Who Presents award to Mumbai's BEST for excellence in smart mobility?

Awards - General Knowledge Questions

CII

IAMAI

NASSCOM

FICCI

Correct Answer : FICCI

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India, has awarded the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking top honours in the 'Smart Mobility' category for BEST's transformation towards progressive mobility, an official statement from the BEST said on Tuesday (30th May 2023).

Reason : Pioneering efforts in adopting green and sustainable practices.

It said that the BEST has been working on their transformation for 2 years, as below:

1. 10.000 Electric Buses - Convert the entire fleet to electric and grow it to 10,000 buses to meet global standards. The fleet will double from 3,219 to 7,000 by 2023 and grow to 10,000 by 2026.

2. 100 per cent Renewable Energy - The entire fleet will be powered by renewable solar energy. The 700 MW of solar energy needed for this has already been procured. In addition, 330 public EV charging points are also being set up to encourage citizens to migrate to electric vehicles.

3. Digital Tickets on NCMC and BEST Chalo App - BEST's digital tickets initiative has been India's most successful ever. The app offers mobile tickets, passes, live tracking and live seat status, and is used by 1 in 3 bus passengers daily. BEST has also launched India's first National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) ever launched by any city/state bus utility.

4. 100 per cent Digital Buses - BEST operates India's first 100 per cent digital buses where passengers use the BEST mobile app or card to 'tap-in' and 'tap-out' themselves.

5. Premium Buses - BEST launched India's first app-based premium city bus services with specially designed luxury buses. These buses connect business and residential hubs, and operate 'Airport Express Buses' to improve connectivity to Mumbai airport, India's second-largest airport

6. First And Last Mile Services - BEST is the world's first bus transport undertaking to introduce e-scooters at bus stops for last mile connectivity. 1,000 e-scooters have already been deployed at 200 points, and this will grow to 5,000 e-scooters in 2023.

7. Mobility-As-A-Service (MaaS) - The entire passenger experience has been digitised. All these services are available on a single platform on the BEST Chalo App, to ensure seamless and hassle-free door-to-door journeys. BEST is the first in India to implement MaaS philosophy.

Results- 55 per cent increase in ridership, path to financial sustainability..

Source : mid-day

Published On : May 31, 2023

Recent Updates in Awards - General Knowledge Questions

Q .

Who Wins Prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize 2024?

Dinesh Kabra

Varun Bhalerao

Alok Shukla

Kantimay Das Gupta

Correct Answer : Alok Shukla

Alok Shukla, a renowned environmental activist and convenor of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, has been selected for the prestigious 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize. Also known as the “Green Nobel Prize,” this annual award honours grassroots environmental champions worldwide for their outstanding contributions to environmental protection.

Winners of the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize :

This year, seven people from six inhabited regions of the globe have been selected for the annual Goldman Environmental Prize. They are :

Serial no.	Winner	Country	Region
1	Marcel Gomes	Brazil	South and Central America
2	Murrawah Maroochy Johnson	Australia	Islands & Island Nations
3	Alok Shukla	India	Asia
4	Teresa Vicente	Spain	Europe
5	Andrea Vidaurre	United States of America	North America
6	Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu	South Africa	Africa

Protecting the Hasdeo Arand Forest :

Shukla’s recognition stems from his relentless efforts to safeguard the Hasdeo Arand Forest, considered the lungs of Chhattisgarh. In 2010, the government auctioned two coal blocks in this area to private companies for mining. To counter this threat, Shukla founded the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti and mobilized local tribal communities.

Through sustained activism and pressure, Shukla succeeded in compelling the government to reverse its policy of auctioning 21 proposed coal mines in the Hasdeo Aranya area, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the proposed auction in 2022.

Global Recognition for Environmental Leadership :

The Goldman Environmental Prize, established in 1989 by American couple Richard and Rhoda Goldman, aims to honor grassroots environmental leaders, draw international attention to environmental problems, and encourage action. This year, seven individuals from six inhabited regions of the globe have been selected for the prestigious award.

