Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the United States, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. A retired Indian Foreign Service diplomat, Kwatra has extensive expertise in relations with India’s neighbors, the US, China, and Europe.

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Kamala Pujari, a Padma Shri awardee and pioneering organic farmer, passed away at 74 due to kidney-related ailments. She was treated at SCB Medical College in Cuttack but succumbed on Saturday. Her death prompted condolences from leaders and state honors by the Odisha government. Pujari was hospitalized two days prior and attended by a four-member medical team after being transferred from Jeypore District Headquarters Hospital.

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Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak has been unanimously elected as the new President of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) for 2024-25, succeeding Ashwin Dalwadi. The election took place on July 22, 2024, in New Delhi. TCA Srinivasa Prasad has been elected as Vice President. Established as a statutory body on May 28, 1959, ICMAI operates under the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959.

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Hamzah Haz, Indonesia’s vice-president from 2001 to 2004, passed away at 84 on July 24 in a Jakarta hospital. Serving under President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Hamzah was also a key figure in the Development Planning Party (PPP). He previously held roles as minister for investment, coordinating minister for people’s welfare, and deputy speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives. A former teacher and journalist, he was a contender in the 2004 presidential elections. Hamzah’s leadership significantly influenced PPP’s policies and direction over the years.

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On 31 July 2024, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Preeti Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer and former Union Health Secretary, as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), succeeding Dr. Manoj Soni. Sudan, the second woman to hold this position, has played key roles in government programs like Ayushman Bharat and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. The UPSC, established in 1950, is an independent constitutional body.

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Vinay Mohan Kwatra assumed charge as India’s Ambassador to the United States, succeeding Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Kwatra expressed commitment to strengthening the US-India partnership. Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador, welcomed Kwatra to the US. Kwatra has 32 years of experience, including roles in the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, and previous service at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Kwatra takes charge at a time of strong US-India relations, with President Biden considering it one of the most consequential global partnerships.

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Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Rakesh Pal passed away in Chennai at age 59 due to a cardiac arrest. He was in Chennai for an event with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He had over 30 years of service, joining the Coast Guard in January 1989 and becoming the 25th Director-General in July 2023. He held key positions, including commanding the Coast Guard Region (North West) and significant roles at ICG headquarters. He led major operations and was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, President Tatrakshak Medal, and Tatrakshak Medal.

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The President of India will present the National Geoscience Awards 2023 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. These awards are among the oldest and most prestigious in geosciences, established in 1966 by the Ministry of Mines. Initially called the National Mineral Awards, the name changed in 2009. The awards honor individuals and teams for exceptional contributions in geosciences, including mineral discovery, mining technology, and fundamental/applied geosciences. Any Indian citizen with significant contributions in geosciences is eligible for the award.

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The 24th International Mother Teresa Awards Ceremony was held at the Millennium Plaza Dubai. The event commemorated the 114th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa. Organized by the All-India Minority and Weaker Sections Council, it was held outside India for only the second time, both times in Dubai. The awards were established after Mother Teresa’s death in 1997. They honor outstanding contributions in education, science, culture, sports, social work, medicine, industry, and politics in India. This year’s ceremony featured awardees from various countries and sectors, highlighting their significant achievements.

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The Appointment Committee of the Union Cabinet approved the appointment of senior IPS officer B. Srinivasan as the new Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG) on August 27, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in attendance. B. Srinivasan replaced CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, who temporarily led the NSG. Srinivasan’s term as NSG Director General will last until his retirement on August 31, 2027. A 1992 batch IPS officer from the Bihar Cadre, Srinivasan currently directs the Bihar Police Academy. The NSG, established in 1986, is an elite counter-terrorism force under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.