Awards - General Knowledge Questions

Correct Answer :   Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (22nd Sep 2023) announced that Biswanath Ghat has been selected as the Best Tourism Village of India 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism.

Sarma added, “Selected from amongst 791 applications from 31 States and UTs, Biswanath Ghat’s selection reflects the huge efforts that our Govt has taken in promoting rural tourism in Assam.”

Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, Biswanath Ghat is also popularly known as ‘Gupta Kashi’ and is named after the ancient Biswanath Mandir. The village is located towards the south of Biswanath Charialii Town.

Happy to share that Biswanath Ghat has been selected as the Best Tourism Village of India 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism.

Selected from amongst 791 applications from 31 States & UTs, Biswanath Ghat's selection reflects the huge efforts that our Govt have taken in promoting… pic.twitter.com/kH0ukTFhOA

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 22, 2023

The ghat boasts a cluster of temples of different gods. Additionally, a Shiva temple was also situated at the confluence of Bridhaganga (Burigonga) River with the Brahmaputra. But now what is left of it are just some ruins. During summer, this temple remains underwater. It is only during winter that tourists throng the spot and worship by constructing a temporary shed.

Though it is a religious place, Biswanath Ghat makes for a perfect tourist destination during the winter. According to the official website, the best time to visit is from the months of October to April. Tourists avoid the monsoon season because of the torrential, unpredictable downpours that can mar your day. The winter season is comfortable with temperatures ranging from 12 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Rahul Mishra

* Rahul Mishra received the French government's Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres honor 2023.

* This award was previously won by his compatriots Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, and Wendell Rodricks.

* His works that highlight the highest standards and craft of local artisans in India have been shown at prestigious fashion weeks in Paris, Milan, and Mumbai..

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   Najma Akhtar

Professor Najma Akhtar, the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award-Academia 2023.

The award was presented by Padma Vibhushan awardee Raghunath Anant Mashelkar at the Grand Conference and Award Function titled "Making India Employable" organized by TeamLease EdTech.

Jamia Millia Islamia University mentioned in its press release, “A strong jury panel comprising of educationists and industry experts selected her for the award for her great efforts to connect education to employment.”

The ‘ Making India Employable' Awards are organized to celebrate individual success, innovation, and real-world impact in the field of education, employability, and skilling. “These awards are bestowed on the very best of the best who showcase exemplary contributions towards the common goal of Making India Employable.”.

Source : Collegedunia

Correct Answer :   12

Country’s top annual science prize, Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Awards were announced 11th Sep 2023 after a gap of two years.

This year 12 scientists will get the awards in seven categories. Dr.N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR announced the awards for the year 2022 in the presence of Union Minister for Science and technology Dr Jitendra Singh.

Named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR, these awards are given every in seven scientific disciplines - physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences.

Speaking On this occasion Union Minister for Science and technology Dr Jitendra Singh said that recent G20 summit became a point to showcase India's tecnological capabilities and it's economic strength.

Launching the One Week One Lab program of CSIR-  National Institute of Science Communication and Policy research, The Minister who is also vice President of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR said that It's time to tell the world what we are doing in the field of science for the public good..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Satyajit Majumdar

Mumbai Professor Satyajit Majumdar, dean of School of Management and Labour Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), will receive the ‘Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023 for Entrepreneurship Trainer, Educator and Mentor’ on 6 September 2023 for his work in promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship in India.

Dr Patel is widely acknowledged as the Father of Entrepreneurship Movement in India.

Majumdar’s name was chosen among 400 applicants from 26 states by a jury nominated by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad.

Over the last two decades, Majumdar 63, has played an important role in the development of entrepreneurship, especially in the social sector. Along with his team, he has mentored more than 350 startups, including 40 in Jammu and Kashmir and group startups in Jhabua, West Bengal.

“Despite thinking about major investments in the startups, we put focus on providing livelihood for the locals,” said Majumdar.

Since joining TISS in 2010, Majumdar’s main role has been to build an ecosystem for entrepreneurship. In 2012, TISS started a separate entrepreneurship cell under his leadership. “Our major focus has always been on tribal and hilly areas of the country. We tie up with local organisations to help the youth.

Apart from this, our focus is on sustainable development while selecting the themes of startups. For instance, one startup incubated at TISS is currently working in the waste management sector. We have more examples like this,” Majumdar added. Majumdar will donate the award money of ₹1 lakh to TISS Incube Foundation, incubation centre of TISS, Mumbai.

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   P V Satyanarayana

Dr P.V. Satyanarayana, principal scientist at the Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (Angrau), Ragolu, AP was presented 8th Dr M.S. Swaminathan award.

