Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Guntur Municipal Corporation won UNIDO’s 4th Gender Equality Mobilisation (GEM) Award in Vienna. The award was presented by United Nations Industrial Development Organization during the International Day of Women in Industry 2026. GMC was recognised for deploying 200+ women as electric auto drivers for door-to-door garbage collection. The initiative promotes women empowerment and zero-emission waste management under the Sustainable Cities Integrated Approach Pilot (SCIAP).

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Raghu Rai, a legendary Indian photographer, passed away on April 26, 2026, in New Delhi at the age of 83. He was a member of Magnum Photos and a pioneer of modern Indian photojournalism. He was known for capturing iconic moments such as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and political life in India. He documented major events including the 1971 Bangladesh War and worked closely with leaders like Indira Gandhi. He was nominated to Magnum Photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1977. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972.

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Parveen Shaikh has won the 2026 Whitley Award for protecting the endangered Indian skimmer. She works with the Bombay Natural History Society. Her initiative “Guardians of the Skimmer” focuses on conservation along the Chambal River. The award, known as the “Green Oscars,” is given by the Whitley Fund for Nature in London. Her project has increased the skimmer population from about 400 in 2017 to over 1,000 by 2025. The programme uses local community members as “nest guardians” to protect nesting sites. It has significantly improved nest survival rates and reduced threats from predators and human disturbance.

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Indian journalists Anand RK and Suparna Sharma won the Pulitzer Prize in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category. They shared the award with Natalie Obiko Pearson for the project “trAPPed.” The work highlights digital surveillance, cyber fraud, and the concept of “digital arrest,” showcasing emerging tech-driven crimes. The Pulitzer Prizes are administered by Columbia University and are among the highest honours in journalism, literature, and music. Anand RK is a Mumbai-based illustrator, while Suparna Sharma is an experienced investigative journalist with extensive reporting on social and political issues.

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Prasoon Joshi has been appointed as the Chairman of Prasar Bharati. Prasar Bharati is India’s autonomous public service broadcaster functioning under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It was established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 and became operational in 1997. Prasar Bharati comprises two major divisions: All India Radio and Doordarshan.

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Soma Mandal has been named the South Asia regional winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2026 by Cambridge University Press & Assessment She was recognised for encouraging students to actively participate in environmental protection and climate change awareness activities. Soma Mandal is one of nine regional winners selected globally from more than 12,000 nominations received from 126 countries. The awards honour outstanding teachers for their contribution to education and student development across different regions of the world.

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The Government of India appointed NS Raja Subramani as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. He will succeed Anil Chauhan, whose tenure ends on 30 May 2026. Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani previously served as Military Adviser in the National Security Council Secretariat and Vice Chief of Army Staff.
He was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in 1985. He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal.

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The National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 were conferred at Rashtrapati Bhavan to honour outstanding nursing professionals. A total of 15 nurses from different regions and healthcare sectors were awarded for their dedication to public healthcare and community welfare. The award is instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It recognises the service of Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors working in government and voluntary organisations. Each award carries a Certificate of Merit, a medal, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.

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Narendra Modi was conferred Norway’s highest civilian honour for foreign Heads of Government — the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit — by King Harald V in Oslo. The honour was awarded for PM Modi’s contribution to strengthening India–Norway relations and global cooperation. During the visit, India and Norway elevated bilateral ties to a “Green Strategic Partnership.” The partnership will focus on clean energy, blue economy, renewable energy, AI, Arctic cooperation, trade, and technology.

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International Booker Prize is awarded annually for the best translated fiction published in the UK or Ireland. It was established in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize. The award honours both authors and translators, with prize money equally shared between them. In 2026, Taiwan Travelogue, translated by Lin King, won the 2026 International Booker Prize prize. The award promotes global literature and encourages reading of translated works worldwide. India achieved notable success through Tomb of Sand in 2022 and Heart Lamp in 2025. These victories highlighted Indian regional languages internationally.