Previous Indian Winners :

Alok Shukla joins the ranks of seven previous Indian recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize, including renowned activists like Medha Patkar (1992), M.C. Mehta (1996), Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla (2004), Ramesh Agarwal (2014), and Prafulla Samantara (2017). These remarkable individuals have fought tirelessly for environmental justice, land rights, and sustainable development across various parts of India.

Grassroots Environmental Activism :

The Goldman Environmental Prize defines grassroots leaders as individuals involved in local efforts where positive change is created through community or citizen participation. Shukla’s recognition highlights the critical role played by grassroots activism in protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for future generations.

As Alok Shukla receives this prestigious award, his efforts serve as an inspiration for environmental champions around the world, reminding us of the power of collective action and the importance of protecting our planet’s precious ecosystems.

Published On : April 30, 2024

Category : Awards

Q .

Who has been named the regional winner for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at the prestigious 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards?

Gina Justus

Chris Como

Sean Foley

Cameron Mccormick

Correct Answer : Gina Justus

Gina Justus, a teacher at Our Own English High School, Sharjah Girls’ Branch, has been named the regional winner for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.

Justus, originally from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has been working in the UAE since 2005 and was recognised for her outstanding mentorship and dedication to charity.This year’s competition saw a record-breaking number of nominations, with over 14,840 submissions from 141 countries.

The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards is a global competition that honors exceptional primary and secondary school teachers. Students, parents, and peers can nominate teachers who have made a significant impact on their educational journey.

In its sixth year, the competition emphasizes the crucial role teachers serve in molding the lives of their students and equipping them for the global stage.The public will now vote to determine the overall winner of the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards, which will be announced on May 29th, 2024..

Source : AIR

Published On : April 29, 2024

Category : Awards

Q .

Who Award-Winning Photograph at World Press Photo 2024?

Ahmed zakot

Hassan Eslaiah

Evelyn Hockstein

Mohammed Salem

Correct Answer : Mohammed Salem

Mohammed Salem is a Palestinian photographer who works for the news agency Reuters. In 2024, he won a very important award called the World Press Photo of the Year award.

The Award and the Winning Photo

* The World Press Photo award is a prestigious international competition for photojournalists (photographers who capture news events).

* Salem won for his extremely powerful photograph taken in Gaza on October 17, 2023.

* The photo shows a Palestinian woman named Inas Abu Maamar, 36 years old, holding the dead body of her 5-year-old niece Saly.

* Inas is crying and hugging Saly’s body which is wrapped in a white sheet. The photo was taken in a hospital morgue in Gaza after Israeli bombing.

Why the Photo Won

* The judging committee said Salem’s photo was carefully composed (arranged) and showed deep respect for the tragic scene.

* They felt the image gave both a literal and metaphorical (symbolic) look at the unimaginable loss and devastation caused by war, especially to innocent children.

* The photo captures the harsh human impact and suffering that armed conflicts inflict on civilians.

Honouring Journalists in Conflict Zones

* In announcing the award, organizers highlighted the risks journalists face when covering wars and violence.

* An alarming 99 journalists were killed in 2023 while reporting on the fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

* Judges wanted to recognize the trauma and sacrifices made by photographers documenting these dangerous situations.

Salem’s Perspective

* Salem, who is 39 years old, has worked for Reuters covering Gaza since 2003.

* About his winning photo, he said: “People were confused, running around looking for loved ones after the bombing. This woman holding her dead niece’s body captured what was happening.”

* He hopes the award and publishing this image globally will make people more aware of the innocent lives lost in war.

The World Press Photo competition had over 61,000 entries from 3,851 photographers across 130 countries in 2024. Salem’s haunting yet respectful photograph gave a window into the devastation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a singularly heart-wrenching scene of grief.

Published On : April 23, 2024

Category : Awards