Awards - General Knowledge Questions

Correct Answer :   Salman Rushdie

* British-American author, Salman Rushdie has been selected for the prestigious German Peace Prize 2023 for his literary work and his resolve and positive attitude in the face of constant danger.

* He would receive the award in Frankfurt on October 22, 2023.

* Cash prize: €25,000 ($27,300)

* This prize was established in 1950 to recognize a personality committed to serving international understanding between nations and cultures through their work..

Source : DW

Correct Answer :   Gandhi Peace Prize

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur. The Jury headed by the Prime Minister took the unanimous decision 18th June 2023.

* The award will be given to Gita Press in recognition of its outstanding contribution to social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

* Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of world’s largest publishers, having published over 41 crore books in 14 languages, including over 16 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.

* The award given by Ministry of Culture, Gandhi Peace Prize carries an amount of one crore rupees, a citation and a plaque.

* Prime Minister Modi congratulated Gita Press, Gorakhpur. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, Gita Press have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Arundhati Roy

Writer and activist, Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement on the occasion of the French translation of her latest essay, 'Azadi'.

* The French translation 'Liberte, fascisme, fiction' appeared in the leading French publishing group, Gallimard.

* The chant of 'Azadi!' (Urdu for Freedom!) is the slogan of the freedom struggle. "It also became the chant of millions on the streets of India against the project of Hindu nationalism."

* The award ceremony will take place on September 12 at the Lausanne Palace.

* At the award ceremony, Arundhati Roy will discuss the environment and globalization, caste and language..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Jagdeep Dhankhar

The Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar will confer the 4th National Water Awards on 17th June, 2023 at an award distribution ceremony being organised at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

By the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD &GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The Department has announced a total of 41 winners, including joint winners, for the 4th National Water Awards, 2022, covering 11 categories. Each award winner will be conferred with a citation and a trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories.

* The 1st Prize for the Best State will be conferred on Madhya Pradesh;

* Best District will be conferred on Ganjam District, Odisha;

* Best Village Panchayat will be conferred on Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana;

* Best Urban Local Body will be conferred on Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh;

* Best Media will be conferred on Advance Water Digest Private Limited Gurugram, Haryana;

* Best School will be conferred on Jamiyatpura Primary School, Mehsana, Gujarat;

* Best Institution for Campus usage will be conferred on Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir;

* Best Industry will be conferred on Barauni Thermal Power Station, Begusarai, Bihar;

* Best NGO will be conferred on Arpan Seva Sansthan, Udaipur, Rajasthan;

* Best Water User Association will be conferred on the Sanjeevani Piyat Sahkari Mandli Ltd, Narmada, Gujarat;

* Best Industry for CSR Activities will be conferred on HCL Technologies Ltd., Noida, Uttar Pradesh..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Shaktikanta Das

The chief of the Reserve Bank of India, Shaktikanta Das was honoured with the title of ‘Governor of the Year’ for 2023 by Central Banking in London. Central Banking is an international economic research journal.

Reason : The award recognised his role as the RBI chief in managing inflation and skilfully handling India's banking system during crises like COVID pandemic and global turmoils.

* The RBI governor is behind critical reforms, and has ensured smooth management of world-leading payments innovation and led India through difficult times, said the organisers.

* He was recommended for the award by the publication in March 2023. He was awarded the title for his leadership of the central bank during global turmoil and tough situations.

* He managed India's central bank, and ultimately the whole banking system with finesse during COVID-19 pandemic, significant non-banking companies, Russia-Ukraine war, etc.

* He is the second RBI governor after Raghuram Rajan, who was honored with this title in 2015.

* While the National Bank of Ukraine was presented with the 2023 Central Bank of the Year..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Haryana

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday (12th June 2023) announced a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 for the Padma awardees from the state.

Besides the monthly pension, the chief minister has also announced a free travel facility in the 'Volvo bus' service of the state government for Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardees from Haryana.

The chief minister made this announcement during his visit to Karnal, an official statement said.

Meanwhile, Khattar said the government has formulated various welfare policies to make life easier for the people of the state.

"People are getting direct benefits from the schemes in our government. Now the assistance amount (under various schemes) goes directly to the beneficiary's account," he said.

The chief minister said that the state government is giving the benefit of health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh to families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh.

“The government is also considering including the families in this scheme whose annual income is also between Rs 1.80 lakh and Rs 3 lakh by taking some premium amount to give them a benefit of up to Rs 5 lakh,” he added.

