Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Anant Ambani, founder of Vantara, received the Global Humanitarian Award in the United States for his outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation and animal welfare. He was honoured for his leadership in the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and conservation of animals through the Vantara initiative. Anant Ambani is the youngest and the first Asian to ever receive this prestigious award. The award has brought global recognition to Vantara, which is considered one of the world’s largest and most unique wildlife conservation projects.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has awarded the “Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak” (Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal) to Dinesh Khatak, Second-in-Command (2-IC) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 196 Battalion, for his exceptional service, discipline, and contributions to national security. A native of Intel Kalan village in Jind district, Dinesh joined the CRPF as a Gazetted Officer in 2005 after clearing the UPSC exam. He served in Jammu & Kashmir during 2008–13 and 2017–21, contributing to Amarnath Yatra security, law and order, Article 370 abrogation duties, and COVID-19 pandemic operations.

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Sai Jadhav, at 23, became the first woman officer to graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, breaking a 93-year tradition since its opening in 1932. More than 67,000 cadets have graduated from IMA until now; Sai is the first woman to do so. Sai has been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army, the first woman from IMA to join through this route. She will make history again in June 2026 during the IMA parade at Chetwode Building, symbolizing institutional change.

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An Indian team, Photonics Odyssey from Chennai, won the Most Inspirational Award at NASA’s 2025 International Space Apps Challenge for their satellite internet concept. The team proposed a sovereign, phased-array satellite internet infrastructure aimed at expanding broadband access in remote regions of India. The project is designed to reduce dependency on ground infrastructure and connect over 700 million people in India who currently lack broadband access.

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Renowned litterateur and Jnanpith Awardee Vinod Kumar Shukla passed away in Raipur on 23 December 2025 at the age of around 88. Vinod Kumar Shukla was recently honoured with the prestigious Jnanpith Award. He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Deewar Mein Ek Khidki. His notable works include the poetry collection Lagbhag Jai Hind and the novel Naukar Ki Kameez. His works have been translated into several languages and earned widespread acclaim.

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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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In January 2026, a Telugu book titled Agni Sarassulo Vikasinchina Kamalam Droupadi Murmu was released at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The book traces President Droupadi Murmu’s journey from tribal roots to Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is authored by Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, former Member of Parliament and President of the Viswa Hindi Parishad. The title symbolizes a lotus blooming through fire, reflecting her rise from adversity. The book was released by Lakshmamma, a woman sanitation worker, highlighting dignity of labour and social equality.

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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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Recently, former Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs, Praveen Vashista, was appointed Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission. He is a 1991-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Bihar cadre. He took voluntary retirement before his scheduled superannuation in July. The appointment was made by the President of India under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. The Central Vigilance Commission consists of one Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.

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Vice President Dr C. P. Radhakrishnan launched the book Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi–Challenge and Response in New Delhi. The book is authored by Surendra Kumar Pachauri, a former secretary to the Government of India. Dr Radhakrishnan stated that Ram Mandir at Ayodhya represents a defining moment in India’s civilisational journey, where faith, law, and democracy converged. The 2019 Supreme Court verdict fulfilled the aspirations of millions and highlighted the strength of Indian democracy.