Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Kovalam beach in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, received the International Blue Flag certification for the fifth consecutive year in 2025-26. The certification is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark, and promotes sustainable tourism and responsible coastal management. Blue Flag recognition is based on 33 criteria, including water quality, environmental education, safety, waste management, cleanliness, and eco-friendly infrastructure. Kovalam beach first received the certification on September 21, 2021, becoming Tamil Nadu’s first Blue Flag beach.

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Hollywood actor Tom Cruise received the Academy Honorary Award, also known as the honorary Oscar, at the 16th Governors Awards in Hollywood, California. The 63-year-old, a four-time Oscar nominee, was honoured by filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is collaborating with him on a 2026 film.

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Rabih Alameddine won the National Book Award for Fiction for “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)”. Omar El Akkad won the Nonfiction prize for “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”. Patricia Smith won the Poetry award for “The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems”. Daniel Nayeri won for Young People’s Literature with “The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story”. Gabriela Cabezón Cámara was recognised in Translated Literature for “We Are Green and Trembling”, translated by Robin Myers. The 76th National Book Awards ceremony took place at Cipriani Wall Street, Manhattan, hosted by Jeff Heller with musical performance by Corinne Rae Bailey.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar assumes the chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026. India is elected as Chair under the rotational system and will hold the post till 2033. India is among the 14 founding member states of International IDEA. The charge is assumed in Stockholm, Sweden, in the presence of Ambassador Anurag Bhushan. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is globally recognised as a credible Election Management Body (EMB). India has 900+ million voters across 28 States and 8 Union Territories (UTs).

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On 5 December 2025, during the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump. The FIFA Peace Prize, officially named “Football Unites the World,” was created to honour individuals who take exceptional actions to promote peace and global unity. Donald Trump became the first recipient of this new award category, with FIFA praising his claimed efforts in global diplomacy and conflict de-escalation.

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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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Senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty was elected the first woman president of the Press Club of India on December 14, 2025. Her team won all office-bearer and managing committee positions with a 21-0 sweep in the elections held on December 13. Afzal Imam was elected Secretary General. Jatin Gandhi became Vice-President. Aditi Rajput (Treasurer) and P R Sunil (Joint Secretary) were elected unopposed.

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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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Singapore Changi Airport has been named the best international airport in the world for 2025 at India’s Best Awards by Travel+Leisure (T+L). The airport is known for sky-lit interiors, indoor gardens, art-filled spaces, and attractions like the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and butterfly gardens. The award was part of the 14th India’s Best Awards, reflecting traveller preferences through online voting. Changi Airport sets global benchmarks by combining efficiency, comfort, and design, making it a destination in itself.

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Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu, aged 72, passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru following a massive cerebral stroke. A four-time MLA from the Dharmanagar constituency, he started his political career with Congress, joined Trinamool Congress in 2016, and later BJP before the 2018 Assembly elections. The state government declared three days of mourning and ordered the closure of all government offices, schools, colleges, and institutions on 26 December as a mark of respect.