Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book Economic Empowerment of Bharat in the Modi Era by Prof. (Dr.) Sikander Kumar, MP, at the Vice-President’s Enclave.The book presents India’s economic journey and policy reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. It documents key governance and economic changes linking them to people’s economic empowerment. The book emphasizes “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, Startup India, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) expansion.

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Renowned Indian ecologist Madhav Dhananjaya Gadgil passed away on 7 January 2026 in Pune at the age of 82. He was the founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. He chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) in 2010, known as the Gadgil Commission. He played a key role in establishing India’s first biosphere reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986). He significantly contributed to the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and People’s Biodiversity Registers. He received major honours including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and United Nations Champions of the Earth Award (2024).

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Senior Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma has been nominated by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to chair the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for 2026–27. This is the first time an Indian has been appointed as chair of the board, established in 1978. Indian diplomats have previously served as members, but never as chair. DB Venkatesh Varma is a leading expert on disarmament and Russia, with key roles in India’s Prime Minister’s Office, including during India–US nuclear deal negotiations. He also served as India’s ambassador to Russia, managing bilateral ties during Covid-era coordination and launching India’s Act Far East policy from Vladivostok in 2019.

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Mozambican humanitarian and rights activist Graça Machel has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025. The award decision was made by an international jury chaired by former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. She was chosen for path-breaking work in education, health, nutrition, economic empowerment, and humanitarian action. The award carries a cash prize of ₹1 crore, a citation, and a trophy. She led a landmark United Nations (UN) study in the 1990s on the impact of armed conflict on children.

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The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar is an annual award instituted by the Government of India to recognize individuals and institutions for outstanding contribution in the field of disaster management. The award is announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke of the Indian Army received the award in the Individual Category for her exceptional leadership during disaster response operations. She led large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in Wayanad, Kerala, during the 2024 floods and landslides. The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) was awarded in the Institutional Category for its outstanding institutional approach to disaster preparedness and response.

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Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was conferred the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Droupadi Murmu during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will be awarded the Kirti Chakra. Shubhanshu Shukla travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025 as part of the Axiom-4 mission, becoming the second Indian in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma. The award recognises his exceptional courage, leadership, presence of mind and swift decision-making under demanding space mission conditions.

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In January 2026, Sikkim Police has been conferred the President’s Police Colour Award (Nishaan). The award recognises outstanding service, professionalism, bravery, discipline, and dedication. Nishaan is worn with pride on the left sleeve of the uniform. Since Independence, only 14 states have received this prestigious award. Sikkim becomes the 15th state overall and 3rd in the North East to receive it.

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Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna PSU and India’s largest public sector steel producer, has received the ‘Great Place to Work’ certification for February 2026–February 2027. This marks the third consecutive year SAIL has earned the prestigious recognition. The certification was awarded after a company-wide assessment by the Great Place to Work Institute, India, based on extensive employee feedback. SAIL recorded a significant improvement in its Trust Index score, reflecting growing employee confidence in leadership, policies, and work environment.

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Veerabhadran Ramanathan, an 81-year-old Indian-origin scientist, won the Crafoord Prize, called the “Nobel of Geosciences,” for his pioneering climate research. He grew up in southern India, studied engineering in Bengaluru, and moved to the United States for higher studies. Early work at a refrigeration company led him to study chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and their heat-trapping effect on the atmosphere. In 1975, his Science paper showed that a single CFC molecule could warm the planet as much as thousands of carbon dioxide molecules. His work contributed to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, banning CFCs and preventing further warming.

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Paradip Port Authority (PPA) won First Prize at Swachhata Pakhwada Awards 2025 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). Paradip Port Authority (PPA) was recognised for excellence in cleanliness, sustainability, and community participation. The achievement reflects commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and inclusive development. Paradip Port Authority (PPA) implemented three pillars: Jan Bhagidari, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, and Safai Mitra Suraksha.