Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh has been awarded the country’s prestigious HUDCO Award (2022-2023).

The award was presented by Manoj Joshi, secretary, ministry of housing and urban affairs, government of India, to Neha Sharma, state mission director, Uttar Pradesh, during a programme organised on the 53rd Foundation Day of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO), in New Delhi, on Tuesday (25th April 2023).

* This award has been given in the Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment 2022-23 category for cleanliness. An amount of ₹1 lakh was also given to the UP government as part of the award.

* This campaign was conducted by the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh from January 14 to 24. In this, 75 tourist and historical places of the state were included. Special cleanliness drives were conducted at these places.

* Through activities like Nukkad Natak, puppet show, plog run inside the site, the general public was involved in cleaning ghats, ponds, markets and other commercial areas. This 10-day campaign concluded with Gau Puja on January 24, the day of UP Foundation Day. More than 11 lakh people across the state participated in this campaign.

* Entries were received from across the country for the prestigious award. After several rounds of testing, the jury board selected the ‘Swachh Virasat’ campaign for field visits. A team of Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited, Lucknow Regional Office, also inspected several sites including Imambara, Residency in Lucknow on April 3...

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Asha Bhosle

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be felicitated with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, the Mangeshkar family announced on Tuesday (April 18, 2023).

* The family and the trust instituted the award in the memory of Lata Mangeshkar, who died on February 6, 2022, following multiple organ failure.

* Bhosle, the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, will receive the recognition on April 24, the Memorial Day of their father and theatre-music veteran Deenanath Mangeshkar.

* This award, known as the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar, is given every year to an individual who has made a path-breaking contribution towards the nation, its people and society.

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi was its first recipient..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Deepika Misra

Wing Commander Deepika Misra on Thursday (20th April 2023) became the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to be presented a gallantry award.

* According to an IAF, Wing Commander Misra, a helicopter pilot who hails from Rajasthan, was conferred a Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for an act of "exceptional courage" displayed during a flood relief operation in Madhya Pradesh.

* IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari presented the Yudh Seva Medal and other awards to several officers and air warriors at an Investiture Ceremony held at the Air Force Auditorium in Subroto Park here.

* While two IAF officers were awarded Yudh Seva Medal, 13 officers, and air warriors received Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 13 officers Vayu Sena Medal and 30 Vishisht Seva Medal, the spokesperson said.

* A total of 58 persons, 57 from the IAF and one from the Army received the awards, he said.

* For devotion to service, women from the IAF have received awards in the past, but this is the first time that a gallantry award has been conferred on a woman officer of the IAF, he added.

* According to information shared by the IAF, Wing Commander Misra was "detailed to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in response to flash floods" in northern Madhya Pradesh in August 2021.

* The rescue operation that included low hover pick-ups and winching lasted for an exhaustive eight days and she saved the lives of 47 people, including women and children...

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Utsa Patnaik

Utsa Patnaik, a renowned economist of national and international repute, has been selected for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.

* The award is given every year by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust. The prestigious national award honours outstanding social scientists selected by a national-level jury specially constituted for this purpose, from the nominations received.

* This year (2023), the jury unanimously selected Prof. Utsa Patnaik.

* The award will be given with a citation and a prize money of ₹2 lakh at a function to be held in Chennai. The date of this event will be announced shortly by the Trust..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari

Union HM Amit Shah has presented the Maharashtra Bhushan Award for 2022 to Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Raigarh, Maharashtra.

* He has played a significant role in organizing several tree plantation drives, blood donation drives, free medical clinics, and job fairs.

* Award : A shawl, citation and memento, and a cheque of Rs 25 lakh.

* He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.

* His father Dr. Narayan Vishnu Dharmadhikari was also awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan in 2008. .

Source : D C

Correct Answer :   Kumar Mangalam Birla

Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla has received the AIMA's  Business Leader of the Decade Award 2023.

* Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M Scindia has presented the 13th AIMA Managing India Awards.

* AIMA JRD Tata Corporate Leadership : TV Narendran, CEO and MD of Tata Steel

* Transformational Business Leader : Sanjiv Bajaj, MD of Bajaj Finserv

* Outstanding Institution Builder : Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor.

Source : Business World

Correct Answer :   Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare

* On April 11th 2023 Shri Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare, also known as Appa, the founder of Jijau Educational and Social Foundation or Sanstha, was awarded the “Maratha Udyog Ratna” in the “Maratha Entrepreneurs Conference 2023” organized by the “Maratha Entrepreneurs Development and Guidance Institute Maharashtra State.” 2023″ at Mahakavi Kalidas Kalamandir, Nashik.

