Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Fiji awarded Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar the “Honourary Officer of the Order of Fiji,” its highest civilian honor, for his global peace and community work. Fiji’s President, Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere, presented the award, and Sri Sri expressed gratitude on social media. As founder of The Art of Living, Sri Sri has received top civilian awards from five other nations, highlighting his humanitarian influence in over 180 countries. In Fiji, he met with leaders, including the Deputy Prime Minister and UN Coordinator, to discuss youth empowerment and mental health.

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Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, known as ‘Bihar Kokila,’ passed away at 72 on 5 November 2024. She was suffering from multiple myeloma and died at AIIMS, New Delhi, on the first day of Chhath Puja. Sinha was celebrated for her Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magadhi songs, especially for Chhath Puja and Vivah Geet, which resonated widely in Bihar. She received the Padma Bhushan (2018), Padma Shri (1991), and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

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Anil Pradhan, a 28-year-old engineer from Odisha, won the third Rohini Nayyar Prize for promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in rural India. He co-founded the Young Tinker Foundation and launched ‘Tinker-on-Wheels,’ a mobile lab bringing robotics and 3D printing to rural students. His work has impacted over 2.5 lakh students across Odisha, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. The Rohini Nayyar Prize, honoring contributions to rural development, includes ₹10 lakh, a citation, and a trophy. It’s awarded annually to individuals under 40 by the Nayyar Foundation.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Guyana’s highest national award, “The Order of Excellence,” on November 19, 2024, in Georgetown, conferred by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Modi became the fourth foreign dignitary to receive this prestigious award. He was also honored with Dominica’s highest national award, the “Dominica Award of Honour,” by President Sylvanie Burton on November 20, 2024. The Dominica award was presented during the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown. Modi is the second foreign leader after Queen Elizabeth (1969) to receive Dominica’s highest national award.

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World Fisheries Day 2024 was celebrated on November 21 in New Delhi. The Department of Fisheries honoured states, districts, and individuals for their contributions. Kerala won the Best Marine State award. Telangana was recognised as the Best Inland State. Uttarakhand received the Best Himalayan and Northeastern State award. Jammu & Kashmir was awarded Best Union Territory.

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Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Emami Group, became the President of FICCI for 2024-25, succeeding Anish Shah. FICCI’s new office bearers include Senior Vice President Anant Goenka (Vice Chairman of RPG Group) and Vice President Vijay Sankar (Chairman of Sanmar Group). FICCI is a major business lobby group in India, representing business interests and lobbying for favorable policies. Founded in 1927, FICCI claims to be the largest business organization in India.

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The Indian Chemical Council won the 2024 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) The Hague Award on November 25, 2024, in the Hague, Netherlands. D. Sothi Selvam, the council’s Director General, received the award. The award ceremony occurred during the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP) of the OPCW. The CSP is being held from November 25-29, 2024, at the Hague. The CSP oversees the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, promotes its objectives, and reviews treaty compliance. The OPCW has 193 member countries working together to prohibit chemical weapons.

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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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Dr. Basant Goel was honored at the United Nations Global Excellence Award in Dubai and received an honorary doctorate from the USA International University. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy, a Ph.D. in Diabetes, and a Doctorate in Health Science from prestigious U.S. institutions. His humanitarian work gained recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning a World Book of Records (London) mention. On July 6, 2024, he set a Guinness World Record for the most blood donations in a single camp, ensuring 200 daily units in India. Named “Blood Man of India” by the President, he was hosted at the President’s House for four days. The International Book of Honour (England) recognized his contributions on October 26, 2024.

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Former Chile President Michelle Bachelet has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2024. She is recognized for her contributions to gender equality, human rights, and democracy. The Indira Gandhi Prize honors efforts promoting international peace, disarmament, and development. The award includes ₹10 million, a trophy, and a citation. Recipients are selected by a jury of 5-9 eminent persons appointed by the Chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.