Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Indian space scientists Prahlad Chandra Agrawal and Anil Bhardwaj received prestigious awards from COSPAR during its 45th scientific assembly in Busan, South Korea. Agrawal, a retired professor from TIFR, earned the Harrie Massey Award for contributions to X-ray astronomy and leading AstroSat. Bhardwaj, PRL Director since 2017, won the Vikram Sarabhai Medal for his work in planetary space sciences and key roles in ISRO’s missions.

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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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The Science and Technology Ministry has withdrawn support from the Kalinga Prize. The Kalinga Prize is UNESCO’s oldest award for popularizing science. It was established in 1951 with a donation from Odisha’s former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. The prize honors individuals with notable careers in writing, editing, lecturing, or media production, who help explain science and technology to the public.

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General Sundararajan Padmanabhan, former Chief of Army Staff, passed away in Chennai at age 83. He served as the Chief of Army Staff from 2000 to 2002. Born in Kerala, he was an alumnus of RIMC, NDA, and IMA, and was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in 1959. His career included commanding various brigades, regiments, and divisions, including the 15 Corps in Kashmir. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). He retired in 2002 after 43 years of service, known affectionately as “Paddy.”

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Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad has been named the Best Airport at the India Travel Awards for the third consecutive year. This award highlights RGIA’s commitment to providing an exceptional passenger experience and boosts its reputation in the aviation industry. RGIA also won the Skytrax award for ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024,’ reinforcing its status as a top airport. The airport’s modern facilities and efficient operations make it a key player in Hyderabad’s growth as an important air travel hub in India and South Asia.

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The Department of Higher Education selected 16 teachers from higher education institutions and polytechnics for the National Awards to Teachers (NAT) 2024. The National Teachers’ Award celebrates the outstanding contributions of the best teachers in India. It recognizes teachers who have significantly improved the quality of education and positively impacted their students’ lives. The award is given to exemplary teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics. These awards honor teachers for their dedication and commitment to enhancing education.

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Kerala Tourism won the PATA Gold Award 2024 for its ‘Holiday Heist’ online contest in the Digital Marketing Campaign category. The campaign, launched in July 2023, used a bidding game on the WhatsApp ChatBot ‘Maya’ to attract tourists. Over 80,000 bids were made by travellers across India to visit Kerala’s prime destinations at low prices. The campaign generated more than 45 million impressions and over 13 million video views. Some participants won tour packages worth ₹30,000 for just ₹5. Kerala Tourism received the award in Bangkok on August 28, 2024.

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The President of India presented the 2024 National Florence Nightingale Awards. Instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973, these awards honor outstanding nurses from Central, State/UTs, and Voluntary Organizations.
The award recognizes nurses for their exceptional service in hospital, community, educational, or administrative roles.
Winners receive a Certificate of Merit, Rs.1,00,000 in cash, and a medal. Florence Nightingale was a pioneering English social reformer and founder of modern nursing, known for organizing care for soldiers during the Crimean War and establishing the first scientific nursing school.