* Shri Nilesh Sambare (Appa), who has made an impression of his work in remote areas like Palghar, has done many jobs in the industry field through his tireless work. Due to his hard work and determination to work for society, he has created a respectable position in the industry.

* Sambare Sir’s achievements in the field of industry are very remarkable and inspiring to all. Therefore, Shri Nilesh Sambare was honored with the “Maratha Udyog Ratna 2023” award on behalf of the eminent entrepreneurs of Maharashtra to keep his work in the industry field.

* Dignitaries like entrepreneurs Mr. Suresh Havere, Mr. Purushottam Khedekar, Mr. Nirmalkumar Deshmukh, Dr. Sachin Bhadane (Central Secretary, Ministry of Finance), and Mr. Vijay Ghogare (Chief Engineer, Water Resources) and famous entrepreneurs of Maharashtra were present in this award ceremony.

* Jijau Sanstha has been providing education, health, employment, and agriculture through self-earning for the past 14 years without taking any donations. Two medical camps are conducted daily through the Jijau Institute; Jijau has a well-equipped hospital providing free treatment.

* Palghar district has 8 CBSE schools for education. There are 43 competitive examination libraries, and various activities on employment, agriculture, and women empowerment are run by the organization free of cost.

* Jijau Sanstha also runs 20 Police Academies and serves 10 Free Ambulance Services every day. Nileshji Sambare winning this award is like showcasing the certificate of humanity.

Correct Answer :   Bharat Biotech

Bharat Biotech has won the `Best Production /Process Development’ award as part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards at the World Vaccine Congress 2023.

* The Congress was held during 3rd April to 6th April 2023 in Washington, USA.

* Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech was the only Indian company in the list of VIE awards in various categories, including best clinical trial company, best clinical trial network, best central/specialty laboratory award, best contract research organisation, best production/process development award, among others.

* Bharat Biotech is the world’s first producer of intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, iNcovacc. Its intramuscular  vaccine, Covaxin, is part of India’s public vaccination programme and was also exported...

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Dr. Nitya Abraham

An Indian-American physician and professor "Dr.Nitya Abraham" has been honoured with the 2023 Young Urologist of the Year Award conferred by the American Urological Association (AUA).

* Dr.Nitya Abraham is an Associate Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Program Director for the Montefiore Urology residency programme.

* Abraham said in a statement that at a time when rates of physician burnout are increasing, "it is wonderful that the American Urological Association and its leaders are recognising the hard work of many young urologists across the country."

* Established by the 2012-2013 American Urological Association (AUA) Young Urologists Committee (YUC) Chair Dr.Michael C.Ost, the Young Urologist of the Year Award is presented annually to select early-career AUA members in recognition of their efforts and commitment to advancing the development of fellow young urologists, the organisation said.

* Abraham is among members selected by their colleagues who serve on the Young Urologists Committee and endorsed by their respective Section/Society to receive the special honour for 2023.

* Abraham has been chosen from the New York region for her accomplishments and contributions.

* Abraham has mentored countless students, residents, fellows and junior faculty both at her institution and others in the New York region.

* She serves as the Chair of the Executive Curriculum Committee for Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

* She is a member of the Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Young Urologists Committee and social media committee.

Other honorees : Rena Malik, Jesse D. Sammon, Sarah Vij, Alexander J.Ernest, Kerri Thurmon, Zachary Klaassen, and Yahir Santiago- Lastra..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Kiran Nadar

Philanthropist and art collector Kiran Nadar was recently conferred “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain in April 2023.

* The highest French civilian award comes in recognition of Nadar’s outstanding contribution in the field of art, her commitment to providing greater access to culture both nationally and internationally, and her leading role in fostering Indo-French cultural ties.

* Nadar, chairperson of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) — a philanthropic initiative in art — and a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation has played a vital role in advancing Indo-French cultural ties, and artistic cooperation.

* It is an absolute privilege for me to be conferred ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur’ and I am deeply grateful to the French Government for this great honour.

* KNMA has a longstanding relationship with France in the cultural space. Our partnership with France has been instrumental in bringing together diverse perspectives and promoting cultural exchange,” said Nadar in a statement.

* In 2022, KNMA joined hands with Alkazi Foundation, and the French Institute in India to create “Converges”, the largest exhibition of original pictures from French photographers ever shown in India...

Source : Indian Express