Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia became the first woman to enter the fighter stream of Naval Aviation, marking a historic first for the Indian Navy. She was awarded the prestigious Wings of Gold along with Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam. Her induction into the fighter stream breaks barriers and opens doors for more women in frontline combat aviation. This highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to gender inclusivity and promoting Nari Shakti, meaning women empowerment.

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Recently, Kasaragod district won the Fisheries Department Excellence Award 2025 under the Popular Fish Farming Project in Kerala. It was declared the best district for achievements in the fisheries sector. The award is part of the annual State Farmer Awards to honour aquaculture excellence. Kasaragod earlier won the Matsya Karshaka Award and Best Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) Award in 2023. Its District Panchayat was the first in India to declare a tree, flower, and bird as district biodiversity symbols.

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Recently, Indian women’s rights activist Varsha Deshpande received the 2025 United Nations Population Award in the individual category for promoting gender equality and reproductive rights. She is the secretary of Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, a Maharashtra-based organisation she founded in 1990 to empower marginalised women. The award includes a gold medal, diploma, and monetary prize.

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Dr. Abhijat Sheth has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC) in July 2025. The appointment comes amid rising concerns over regulatory loopholes and a recent corruption probe in medical college approvals. The National Medical Commission (NMC) is India’s top regulatory body for medical education and professionals. It was established under the NMC Act, 2019, replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI). NMC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025. The award was given for its excellent use of open-source spatial technologies. It was presented during the Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) Day (Edition 02) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. The award was handed over by the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), A.S. Kiran Kumar. This recognition highlights INCOIS’s contribution to geospatial innovation and open-source solutions in ocean services.

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Suhani Shah from Rajasthan recently won the title of ‘Best Magic Creator 2025’ at the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) World Championship of Magic. She became the first Indian ever to win this prestigious global award in the online magic category. The FISM World Championship of Magic, known as the Olympics of Magic, was held in Torino, Italy from July 14 to 19, 2025. FISM, founded in 1948, is held every three years and features stage magic, close-up magic, and online magic.

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Recently, G P Birla Memorial Award was conferred on V. Narayanan, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. The award was presented by Nirmala Birla, Chairperson of G P Birla Archaeological Astronomical and Scientific Institute. The award has a prestigious legacy and has earlier been given to 32 Nobel laureates. Past recipients include Nobel Prize winner Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, physicist Jogesh Pati, former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and former ISRO chief Kasturirangan. The award recognises global leaders for their contributions to scientific progress and innovation.

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Hiromasa Urakawa, a 28-year-old Japanese boxer, died from brain injuries sustained in a fight in Tokyo. He was knocked out in the eighth round against Yoji Saito on August 2 and later died after surgery for subdural haematoma, a bleeding between the skull and brain. This comes after Shigetoshi Kotari also died from similar injuries in the same event at Korakuen Hall. The Japan Boxing Commission reduced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights from 12 to 10 rounds. Urakawa is the third high-profile boxing death in 2025, after Irish boxer John Cooney’s death from intracranial haemorrhage in February.

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The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has opened nominations for the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2025. National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) is one of the highest national honours in the livestock and dairy sector. It was launched in 2021 under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. The awards encourage excellence among farmers, Dairy Cooperatives, Milk Producer Companies (MPCs), Dairy Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs). The focus is on promoting indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds that are robust and vital for the economy.

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Karikot village in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, won the Indian Subcontinental Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Award 2025. The award is presented by ICRT India Foundation with support from the Ministry of Tourism. The ceremony will be held in New Delhi on 13th September 2025. The award honors leaders in sustainable tourism, reducing negative impacts and enhancing positive outcomes. Karikot stood out for its Tharu tribal-led eco-tourism, homestays, and cultural immersion near Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.