Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) received the Udyog Vikas Award at the Udyog Vikas event organized by Janmabhumi Daily in Kerala. The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) is India’s major infrastructure project aimed at developing new industrial cities as Smart Cities with next-generation technologies. The NICDC acts as the nodal agency responsible for managing the entire programme and ensuring seamless execution. The NICDP focuses on attracting investments from both large industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to boost industrial growth. It supports the government’s vision of achieving $2 trillion in exports by the year 2030.

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Former Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body under Part XIV of the Indian Constitution. Articles 315 to 323 define the composition, powers, functions, appointment, and removal of UPSC members. The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India. Each member holds office for six years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. A former member of a Public Service Commission cannot be reappointed to the same office.

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President Draupadi Murmu recently presented the 58th Jnanpith Award to Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and poet-lyricist Gulzar at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, despite being blind, has made great contributions to Sanskrit and Hindi literature by memorizing texts like ‘Ramcharitmanas’ and the ‘Gita’. Gulzar is a famous poet, songwriter, and Oscar and Grammy winner, known for his work in literature, cinema, and television. The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honour, established in 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust. It is given to writers working in the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and in English. The award includes ₹11 lakh, a bronze statue of Goddess Saraswati, and a citation. The first award was given in 1965 to Malayalam poet G. Sankara Kurup for ‘Odakkuzhal’.

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Dr M.R. Srinivasan, a key architect of India’s civilian nuclear programme, passed away at the age of 95 on 20 May. He was a technocrat with strong engineering skills and a vision for building scientific institutions. He joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, just a year after it was formed. He worked closely with Dr Homi Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear programme, to develop Apsara, India’s first nuclear research reactor, which became operational in 1956. In 1959, he became Principal Project Engineer and led India’s early efforts in nuclear power generation. He received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to nuclear energy. His legacy reflects excellence in engineering and dedication to national scientific self-reliance.

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Eminent astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on May 20, 2025, at the age of 87. He was known for his pioneering work in cosmology, science communication, and institution-building in India. In 1988, he founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and served as its Director until 2003. He received the Kalinga Award from UNESCO in 1996 for popularising science through books, articles, and media. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1965, Padma Vibhushan in 2004, and Maharashtra Bhushan in 2011. In 2014, his Marathi autobiography won the Sahitya Akademi Award for regional literature.

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Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer, lawyer, and activist, became the first author writing in Kannada to win the International Booker prize 2025. She won for her short story collection Heart Lamp. Heart Lamp is the first short story collection to win the £50,000 prize. The International Booker Prize began in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. It is awarded annually for a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Its goal is to encourage reading quality fiction from non-English languages. The prize promotes global fiction among English-speaking readers, covering novels and short story collections.

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Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on June 2. She won the secret ballot with 167 votes, while 14 countries chose to abstain. Baerbock is the first woman from the Western European group and the fifth woman overall to lead the UN General Assembly. The 80th session begins on September 9, 2025, and will focus on global crises and reforms like the UN80 initiative and choosing the next Secretary-General before 2026.

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Recently, the President of India appointed Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as a part-time member of the 16th Finance Commission (XVIFC). He will serve either till the Commission submits its report or until 31st October 2025, whichever comes earlier. His appointment follows the resignation of Shri Ajay Narayan Jha, a full-time member, due to personal reasons. The 16th Finance Commission (XVIFC) was formed on 31st December 2023.

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Prominent writer Sarah Joseph has received the 2024 Mathrubhumi Literary Award. The award was presented by Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Ray in Kozhikode. It includes ₹3 lakh cash, a citation, and a sculpture by M. V. Devan. Sarah Joseph was appreciated for her fearless voice in Malayalam literature and social issues. She earlier won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Sahitya Akademi Awards.

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Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has received the United Nations Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction. The award, started in 1986 with support from The Nippon Foundation, is the highest international honor in the disaster risk field. The 2025 theme, “Connecting science to people,” highlights his efforts in making cyclone forecasts accessible to vulnerable communities. Known as the “Cyclone Man of India,” Dr. Mohapatra helped reduce cyclone-related deaths across the north Indian Ocean region.