Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The Chief of Army Staff recently presented the President’s Colours to four Mechanised Infantry battalions. The President’s Colours, or “Rashtrapati ka Nishaan,” is the highest honor for military units or police forces for exceptional national service. The tradition dates back to ancient India when flags or “dhwajas” symbolized a king’s supremacy. During British rule, military units carried the monarch’s flag, which was replaced by the President’s Colours in 1950. The Indian Navy first received it in 1951. The flag features a golden border, unit insignia, and sometimes its motto and achievements, symbolizing pride during ceremonial parades.

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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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The Abathsahayeshwarar Temple in Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu won UNESCO’s 2023 Award of Distinction for heritage conservation. Built by Kings Vikrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola, the temple originally had five prakarams. It houses shrines for deities like Soundaryanayaki Ambal, Aadhi Sarabeshwarar, and others. The temple was restored using traditional and modern conservation methods, completing kumbhabhishekam in September 2023. UNESCO praised the project for blending engineering and traditional techniques while preserving vernacular artistry. Tamil Nadu’s CM granted ₹100 crore annually for restoring ancient temples, ensuring no changes to their original features.

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Ecologist Madhav Gadgil received the UN’s Champions of the Earth award on December 10, 2024, for his work in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. Gadgil chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, studying the region’s challenges from population pressure, climate change, and development. The Champions of the Earth award, established in 2005 by UNEP, is the UN’s highest environmental honor. It recognizes individuals and organizations creating sustainable solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Gadgil was the only Indian among this year’s awardees for his contributions to environmental conservation.

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The Russian team won the team event of the 13th Admiral Cup sailing regatta. The Admiral Cup is an offshore Laser Radial boat race organized by the Indian Navy. The event is held in the Arabian Sea near Ettikulam Beach, Kerala, where the Indian Naval Academy (INA) is located. The 13th edition took place from December 9-13, 2024. The Admiral Cup was first organized by the Indian Navy in 2010. It is inspired by the Admiral Cup of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, England, regarded as the unofficial World Cup for offshore racing.

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The Ram Temple in Ayodhya won the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ award from the British Safety Council for excellence in safety management. This award requires a five-star safety audit and on-site assessment by the British Safety Council. Larsen & Toubro, the temple’s construction firm, earlier received the ‘Golden Trophy’ from the National Safety Council for safety measures. The temple’s construction, including its Shikhar and key statues, is in the final phase, set to finish by June 2025. Statues of Shri Ram Darbar and various sages will be completed by January 2025, using 15 lakh cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur stone.

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Hindi writer Suryabala won the 34th Vyas Samman 2024 for her novel Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary, published in 2018. The novel explores cultural conflicts and identity struggles of Indian youth in America. Vyas Samman, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1991, honors outstanding Hindi literary works from the past decade with ₹4 lakh, a citation, and a plaque. Suryabala, born in 1943 in Varanasi, has written over 50 socially themed works, reflecting cultural insights. The novel highlights the alienation and identity crisis faced by overseas Indians, struggling to connect with their roots.

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Retired Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur has been appointed Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council. His term as chairperson will run until November 12, 2028, as per UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ appointment letter. The Internal Justice Council comprises five members, including Carmen Artigas (Uruguay), Rosalie Balkin (Australia), Stefan Brezina (Austria), and Jay Pozenal (USA). The council oversees the administration of the UN’s internal justice system. Justice Lokur served as a Supreme Court judge in India from June 2012 to December 2018. He authored landmark rulings on electoral integrity and raising the age of consent in marriages. Justice Lokur participated in the 2018 press conference addressing case allocation concerns in the judiciary.

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Former Supreme Court judge V. Ramasubramanian has been appointed as the 9th Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for a three-year tenure until December 2027. Justice Ramasubramanian retired from the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, after over three years, and was part of key cases, including demonetization and cryptocurrency regulations. He succeeds Justice Arun Mishra, with Acting Chairperson Vijaya Bharati Sayani leading the NHRC interim. NHRC investigates human rights violations, intervenes in related cases, and promotes research for human rights protection.

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Vitul Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, is appointed Acting Director General of the CRPF after Anish Dayal Singh’s retirement. Born in Bhatinda, Punjab, Kumar holds a degree in Electronics Engineering, enhancing his analytical skills in law enforcement. He has held key positions in the CRPF, progressing from Deputy Inspector General in 2009 to Special Director General in 2023. Kumar’s awards include the President’s Police Medal (2021) and Police Medal (2009).