human rights, and gender equality reforms. It is awarded annually to any person or organisation regardless of nationality, race, or religion. It honours efforts promoting international peace, disarmament, racial equality, goodwill, and harmony. It recognises work supporting global economic cooperation and a new international economic order.