Correct Answer :   Sivasankari

Tamil writer Sivasankari will be awarded the Saraswati Samman 2022 for her 2019 memoir Surya Vamsam, the KK Birla Foundation announced on Wednesday (15th Mar 2023).

* The Saraswati Samman is one of the three literary awards instituted by the foundation in 1991. It is the highest recognition in the field of Indian literature in the country and carries a cash prize of ₹15 lakh, a plaque and a citation.

* Sivasankari’s literary career spans over five decades. She is the author of 36 novels, 48 novellas, 150 short stories, 15 travelogues, seven collections of essays and three biographies, including one on former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

* In a statement, the foundation said that the memoir, Surya Vamsam, which means daughter of a blazing sun, is unique among all of Sivasankari’s works. It reads like an account of a journey of a celebratory writer and excels in establishing an intimate and emotional bond with the readers.

* Besides Surya Vamsam, Sivasankari’s four volume ‘Knit India Through Literature’ is one of her greatest contributions to Indian literature. It presents the outlook of literary legends in 18 languages through various interviews and insights through their stories..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Shaktikanta Das

* The Reserve Bank of India Governor, Shaktikanta Das has been awarded the title 'Governor of the Year' for 2023 by Central Banking, an international economic research journal.

* Das was commended by the publication for his unwavering leadership during difficult periods, such as the failure of a significant non-banking company, the COVID-19 pandemic's initial and second waves, and the inflationary effects caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

* This is the second time that an Indian central bank governor has received this award, with Raghuram Rajan being the previous winner in 2015.

* Das's leadership at RBI was instrumental in implementing crucial reforms, innovative payment systems, and growth-oriented measures during the pandemic.

* He skillfully navigated between political pressures and economic crises, earning praise for his efforts.

* Das ensured that most of the RBI's COVID-19 interventions had a "sunset clause" and provided targeted liquidity to vital sectors, foreign exchange, and state governments with more favourable overdraft facilities.

* The National Bank of Ukraine was also awarded the Central Bank of the Year award.

* However, given Das's leadership during a time of crisis and his significant contributions to India's economic reforms, he was deemed a deserving recipient of the coveted Governor of the Year award...

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Perumal Murugan

Indian author Perumal Murugan's Tamil novel ‘Pyre' is among 13 books from across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America to make it to the longlist of the International Booker Prize 2023, announced by the Booker Prize Foundation here on Tuesday (14th March 2023)

Murugan, 56, makes it to the prestigious list with his 2016 book "Pyre", translated from Tamil by Aniruddhan Vasudevan, becoming the first Tamil writer to make it to the longlist of 13 works.

"Pyre", tells the tale of an intercaste couple who elope, setting in motion a story of terrifying foreboding.

The coveted literary prize, won last year by Geetanjali Shree and translator Daisy Rockwell for the first-ever Hindi novel ‘Tomb of Sand', is awarded annually for a work of fiction written originally in any language, translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.

The GBP 50,000 prize money is shared between the writer and translator of the winning work, which will be declared this year (2023) on May 23.

Murugan, based in Salem in Tamil Nadu, described "Pyre" as a very important book of his..

Source : Mathru Bhumi

Correct Answer :   Naatu Naatu

RRR’s Naatu Naatu has created history by winning the prestigious Academy Awards 2023 in the Best Original song category.

The 95th Academy Awards saw India win two trophies. The Best Original Song was won by RRR’s Naatu Naatu.

As MM Keeravaani and Chandrabose picked the trophy, the music composer sang a song dedicating his award to India.

While India's The Elephant Whisperers (directed by Kartiki Gonsalves) The Elephant Whisperers won the award for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 95th Academy Awards.

Best Actress : Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Best Actor : Brendan Fraser (The Whale)..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Sasi Kumar Ramachandran

Ms Sipra Das was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award. Professional Photographer of the year Award was given to "Shri Sasi Kumar Ramachandran while Shri Arun Saha won the Amateur Photographer of the Year award.

* A total of thirteen awards were presented during the ceremony today including 6 each in the Professional and Amateur category. The theme for the Professional category was “Life and Water”, while in the Amateur category the theme was “Cultural Heritage of India”.

* Speaking on the occasion, at the very onset, Dr Murugan congratulated all the award winners and acknowledged that the winners come from diverse professional backgrounds but what binds them is their passion for photography. These awards recognize the extraordinary talent and outstanding capabilities of these photographers, he added.

