Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Urmila Chaudhary from Nepal won the Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024, presented by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. The award honors her work in advancing racial equity, justice, and human rights. Urmila was rescued from child servitude at age 17 and co-founded the Freed Kamlari Development Forum, empowering former bonded laborers. She fights for marginalized castes in Nepal and studies law to further her cause. The illegal Kamlari system, which sold girls into servitude, was abolished in 2013 after mass protests, but justice and rehabilitation efforts continue.

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The Tumaini Festival in Malawi, founded in 2014, is an annual cultural event held within the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. It is unique as the only festival held in a refugee camp and is organized entirely by refugees. The festival promotes community, solidarity, and cultural exchange between refugees and locals. It attracts thousands of attendees and features music, dance, theater, and visual arts from global performers. Tumaini Festival received the Cultures of Resistance Award in 2024, highlighting its impact and significance.

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Pandit Ram Narayan, the legendary Sarangi maestro, passed away at the age of 96 in Mumbai. He was a renowned Hindustani musician, known for his mastery of the Sarangi. He received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. His death has led to tributes from across India, including from Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

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Nigeria awarded PM Narendra Modi the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) during his first official visit. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu praised PM Modi’s commitment to democratic values and success in India. Previously, Queen Elizabeth was the only foreign dignitary to receive this Nigerian honor in 1969. Dominica also announced its highest honor, the ‘Dominica Award of Honour,’ for PM Modi for his support during the Covid-19 pandemic. PM Modi will receive the award in Guyana during the India-CARICOM Summit. With these awards, PM Modi’s total civilian honors reach 17, reflecting India’s rising global influence.

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Coal India Limited (CIL) received the Green World Environment Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category and the title of Green World Ambassador. The award recognizes CIL’s exemplary CSR work through the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna, providing curative treatment for over 600 Thalassemia patients via stem cell or Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT). Launched in 2017, it was the first CSR project by a PSU for Thalassemia treatment in India. Financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh is provided per patient under the scheme. CIL partners with 17 leading hospitals across India for the initiative.

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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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The Ministry of Mines Pavilion won the Gold award at India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 for excellence in display. It showcased contributions to Viksit Bharat by 2047, drawing over 80,000 visitors. The Ministry contributed to the Ram Mandir with 70,000 copper strips and 775 copper rods. Sustainability was promoted with recycling machines by Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), offering vouchers. Women empowerment was highlighted, with SHGs earning over ₹10 lakh in 14 days, emphasizing grassroots economic growth.

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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 Inland Waterways Authority of India’s Kalughat Intermodal Terminal in Bihar received a five-star SVAGRIHA rating. SVAGRIHA stands for Simple Versatile Affordable GRIHA. SVAGRIHA promotes green buildings and sustainability through the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) system for small buildings. The rating applies to projects under 2500 sq.m. with 14 criteria across five categories: architecture & energy, water & waste, materials, landscape, and lifestyle. The terminal achieved this rating by using recyclable materials like fibre, recyclable glass, and eco-friendly fixtures. This project is part of the IWAI’s efforts to enhance National Waterway 1 on the River Ganga.

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Jasleen Kaur, a Glasgow-born Scottish Sikh artist of Indian heritage, won the 2024 Turner Prize. Her exhibition Alter Altar explores personal, political, and spiritual themes. The jury praised her evocative use of sound and sculpture to highlight family memory and community struggles. A standout piece featured a Ford car, representing her father’s migrant aspirations. Actor James Norton presented the award at Tate Britain, marking the Turner Prize’s return to the venue after six years.