Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize along with Grameen Bank he founded, for contributions to alleviating poverty through pioneering microfinance services. Providing small loans to entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional banking, his microcredit model aided millions. Recently, Yunus faced legal troubles in Bangladesh over alleged violations of labor laws by Grameen Telecom, critics calling it political retribution for his opposition to government policies earlier.

Notes:
IHCL’s Managing Director & CEO Puneet Chhatwal assumed charge as Chairman of FAITH after Nakul Anand stepped down following retirement from ITC Hospitality. Chhatwal aims to make FAITH a strong tourism and hospitality policy advocacy body.

Notes:
The government appointed prominent motivational speaker and CSR icon Amitabh Shah, founder of NGO Yuva Unstoppable, as a brand ambassador for its Viksit Bharat Abhiyan program. The initiative, spearheaded by PM Modi, aims to tap India’s demographic dividend to drive national development. Shah’s youth-focused philanthropy aligns with the mission’s emphasis on upskilling youth and imbibing values for nation-building. His NGO has skilled over 6 million young beneficiaries so far. The appointment signals the administration’s strategy to involve civil society in achieving its vision for an empowered and future-ready India.

Notes:
Rashmi Shuklla, a 1988-batch Indian Police Service officer, has been appointed as the Director-General of Police in Maharashtra, becoming the first woman to hold this top police post in the state. She takes over from Rajnish Seth, another 1988-batch officer. Prior to this appointment, Shukla was on Central deputation, heading the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Her career has included several significant positions, including serving as Commissioner of the State Intelligence Department (SID) and Additional Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force. Despite being involved in some controversies, such as the phone-tapping row during her tenure in the SID, her appointment marks a notable achievement in the field of law enforcement in Maharashtra.

Notes:
Shirshendhu Mukyopadhyaya, a Bengali writer, was awarded the 2023 Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar. He is recognized for his contribution to Indian literature through his works in the Bengali language. Mukyopadhyaya has authored over 90 books, including travelogues and children’s fiction. The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar is a prestigious national literary award, named after the late Kannada poet Kuvempu, and honors writers who have significantly contributed to Indian languages.

Notes:
Sukanta Majumdar, one of the recipients of the Sansad Ratna Awards, belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Sansad Ratna Awards are presented annually to recognize the top-performing parliamentarians based on their performance in the Lok Sabha. Along with Majumdar, other recipients of the award include Shrikant Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena, Sudheer Gupta from BJP, Amol Ramsing Kolhe from NCP, and Kuldeep Rai Sharma from the Congress. This award is a significant honor in Indian politics, highlighting the contributions and performance of Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha.

Notes:
The Indian classical music community mourns the loss of Dr. Prabha Atre, an iconic vocalist of the Kirana Gharana, who passed away in Pune at 91. Beyond her classical singing, she was a versatile academic, researcher, composer, and author, holding degrees in diverse fields. Representing the Kirana Gharana, her refined style embraced khayal, thumri, ghazal, bhajan, and tarana. Dr. Atre’s global impact as a musical ambassador earned her prestigious awards, including the Padma Vibhushan. Her legacy challenges conventions, making her passing a loss globally.

Notes:
Senior IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary has been appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a central armed police force guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. This key appointment aims to enhance strategic expertise in managing crucial border areas, addressing emerging security challenges. Chaudhary, with a distinguished career in the Indian Police Service, brings valuable experience to lead SSB in maintaining the security and integrity of India’s borders.

Notes:
The 60 Parachute Field Hospital in Uttar Pradesh is honored with the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024 for outstanding Disaster Management efforts. The annual award, instituted by the Centre, acknowledges individuals and organizations in India for their selfless service in disaster management. Announced on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, January 23, the award includes a 51 lakh rupees cash prize and a certificate for institutions, and five lakh rupees and a certificate for individuals.

Notes:
Ajit Mishra, a distinguished India-born lawyer in the UK, received the prestigious ‘Freedom of the City of London’ award for his remarkable contributions to legal and public life. The Founder and Chair of UK India Legal Partnership, Mishra, a dual-qualified lawyer, and corporate partner at Knights, boasts over two decades of experience in facilitating M&A and commercial transactions between India and the UK.