Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Ecologist Madhav Gadgil received the UN’s Champions of the Earth award on December 10, 2024, for his work in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. Gadgil chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, studying the region’s challenges from population pressure, climate change, and development. The Champions of the Earth award, established in 2005 by UNEP, is the UN’s highest environmental honor. It recognizes individuals and organizations creating sustainable solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Gadgil was the only Indian among this year’s awardees for his contributions to environmental conservation.

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The Russian team won the team event of the 13th Admiral Cup sailing regatta. The Admiral Cup is an offshore Laser Radial boat race organized by the Indian Navy. The event is held in the Arabian Sea near Ettikulam Beach, Kerala, where the Indian Naval Academy (INA) is located. The 13th edition took place from December 9-13, 2024. The Admiral Cup was first organized by the Indian Navy in 2010. It is inspired by the Admiral Cup of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, England, regarded as the unofficial World Cup for offshore racing.

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The Ram Temple in Ayodhya won the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ award from the British Safety Council for excellence in safety management. This award requires a five-star safety audit and on-site assessment by the British Safety Council. Larsen & Toubro, the temple’s construction firm, earlier received the ‘Golden Trophy’ from the National Safety Council for safety measures. The temple’s construction, including its Shikhar and key statues, is in the final phase, set to finish by June 2025. Statues of Shri Ram Darbar and various sages will be completed by January 2025, using 15 lakh cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur stone.

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Hindi writer Suryabala won the 34th Vyas Samman 2024 for her novel Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary, published in 2018. The novel explores cultural conflicts and identity struggles of Indian youth in America. Vyas Samman, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1991, honors outstanding Hindi literary works from the past decade with ₹4 lakh, a citation, and a plaque. Suryabala, born in 1943 in Varanasi, has written over 50 socially themed works, reflecting cultural insights. The novel highlights the alienation and identity crisis faced by overseas Indians, struggling to connect with their roots.

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Retired Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur has been appointed Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council. His term as chairperson will run until November 12, 2028, as per UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ appointment letter. The Internal Justice Council comprises five members, including Carmen Artigas (Uruguay), Rosalie Balkin (Australia), Stefan Brezina (Austria), and Jay Pozenal (USA). The council oversees the administration of the UN’s internal justice system. Justice Lokur served as a Supreme Court judge in India from June 2012 to December 2018. He authored landmark rulings on electoral integrity and raising the age of consent in marriages. Justice Lokur participated in the 2018 press conference addressing case allocation concerns in the judiciary.

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Former Supreme Court judge V. Ramasubramanian has been appointed as the 9th Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for a three-year tenure until December 2027. Justice Ramasubramanian retired from the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, after over three years, and was part of key cases, including demonetization and cryptocurrency regulations. He succeeds Justice Arun Mishra, with Acting Chairperson Vijaya Bharati Sayani leading the NHRC interim. NHRC investigates human rights violations, intervenes in related cases, and promotes research for human rights protection.

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MT Vasudevan Nair, renowned writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker, was celebrated for capturing human emotions and rural life. Born in 1933 in Kudallur, Kerala, he became a prominent figure in Malayalam literature and cinema over seven decades. His works include novels, short stories, screenplays, and films, deeply resonating with diverse audiences. He passed away at 91, marking the end of an era in Indian literature and cinema. Early life influences came from Kudallur and Punnayurkulam; he completed schooling locally and graduated in chemistry from Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1953.

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Manohar International Airport (GOX) won the ‘Best Domestic Airport’ title at the Travel Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi, recognizing GOX as a top domestic aviation hub in India. A global survey with over 1,86,000 participants evaluated airports on accessibility, security, dining, shopping, and design. GOX excelled in all categories, becoming the preferred choice for domestic travelers. The airport features Goan cultural elements, modern amenities, and flexible flight schedules for comfort and convenience.

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K S Manilal, a renowned taxonomist and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on 1st January 2025 in Thrissur, Kerala. He is celebrated for translating and annotating Hortus Malabaricus, a 17th-century Latin botanical treatise on the flora of Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa. Manilal spent 35 years making the 12-volume work accessible to academics during his tenure as a botany professor at the University of Calicut (1976–1999). His contributions include 198 research papers, 15 books, and extensive work on medicinal plants and taxonomy. He played a key role in conserving Kerala’s Silent Valley rainforest in the 1980s.

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Lionel Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Messi is the first Argentine and first male soccer player to receive this award. He could not attend the ceremony due to prior commitments, sending a letter expressing gratitude. The award recognizes significant contributions to society, world peace, or public welfare. Messi was honored for being the most decorated soccer player and his philanthropic work through the Leo Messi Foundation and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.