Khattar said after the implementation of the family ID card scheme -- Parivar Pehchan Patra -- 12.5 lakh new Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards have been made in the state.

People have appreciated the merit-based job system started by the present government and it has brought transparency against the 'parchi-kharchi' (favouritism-bribe) system which prevailed earlier, he said..

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Ramachandra Guha

Historian and writer Ramchandra Guha’s book Rebels Against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom has won the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023.

Guha has been awarded £5,000 (₹5 lakhs approximately) and a bound copy of Elizabeth Longford’s memoir, The Pebbled Shore.

The jury was chaired by Roy Foster. The judging committee also included Antonia Fraser and Flora Fraser (daughter and granddaughter of Longford respectively), Richard Davenport-Hines and Rana Mitter.

The Bengaluru-based historian’s book tells the story of seven foreigners — four British, Two American, and one Irish — who joined India’s freedom fight against British rule. The list of names includes Annie Besant, B.G. Horniman, Philip Spratt, Richard Ralph Keithahn, Samuel Stokes, Madeline Slade, and Catherine Mary Heilemann.

Jury’s praise :
* Roy Foster, the jury chair, commented on the book. “From an immensely strong field, the judges have chosen a book where the author’s deep empathy and impressive scholarship are lit up by a passionate regard for his subjects.

* Ramachandra Guha’s Rebels Against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom profiles seven people from Britain, America, and Ireland who adopted India’s struggle for independence and, in doing so, found their own destinies. The experience of India changed their ideologies, their spirituality, and often their names.”

* Stokes, Slade, and Heilemann had changed their names to Satyanand, Miran Behn and Sarala Beh, respectively after arriving in India..

Source : Thehindu

Correct Answer :   Paterson Joseph

Author Paterson Joseph was announced as the  winner of the 2023 Royal Society of Literature (RSL) Christopher Bland Prize for his debut novel 'The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho' on June 8, 2023.

This book is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was the first Black man to vote in England.

RSL Christopher Bland Prize :

* The RSL Christopher Bland Prize is an annual award that is given to a debut writer for their work of fiction or non-fiction, who is first published at the age of 50 or over.

* The winner receives a prize money of £10,000.

* This is the fifth year of the award.

'The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho' is a historical fiction novel that tells the lesser-known story of Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was the first Black man to vote in England.

The story was initially written and performed by Joseph as a one-man show in 2018..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Jagdish S Bakan

IFS officer Jagdish S Bakan who won the prestigious Michel Batisse award 2023 for biosphere reserve management from UNESCO was lauded by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday (6th June 2023) for his remarkable achievement.

* The 2017 batch officer of the Indian Forest Service is currently the director of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.

* The USD 12,000 award is given in memory of Dr Michel Batisse for outstanding achievement in the management of biosphere reserves in line with the recommendations of the Seville Strategy.

* Bakan will receive the award from UNESCO in Paris on June 14, 2023,  to present his case study at the award ceremony..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Suriname

President Droupadi Murmu held restricted talks and delegation-level talks with Surinam President Chandrikapersad Santokhi on Monday (5th June 2023).

Three MoUs in Health and Agriculture sectors were signed between India and the Republic of Suriname in Paramaribo.

* These MoUs include a Joint Work Plan for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors for the period of 2023-2027;

* An MoU between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and the Health Ministry of Suriname for recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeial standards; and an MoU between Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Ministry of Health of Suriname on cooperation in the field of Medical products regulations.

* On a three-day visit to Suriname, as President Droupadi Murmu arrived at the Presidential Palace, she was received by the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. The National Anthems of both India and Suriname were played upon her arrival.

* The first lady of Suriname, Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry, was also present at the occasion.

* The first Indians came to Suriname on 5th of June 1873, as indentured labourers. They arrived via the sea route, in the vessel Lalla Rookh.

* Today, a re-enactment of that historic moment was presented before President Murmu.

* President Murmu also inaugurated a simulated village that showcases how the Indian diaspora has conserved their culture in Suriname. Paying her respect to the immigrated community, President Murmu garlanded the statues of Baba & Mai.

* The monument depicts a man and a woman who had just arrived in Suriname, after a long journey from Calcutta. It is a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by immigrants and their resilience.

* Later in the day, President Murmu will witness the Ceremonial procession from the balcony of the Presidential Palace..

Source : AIR