Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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In November 2025, the Government of Himachal Pradesh (HP) received the “People First Integration Award” from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India (GoI). The award was presented during the National Workshop and Conference on DigiLocker 2025 held in New Delhi. Ashish Singhmar, Secretary of the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance (DDT&G), accepted the award from S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY. The integration enhances citizen-centric governance by enabling secure, paperless, and transparent digital service delivery. It marks a key step toward building a unified and efficient digital ecosystem for public access in Himachal Pradesh

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In November 2025, Heritage Foods Limited (HFL), a private-sector dairy company, received the Golden Peacock Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance (GPAECG) 2025. The award was presented by the Institute of Directors (IOD), India, during the IOD London Global Convention on Corporate Governance & Sustainability held from 4th to 7th November 2025 in London, United Kingdom (UK). Heritage Foods Limited (HFL) was among 11 national winners and the only Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firm to win the honour this year. The Golden Peacock Awards were instituted in 1991 by IOD India to promote ethical leadership, good governance, and sustainable business practices.

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In November 2025, an eminent author Salman Rushdie was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize (DLPP) event held in Ohio, United States. The award recognized outstanding literary contribution and advocacy for freedom of expression, tolerance, and human dignity. The Dayton Literary Peace Prize celebrates writers who promote peace through literature, with separate awards for fiction, nonfiction, and lifetime achievement. The 2025 edition marked the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War.

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Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations Specialized Agency for Tourism (UN Tourism). She is the first woman to lead the organization in its 50-year history. She will officially take office in January 2026 for a four-year term, marking a historic milestone for gender representation and global leadership.

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In November 2025, David Szalay won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel “Flesh”, becoming the first Hungarian-British author to win the award. The Booker Prize is the world’s leading literary award for a single work of fiction. It was founded in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1969. Initially limited to Commonwealth writers, it is now open to authors worldwide. It honors the best English-language novel published in the UK or Ireland. The novel must be original, not a translation, and published by a registered UK or Irish imprint. The winner receives £50,000, while shortlisted authors get £2,500 each.

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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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The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024 was awarded to Michelle Bachelet, the first and only woman President of Chile and former UN (United Nations) High Commissioner for Human Rights. Bachelet served two presidential terms in Chile (2006–2010, 2014–2018) and led major education, tax, human rights, and gender equality reforms. It is awarded annually to any person or organisation regardless of nationality, race, or religion. It honours efforts promoting international peace, disarmament, racial equality, goodwill, and harmony. It recognises work supporting global economic cooperation and a new international economic order.

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Kumari Kamala, early child prodigy of Indian cinema and Bharatanatyam dancer, died in the United States at 91. She performed worldwide and inspired many dancers, though very little documentation of her work exists. Kamala trained under Guru Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai, mastering nritta (pure dance) with grace and abhinaya (expression) with poetry. She collaborated closely with musicians like S. Rajeswari and learned music from Vidwan Ramnad Krishnan. She influenced seven decades of Bharatanatyam and respected tradition and the Thanjavur Quartet.

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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 Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) launched the book “Bharat: That Is India – Reclaiming Our Real Identity” by Abhijeet Joag in New Delhi. The book explores India’s nationhood, rooted in an ancient cultural consciousness that predates the modern nation-state. It emphasizes the Indian tradition of dharma as a framework for duty and responsibility.