Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Veteran journalist Harinder Baweja released her memoir “They Will Shoot You, Madam: My Life Through Conflict” on October 1, 2025, in Delhi. The memoir details over 40 years of fearless conflict reporting from regions like Kashmir, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Major assignments covered include Operation Blue Star, 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and an interview with Chhota Rajan. The launch was attended by Captain Amarinder Singh, Omar Abdullah, and Rajdeep Sardesai. Speakers praised her bold journalism and its vital role in democracy. The book highlights the challenges and risks of reporting from conflict zones.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
In October 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), released the book “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force”. The book is authored by Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, and published by Pentagon Press. It provides a comprehensive, forward-looking plan to make India’s Armed Forces future-ready. Focus areas include cyberspace, space-enabled operations, cognitive warfare, and their growing relevance for modern military strategy. It highlights India’s strategic vision and adaptation to emerging warfare frontiers.

Notes:
Chhattisgarh was awarded the ‘Best Performing State’ under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for effective implementation, transparency, and near-zero claim pendency. The award was presented at the National Health Authority (NHA) Conclave held in Bhopal. 97% of hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY in Chhattisgarh are active, the highest in India, compared to 62% in Madhya Pradesh and 52% national average. The state’s health department reforms included wide-ranging inspections, disciplinary actions, and over 32,000 field audits to curb irregularities and fraud.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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

Notes:
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.