Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The 24th International Mother Teresa Awards Ceremony was held at the Millennium Plaza Dubai. The event commemorated the 114th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa. Organized by the All-India Minority and Weaker Sections Council, it was held outside India for only the second time, both times in Dubai. The awards were established after Mother Teresa’s death in 1997. They honor outstanding contributions in education, science, culture, sports, social work, medicine, industry, and politics in India. This year’s ceremony featured awardees from various countries and sectors, highlighting their significant achievements.

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The Appointment Committee of the Union Cabinet approved the appointment of senior IPS officer B. Srinivasan as the new Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG) on August 27, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in attendance. B. Srinivasan replaced CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, who temporarily led the NSG. Srinivasan’s term as NSG Director General will last until his retirement on August 31, 2027. A 1992 batch IPS officer from the Bihar Cadre, Srinivasan currently directs the Bihar Police Academy. The NSG, established in 1986, is an elite counter-terrorism force under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

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Kerala Tourism won the PATA Gold Award 2024 for its ‘Holiday Heist’ online contest in the Digital Marketing Campaign category. The campaign, launched in July 2023, used a bidding game on the WhatsApp ChatBot ‘Maya’ to attract tourists. Over 80,000 bids were made by travellers across India to visit Kerala’s prime destinations at low prices. The campaign generated more than 45 million impressions and over 13 million video views. Some participants won tour packages worth ₹30,000 for just ₹5. Kerala Tourism received the award in Bangkok on August 28, 2024.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development won the National Award for e-Governance 2024 (Gold) for the Poshan Tracker initiative. The Poshan Tracker monitors the growth of children aged 0-6 years using real-time data and WHO growth charts to ensure proper nutrition. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) assess children’s health and intervene when growth issues arise. Advanced ICT tools and Growth Measuring Devices (GMD) are used at Anganwadi Centers for accurate monitoring. The app improves child health outcomes, covering millions under Mission Poshan 2.0. It also manages services for pregnant women, mothers, and children, digitizing Anganwadi workers’ records.

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The President of India presented the 2024 National Florence Nightingale Awards. Instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973, these awards honor outstanding nurses from Central, State/UTs, and Voluntary Organizations.
The award recognizes nurses for their exceptional service in hospital, community, educational, or administrative roles.
Winners receive a Certificate of Merit, Rs.1,00,000 in cash, and a medal. Florence Nightingale was a pioneering English social reformer and founder of modern nursing, known for organizing care for soldiers during the Crimean War and establishing the first scientific nursing school.

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A senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Odisha cadre, Amrit Mohan, has been appointed Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). He is currently serving as Special Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). His appointment is approved until his superannuation on August 31, 2025. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) guards India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan, preventing cross-border crime and smuggling. SSB’s headquarters, Force Headquarters (FHQ), is located in New Delhi, led by a Director-General. The Director-General is supported by an Additional Director-General and various directorates managed by senior officers.

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Gujarat hosted the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo, winning the most awards during the three-day event, held outside Delhi for the first time. The state ranked among the top three in several categories, including overall renewable energy capacity, solar power, and wind power. Gujarat secured the top spot in overall renewable energy and wind power capacity, while it ranked second in solar power capacity, with Rajasthan leading.

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Andro Village in Manipur won the Best Tourism Village award in the Heritage category at the 2024 Best Tourism Villages Competition. The award was given by the Ministry of Tourism during World Tourism Day celebrations in New Delhi. The village’s rich cultural heritage and unique traditions, including centuries-old fire worship, contributed to its selection. Andro Village’s cultural heritage and historical temple attract tourists from around the world. Tourism has boosted income and job opportunities for locals, with the community actively involved in promoting and sustaining their heritage.

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President Droupadi Murmu attended the first Adi Gaurav Samman Samaroh in Mangarh Dham, Rajasthan, on October 4, 2024.
The Rajasthan government established the Adi Gaurav Samman award, which has three categories: Aadiratna, Adi Seva, and Aadi Grammotthan Gaurav Samman. Aadiratna Gaurav Samman awards Scheduled Tribe members excelling in sports, education, and culture. Adi Seva Gaurav Samman recognizes exemplary service for Scheduled Tribes. Aadi Grammotthan Gaurav Samman rewards Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads for socio-economic improvements.

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South Korean author Han Kang won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. She is the first Korean to receive this honor. Her work is known for its “intense poetic prose” that addresses historical traumas and the fragility of life. Notable works include The Vegetarian (Man Booker International Prize winner in 2016), The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons.