Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, Sri Lankan author Vajra Chandrasekera won the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction worth $25,000 (around ₹22 lakh) for his novel “Rakesfall.” The prize honours writers who “imagine real grounds for hope” and is run by the Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation. Rakesfall, published by Tor Books in April 2025, follows two souls, Annelid and Leveret, meeting during the Sri Lankan Civil War and reconnecting across lifetimes. The book explores power, memory, and moral responsibility, exposing the greed and control of the powerful. Chandrasekera described it as a story about “late capitalism’s death drive” and the moral cost of looking away.

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Recently, the Central Government appointed Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai as the Chairperson of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Justice Desai earlier headed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Committees in both Uttarakhand and Gujarat, playing a key role in drafting their UCC reports. She began her career as Government Pleader (Appellate Side) in the Bombay High Court in 1995 and became a Judge of the Bombay High Court in 1996. She was elevated to the Supreme Court of India in 2011 and retired in 2014. After retirement, she chaired the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (2014) and the Advance Ruling Authority (2018). She also headed the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir, which increased constituencies from 83 to 90

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Padma Shri awardee Sanjeev Kapoor was honoured as a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa, during the Borlaug Dialogue Week 2025. The event gathered global leaders, scientists, policymakers, and innovators to discuss food security, climate resilience, and nutrition. Kapoor was recognised for promoting healthy and sustainable eating, supporting Indian agriculture, and encouraging the use of local, nutrient-rich ingredients. He dedicated the honour to India’s farmers and culinary heritage, calling it a privilege to represent India on a global platform.

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The ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ for 2025 has been announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It was instituted in 2024 to promote professional excellence and morale among officers. The award recognizes outstanding work in Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science. It was formed by merging four MHA awards. They are Special Operation Medal, Medal for Excellence in Investigation, Exceptional Intelligence Efficiency Medal, and Union Home Minister’s Award for Meritorious Service. It is announced every year on 31st October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

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The Union Health Ministry achieved three Guinness World Record titles under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan campaign. The campaign was conducted nationwide from 17th September to 2nd October 2025 during Poshan Maah. The records include the most people registered for a health care platform in one month. It also includes the most people signed up for a breast cancer screening online in one week. Another record was the most people signed up for vital signs screening online in one week at the state level. The campaign focuses on improving the health and nutrition of women, adolescent girls and children. The achievement highlights India’s success in combining digital health innovation and community participation.

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Maharashtra secured first position in the Best State category of the 6th National Water Awards for 2024. The awards were announced by Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil. Gujarat and Haryana were placed second and third respectively. This year, 46 winners were selected across ten categories, including Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, and Best Institution. The 1st National Water Awards were launched in 2018 by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) to promote awareness and best water usage practices.

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Mohan Chandra Kandpal becomes the first person from Uttarakhand to receive the National Water Award for Best Individual in the Water Sector (North Zone). President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He has worked over 36 years reviving springs, naulas and water sources in Himalayan villages. He leads the grassroots campaign “Pani Boao–Pani Uggao” (Sow Water–Grow Water). His efforts replenished water in nearly 40 villages in the Riskan river belt, combating deforestation and soil degradation.

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The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024 was awarded to Michelle Bachelet, the first and only woman President of Chile and former UN (United Nations) High Commissioner for Human Rights. Bachelet served two presidential terms in Chile (2006–2010, 2014–2018) and led major education, tax, human rights, and gender equality reforms. It is awarded annually to any person or organisation regardless of nationality, race, or religion. It honours efforts promoting international peace, disarmament, racial equality, goodwill, and harmony. It recognises work supporting global economic cooperation and a new international economic order.

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Velamala Simmanna has been selected for the Lok Nayak Foundation (LNF) Literary Award 2025. He has written over 100 books and is a former Head of Department of Telugu at Andhra University. The award carries a cash prize of 2 lakh rupees and will be given on 18 January 2026. The award is presented every year by the Lok Nayak Foundation. It commemorates the death anniversaries of N. T. Rama Rao and Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

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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.