Winners of the 8th National Photography Awards :

* Lifetime Achievement Award : Ms Sipra Das

* Professional Photographer of the Year Award : Shri Sasi Kumar Ramachandran

* Special Mention Awards in the Professional category

* Amateur Photographer of the Year Award : Shri Arun Saha

* Special Mention Awards in the Amateur category
Members of the Jury for 8th National Photography Awards :

* Shri Vijay Kranti, Chairman
* Shri Jagdish Yadav, Member
* Shri Ajay Aggarwal, Member
* Shri K. Madhavan Pillai, Member
* Ms. Ashima Narain, Member, and
* Shri Sanjiv Misra, Photographic Officer, Photo Division, Member Secretary..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   NTPC

NTPC Limited,  has been honoured with the CBIP Award 2022 for ‘Outstanding Contribution in Power Generation’, attributed to its Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station, the largest power station in the country for its efficiency and high level of generation.

* The award presented by Shri R.K. Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, New & R.E, Govt. of India was received by Shri Ramesh Babu V, Director (Operations) and Shri Praveen Saxena, Regional Executive Director ( NR), Shri Suvash Chandra Naik, Executive Director (Vindhyachal) was also present at the Scope Convention Centre, New Delhi, on the occasion of the CBIP Day.

* NTPC stands committed to generating power responsibly and sustainably and occupies the premier position in the Indian energy sector in terms of size and efficiency.

* The CBIP Awards are conferred to institutions/individuals for their outstanding contributions to the development of water, power and Renewable Energy Sectors.

* The award stands as testimony to NTPC’s enduring contribution to the generation of power in the country..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has received the Porter Prize 2023.

* The ministry was honored for the government's strategy in managing COVID-19, its approach, and the involvement of various stakeholders (involvement of ASHA workers to create PPE Kits).

* It was announced during 'The India Dialog' at Stanford University, California.

* Porter Prize : This award was named after award-winning economist Michael E. Porter.

* He has brought economic theory and strategy concepts to bear on many of the most challenging problems faced by corporations, economies and societies, including market competition and company strategy, economic development, the environment and healthcare.

Minister for Health : Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Vinod Kumar Shukla

* Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla (87) has won the 2023 PEN America award for lifetime achievement in literature.

* It is one of the most coveted literary prizes worldwide.

* His acclaimed novels like Naukar Ki Kameez (1979) and poetry collections like Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega (1992).

* He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1999 for Naukar Ki Kameez, the Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize in 2019, and the Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award in 2020..

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   India

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership gets global recognition. GSM Association (GSMA) has conferred Government Leadership Award 2023 to India for implementing best practices in telecom policy and regulation.

* Speaking on the occasion of India receiving the award, The Minister for Communications, Electronics & IT and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said “GSMA Awards represent global recognition of the telecom reforms carried out by PM Shri Narendra Modi ji.

* We all have seen the effect of reforms. RoW permissions which used to take more than 230 days, now get approval within 8 days. More than 85% mobile tower clearances are now instantaneous.

* With nearly 1 Lakh sites in 387 districts, India’s 5G roll-out is one of the fastest in the world. Indian telecom sector has emerged as a sunrise sector and the whole world has taken note of this rise.”

* GSMA, which represents more than 750 mobile operators and 400 companies in the telecom ecosystem, recognizes one country every year. India was declared winner in the ceremony held at Mobile World Congress Barcelona on 27 Feb, 2023.

* ‘Digital India’ vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi, Government brought in structural and procedural reform in September 2021. Thereafter, several initiatives were carried out such as licensing reforms, creation of PM Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal, streamlining Right of Way (RoW), spectrum reforms, satellite reforms etc...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Jammu & Kashmir

The India Today Tourism Survey has chosen Jammu & Kashmir Tourism for best adventure tourism destination award. The awards were given away at New Delhi by Union Minister of State for Culture & Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal 23rd Feb 2023 at a glittering function after the results of the survey were announced.

* The award has been given to the Tourism Department in recognition of its sustained efforts in promoting Gulmarg as an adventure destination of international order.

* The award was received by Deputy Director, Tourism, Alyas Ahmad on behalf of the Department.

* Ministers from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, representatives of Tourism Boards of several states and UTs, representatives of national travel trade and business bodies were present on the occasion.

* It may be recalled that the India Today award comes just within a month of the South Asian Travel Trade Expo(SATTE), one of the best trade expos in the country in which the J&K Tourism Department was awarded for its efforts in post COVID-19 recovery of the tourism sector.

* The Department during the last two years has taken several new initiates for the quick revival of tourism in the UT. This winter, besides Gulmarg, resorts of Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and other resorts were kept open and these destinations received a considerable footfall.

* Besides, new trekking routes, rafting and adventure activities were added to the recreation portfolio for sustaining the interest of coming tourists. This is besides the opening of new areas like Gurez and other border areas for tourism which have enhanced the attraction and urge for visiting J&K. Last year Gurez was adjudged as the best offbeat destination in the country.

Source : The Kashmir Monitor