Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Singapore Changi Airport ranked 1st in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026, marking its 14th win since 2000. It is a major international hub in Southeast Asia, known for world-class passenger experience and advanced infrastructure. The airport features attractions like Jewel Changi Airport, home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It consistently scores high in services such as dining, entertainment, and connectivity. The recognition highlights Singapore’s leadership in global aviation excellence and airport management.

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Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy took oath as a Member of Rajya Sabha on 6 April 2026. She was nominated by Trinamool Congress and became India’s first openly queer Member of Parliament (MP). She was a key lawyer in the Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India case leading to decriminalisation of homosexuality under Section 377 of IPC in 2018. Oath ceremony was conducted by Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan in presence of Kiren Rijiju. She is a Rhodes Scholar from University of Oxford and alumna of Harvard Law School.

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Indian Institute of Management Rohtak secured first place at Hermes’ Dialogue 6.0, a national-level debate hosted by Birla Institute of Management Technology, with participation linked to 12 nations. The theme focused on whether nations should prioritise energy independence to ensure global energy security amid rising geopolitical tensions. Team LeBroom from IIM Rohtak won, followed by Team Magnus from FORE School of Management and Team Strategy from Shri Ram College of Commerce. The competition involved online assessments, case-based submissions, and final rounds simulating global forums like United Nations and Group of Twenty for policy debates.

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Banaras Hindu University won the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) National Moot Court Competition 2026 held at Integral University, securing ₹25,000 along with trophies and medals. Chandigarh University finished as the runner-up and received ₹11,000. Aligarh Muslim University received recognition for inspiring excellence, while Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University and University of Lucknow were recognised as best regional teams. The competition was held from April 9–11, 2026, with participation from 40 teams across India, promoting advocacy skills and legal understanding.

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N. Alim Yusuf has received the World Wide Fund for Nature National Award for developing an AI-based application to detect invasive plant species in Kerala. The application, Neophyte ID, is a mobile tool that identifies invasive plants by analyzing images captured by users. It is powered by the YOLOv11 (You Only Look Once version 11) machine learning model, enabling real-time object detection. The app can identify around 100 invasive plant species found in Kerala.

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Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He is a former Union Minister who served as Railway Minister and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. His appointment marks a departure from the usual practice of appointing Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers to such diplomatic posts. It reflects India’s strategic emphasis on strengthening ties with Bangladesh through political-level engagement.

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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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Dr Bhaskar Jyoti Sonowal from Assam has been elected President of the BRICS Entrepreneurs Alliance (BEA) Global Forum for the 2026–27 term. This marks a significant step in strengthening India’s role within the BRICS+ economic framework. He currently serves as CEO and Executive Director of BEA India. His leadership comes as India prepares to host the BEA Global Summit in November 2026. The appointment aims to boost cross-border trade, global partnerships, and MSME opportunities. It is expected to enhance market access for Indian entrepreneurs and promote inclusive global trade.

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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.