Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Dr. S. Somanath, ISRO Chairman, was honored with the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) World Space Award for the success of Chandrayaan-3. The award was presented in Milan, Italy, recognizing India’s achievements in space exploration. Chandrayaan-3 made a historic landing near the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023. India became the first nation to land near the Moon’s South Pole and joined an elite group capable of lunar landings. This award highlighted India’s growing role in the global space community.

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Anil Pradhan, a 28-year-old engineer from Odisha, won the third Rohini Nayyar Prize for promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in rural India. He co-founded the Young Tinker Foundation and launched ‘Tinker-on-Wheels,’ a mobile lab bringing robotics and 3D printing to rural students. His work has impacted over 2.5 lakh students across Odisha, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. The Rohini Nayyar Prize, honoring contributions to rural development, includes ₹10 lakh, a citation, and a trophy. It’s awarded annually to individuals under 40 by the Nayyar Foundation.

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Samantha Harvey won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, set aboard the International Space Station. The Booker Prize is a prestigious literary award for the best English novel of the year, founded in 1969 in the UK. The award is open to any English-language novel published in the UK or Ireland, regardless of the author’s nationality. The winner receives £50,000, with shortlisted authors earning £2,500. The Booker Prize Foundation, a charity established in 2002, oversees the prize and the Man Booker International Prize.

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The 2023 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development was awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad. Ali Abu Awwad is a Palestinian peace activist promoting peaceful conflict resolution in the Middle East. Daniel Barenboim, an Argentine-born classical pianist, uses music to foster harmony in West Asia. The prize, established in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, includes ₹25 lakh and a citation. It honors individuals or institutions for exemplary contributions to humanity and the planet. In 2022, it was awarded to the Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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World Fisheries Day 2024 was celebrated on November 21 in New Delhi. The Department of Fisheries honoured states, districts, and individuals for their contributions. Kerala won the Best Marine State award. Telangana was recognised as the Best Inland State. Uttarakhand received the Best Himalayan and Northeastern State award. Jammu & Kashmir was awarded Best Union Territory.

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The National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024 winners were announced by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. It is one of the highest national honors in the livestock and dairy sector. The awards are presented to winners of the Best Dairy Farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds, Best Artificial Insemination Technician and Best Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS)/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organisation in the country.

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The Ministry of Mines Pavilion won the Gold award at India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 for excellence in display. It showcased contributions to Viksit Bharat by 2047, drawing over 80,000 visitors. The Ministry contributed to the Ram Mandir with 70,000 copper strips and 775 copper rods. Sustainability was promoted with recycling machines by Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), offering vouchers. Women empowerment was highlighted, with SHGs earning over ₹10 lakh in 14 days, emphasizing grassroots economic growth.

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Maharashtra’s ‘Shashan Aaplya Dari’ initiative won the SKOCH Award for its innovation and impact in governance. The program, meaning “government at your doorsteps,” delivers government schemes directly to people. It was launched in Satara in May 2023. More than 280 projects nationwide competed, showcasing its effectiveness. The initiative aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and will evolve into ‘Shashan Aaplya Dari 2.0’ under Eknath Shinde’s guidance for further growth. The SKOCH Award is an award that recognizes people, projects, and institutions that work to improve India. It was established in 2003 and is considered one of the highest civilian honors in the country.

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India has been honored with the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award for Asia and Pacific 2024 at the Regional Social Security Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) was recognized for its innovative communication strategies, digital initiatives, and outreach programs like Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0, which enhance service delivery and stakeholder engagement in social security. This award underscores EPFO’s commitment to improving social security systems in line with contemporary needs.

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Jasleen Kaur, a Glasgow-born Scottish Sikh artist of Indian heritage, won the 2024 Turner Prize. Her exhibition Alter Altar explores personal, political, and spiritual themes. The jury praised her evocative use of sound and sculpture to highlight family memory and community struggles. A standout piece featured a Ford car, representing her father’s migrant aspirations. Actor James Norton presented the award at Tate Britain, marking the Turner Prize’s return to the venue after six years.