Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Assam police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh is appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The CRPF, India’s premier central police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensures internal security. It was established in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police during political unrest in princely states.

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Uttar Pradesh’s Mahakumbh tableau won the best tableau award at the 76th Republic Day celebrations. Tripura’s tableau on Kharchi Puja secured second place, followed by Andhra Pradesh’s tableau on Etikoppaka Bommalu wooden toys. Jammu & Kashmir Rifles won best marching contingent among services, while Delhi Police topped in the CAPF/auxiliary forces category. Ministry of Tribal Affairs won for its Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh tableau. Special prizes were given to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for its Constitution of India tableau and the Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam Dance Group.

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The government posthumously honored Chaman Arora with the Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in the Dogri language category. He received the award for his book Ik Hor Ashwthama. The Ministry of Culture confirmed the selection based on a unanimous jury recommendation. Sahitya Akademi President Madhav Kaushik approved the decision. The award includes a casket with an engraved copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. Arora’s family will receive the award at a special event on March 8 in New Delhi.

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The Ministry of Ayush has opened nominations for the Prime Minister’s Yoga Awards for International Day of Yoga (IDY2025). The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to promoting Yoga nationally and internationally. It was established to honor Yoga’s impact on society, the awards celebrate its role in disease prevention and health promotion. Winners in four categories (National/International Individual and Organization) will receive a trophy, certificate, and Rs. 25 lakh cash. Nominees must be at least 40 years old with 20 years of service in Yoga promotion. A screening committee will review applications, and an evaluation jury will make final decisions.

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Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) won the SKOCH Award 2024 at the 100th SKOCH Summit on February 15, 2025, in New Delhi. The award was received by ANGO Konyak and Venni Konyak on behalf of Nagaland’s Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC). NFMP focuses on forest conservation, jhum rehabilitation, and sustainable livelihoods. The SKOCH Award is an award given by the SKOCH Group to recognize people, projects, and institutions that make India a better nation.

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Purnima Devi Barman, an Indian biologist and wildlife conservationist, is named in TIME Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025 list. She is the only Indian woman on the list, alongside global figures like Nicole Kidman and Gisele Pelicot. The award recognizes extraordinary leaders working for a more equitable and sustainable world. Barman is known for her efforts in conserving the greater adjutant stork (Hargila). Her work has transformed both environmental and social landscapes, making a significant impact on wildlife conservation.

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The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) hosts the Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award Ceremony in New Delhi. The event honors individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to animal welfare. AWBI is a statutory body promoting animal welfare and preventing cruelty to animals. It advises the Central and State Governments on animal welfare laws and enforcement. AWBI was established in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Its headquarters is in Ballabhgarh, Haryana. It functions under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.

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Dr. Anju Rathi Rana has become the first woman Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice. Her appointment marks an important step for gender diversity in top government positions. She has represented India at international forums, including the BRICS Ministers of Justice Meeting. She has contributed to legal reforms and gender representation in the judiciary.

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Jayshree Vencatesan, co-founder of Care Earth Trust, is the first Indian to receive the Ramsar award for ‘Wetland Wise Use.’ She is among 12 women changemakers in wetlands, recognized by the Ramsar secretariat in Geneva. She has dedicated decades to conserving India’s wetlands, especially Chennai’s Pallikaranai Marsh. She leads an all-women research team and mentors future conservationists. She dedicates her award to her late father and advocates for women’s technical roles in wetland management. She stresses persistence in conservation efforts despite bureaucratic challenges. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is a global treaty for wetland conservation.

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Chinese architect Liu Jiakun won the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize for designs that celebrate everyday life. The Pritzker Prize is the most prestigious award in international architecture. Liu is the 54th laureate and was chosen for his focus on people and communities over his 40-year career. He is the third Chinese architect to win, after IM Pei and Wang Shu. The Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called “architecture’s Nobel Prize,” is an international award established in 1979 by the Pritzker family through their Hyatt Foundation, recognizing a living architect (or architects) for their significant contributions to humanity and the built environment.