The award was presented at an event at the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) on Sunday (3rd Sep 2023). It includes a cash prize of `2 lakh and a gold medal.

Dr Satyanarayana received the award in recognition for his contribution to the development of high-yielding rice varieties that exhibit resilience against pests and environmental challenges, including BPH, BLB, Blast, submergence, and salinity.

He has also contributed to fine-grain varieties and hybrid rice that have revolutionized agriculture across India..

Source : Deccan Chronicle

Correct Answer :   Shanta Thoutam

Telangana Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) Dr Shanta Thoutam received the World Innovation Award at the first BRICS Innovation Forum hosted in Moscow from August 27 to 29, 2023.

The award is given for outstanding contribution to the Sustainable Development Goal-4 that ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong opportunities for all. 

The award, organised by World Organisation for Development, an international NGO with special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, honours leaders from the developing world that have made an outstanding personal contribution to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG).

Dr Thoutam as one of the panelists in the Cloud City Conference, spoke about the pathbreaking initiatives and achievements of Telangana in the space of open data, digital innovation, and urban development.

She also highlighted about the Command Control Center in Hyderabad on ensuring the citizens’ security by analysing visual data captured from 1 lakh CCTV cameras, and Open Data Portal that hosts data sets in the public domain leading to a transparency in the working of the government and triggering innovative solutions from various stakeholders.

As a part of the second panel discussion on nomadic career and learning from international working experience, she spoke about the advantages in the form of local talent choosing to stay back and contribute to the social sector because of a stable, dynamic, and ever-aspiring local government.

While she had completed seven years of her service in the innovation ecosystem of Telangana starting with the role of Vice President at T-Hub, then Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for State Handlooms and Textiles Department, and currently serving as the first woman CIO, Dr Thoutam dedicated the award to IT Minister K.T Rama Rao and extended her gratitude to Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary to ITE&C for encouraging her to take up the role of CIO.

Source : Deccan Chronicle

Correct Answer :   Allu Arjun

69th National Film Awards Announcement Live Updates : The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced at 5 pm on Thursday (24th August 2023).

While Allu Arjun bagged the Best Actor award for the film Pushpa : The Rise, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon shared the award for Best Actress for the films Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi respectively.

Rocketry : The Nambi Effect won the award for Best Feature Film. The Kashmir Files won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration at the 69th National Film Awards.

Shoojit Sircar’s biographical historical drama Sardar Udham won several awards at the 69th National Film Awards. Apart from being named the Best Hindi Film, it also bagged Best Cinematography (Avik Mukhopadhyay), Best Audiography (Sinoy Joseph), Best Production Design (Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta) and Best Costume Design (Veera Kapur Ee) awards.

National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honour the best filmmaking talent across the country. According to the Directorate of Film Festivals of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Film Awards “aim at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.”


Other awards :

* Best Feature Film: Rocketry
* Best Director: Nikhil Mahajan (Godavari)
* Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: RRR
* Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration: The Kashmir Files.

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Raj Chetty

Indian-American economist Raj Chetty has been awarded Harward University's coveted George Ledlie Prize for wielding big data to break myths about who achieves the American Dream and the obstacles faced by others.

Chetty, a professor of Economics at Harvard University is also director of Opportunity Insights, a group of economists based at Harvard who study inequality. He had also advised US President Joe Biden on economic issues.

Harward University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Alan M. Garber said that Chetty's groundbreaking work on economic mobility and his efforts to share this data with policymakers are making the American Dream more accessible to all.

The award is bestowed every two years to a member of the Harvard community who has made the most valuable contribution to science, or in any way for the benefit of mankind, the university said on August 9, 2023.

Correct Answer :   76

President Smt Droupadi Murmu has given her approval for 76 Gallantry awards to members of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the occasion of Independence Day 2023.

Among these honors are four Kirti Chakra awards (awarded posthumously), 11 Shaurya Chakra awards (including five posthumous), two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 52 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

Additionally, the President has sanctioned 30 Mention-in-Despatches awards to Army personnel, including a posthumous award for Army dog Madhu, and one for an Air Force member.

These recognitions acknowledge their significant contributions in various military operations, such as Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Casualty Evacuation, Operation Mount Chomo, Operation Pangsau Pass, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Kalisham Valley, Rescue Operation, and Operation Evacuation.

Following is the list of Gallantry awards approved by the President :

KIRTI CHAKRA :

SHAURYA CHAKRA :

BAR TO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) :

NAO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) :

VAYU SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) :