Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Uttar Pradesh won the national award for Most Proactive State under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–UDAN in the Non-Priority Area category. The award recognises states that are neither hill states nor in the North-East, highlighting UP’s aviation expansion under CM Yogi Adityanath. Air passenger numbers grew from 59.97 lakh in 2016 to 1.28 crore in 2024 and 1.55 crore in 2025. Air cargo volume increased from 5,895 metric tonnes in 2016 to 29,761 metric tonnes in 2025, a CAGR of 17.58% over nine years.

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India’s expanding space programme is inspiring young students to join space research activities. Aditya Pandya, a 17-year-old student, became India’s youngest male analog astronaut. He completed a simulated lunar habitat mission under Moon-like conditions. The mission was organised by AAKA Space Studio, a space research and simulation organisation. It was conducted at Dholavira in Gujarat. The mission duration was from 1 February to 8 February 2026. It aimed to simulate isolation and operational challenges similar to real space missions.

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Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha appointed Shantmanu, a retired Indian Administrative Service officer, as State Election Commissioner. The appointment is for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It was made under sub-section 3 of Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989. He will hold office for five years or until he attains 70 years of age, whichever is earlier. The appointment will be effective from the date he assumes charge. The government will separately notify the detailed terms and conditions of his service.

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Microsoft appointed Indian-origin Asha Sharma as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft Gaming. She joins growing list of Indian-origin leaders heading global companies. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced her appointment. She earlier helped build and scale services reaching billions of users at Microsoft. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Instacart. She also worked as Vice President at Meta.

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C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman. The book is authored by Vijay Goel. It was launched at Dr Ambedkar International Centre on February 21. The Vice-President called it a tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Bharat Ratna awardee. Vajpayee was praised for integrity, inclusive politics and democratic values.

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The Manipuri film Boong, produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment, won the BAFTA Award for Best Children’s & Family Film in London. The film was directed by debutant Lakshmipriya Devi, who made an emotional appeal for peace during her acceptance speech. She received the award from Paddington Bear, the lead character of Paddington The Musical. Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, along with assistant director Rahul Sharda, joined her on stage.

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60th Jnanpith Award (2025) will be conferred on R. Vairamuthu. Jnanpith Award is the highest literary award in India. The award is presented by Bharatiya Jnanpith. R. Vairamuthu is a distinguished Tamil poet, lyricist and writer. He is recognised for creative depth, powerful poetic voice and contribution to Tamil literature. His writings focus on human emotions, social issues and nature. The selection committee meeting was chaired by Pratibha Ray.

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Kaveh Madani has been named the 2026 recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize, which is considered the world’s most prestigious award for water-related work. The prize has been awarded annually since 1991 by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It recognizes individuals or organisations that make outstanding contributions to the conservation and protection of water resources and to the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants.

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Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA – Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts) published the book “Janjati Gaurav” to document tribal history and culture. The book highlights contributions of tribal communities in freedom struggle and nation-building. It includes archival records, research and stories of tribal leaders and movements. It mentions Mangarh Dham linked to uprising led by Govind Guru and sacrifices of tribal fighters. Ministry of Tribal Affairs approved 11 Tribal Freedom Fighters Museums across 10 states.

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“Revolutionary Raj: Narendra Modi’s 25 Years,” authored by veteran journalist Padma Shri Alok Mehta, is a coffee table book launched in 2026 analyzing PM Modi’s political journey from Gujarat CM to Prime Minister. The book highlights his transformative governance, administrative innovations, and key welfare initiatives. It covers Modi’s 25 years in public life, discussing his policies, ideology, and impact on Indian society and the global stage.