Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Chinese architect Liu Jiakun won the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize for designs that celebrate everyday life. The Pritzker Prize is the most prestigious award in international architecture. Liu is the 54th laureate and was chosen for his focus on people and communities over his 40-year career. He is the third Chinese architect to win, after IM Pei and Wang Shu. The Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called “architecture’s Nobel Prize,” is an international award established in 1979 by the Pritzker family through their Hyatt Foundation, recognizing a living architect (or architects) for their significant contributions to humanity and the built environment.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Mauritius’ highest civilian honor, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK). The award ceremony took place in Port Louis, highlighting India-Mauritius strong diplomatic and cultural ties. This is PM Modi’s 21st international accolade, marking global recognition of his leadership. He dedicated the honor to Indian ancestors who migrated to Mauritius and to all Indians. PM Modi reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening India-Mauritius strategic relations. He also presented the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card to Mauritius’ President and First Lady, strengthening cultural ties. His participation in global events reflects India’s rising international influence.

Notes:
Gold Mercury International awarded the Gold Mercury Award 2025 to Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. The award recognizes his efforts in promoting peace, compassion, and sustainability. The Dalai Lama urged world leaders to unite for global peace, cooperation, and environmental protection. He emphasized non-violence, wisdom, and environmental harmony as key values. Rooted in Buddhist philosophy, he advocates for all living beings and ecological balance. He remains a global symbol of non-violence and a strong voice for Tibetan rights and environmental conservation.

Notes:
Renowned Odia poet and former bureaucrat Ramakanta Rath passed away, leaving a rich literary legacy. Born on December 30, 1934, in Puri, he studied English literature at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1956 and held key positions in Central and State governments. His first poetry collection, Kete Dinara (1962), introduced a new poetic movement in Odia literature. Saptama Ritu (1977) won him the Kendriya Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978. His most celebrated work, Sri Radha (1985), won the Saraswati Samman. He received the Padma Bhushan (2006) and Atibadi Jagannath Das Award (2018).

Notes:
Mridulika Jha of Aaj Tak won the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism 2025 for reporting on the “Dunki route” used by Haryana youths to illegally enter the United States of America. 27 journalists were awarded across 20 categories at the 19th Ramnath Goenka Awards held in New Delhi on 19 March 2025. The award, instituted by the Indian Express Group in 2005, honors Print/Digital & Broadcast journalists for excellence despite political and economic pressures. President Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest and presented the awards. Winners received a citation, a trophy, and ₹1 lakh cash prize.

Notes:
Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar has been selected for the Maharashtra Bhushan 2024, the highest civilian award of Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the award on March 20, 2025, in the state legislative assembly. A committee led by the Chief Minister unanimously chose him for the honor. Ram Sutar, a gold medalist from J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, is a master of bronze sculpting. He designed the Statue of Unity, a 182m tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Kevadia, Gujarat. He created the seated Mahatma Gandhi statue in India’s Parliament and Gandhi busts in 450+ cities worldwide. His 108-ft statue of Kempa Gowda stands at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Previously, he received the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contributions to art.

Notes:
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was held on 22nd March 2025 in New Delhi. Elections for the post of Chairman and Governing Council members were conducted successfully. Shri. Ashok Singh Thakur was elected as Chairman for a 3-year term. INTACH, India’s premier heritage conservation organisation, was established on 27th January 1984. It is a national registered Society under the Societies Registration Act (1860). INTACH works to conserve heritage, environment, and intangible culture while providing financial and technical expertise. The INTACH Charter, adopted in 2004, is being revised for interdisciplinary heritage conservation.

Notes:
Ajay Seth, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has been appointed as India’s next Finance Secretary. He succeeds Tuhin Kanta Pandey, who became the 11th Chairperson of SEBI. His appointment was approved by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is currently the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and was previously given additional charge of the Department of Revenue. He serves as India’s Alternate Governor on the ADB Board of Governors, where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman represents India. He holds a BTech from IIT Roorkee and an MBA from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

Notes:
Telangana won the Best National Performance Award in NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) testing under the 100-Day ‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign. The award was presented by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on World TB Day in New Delhi. Telangana achieved over 100% screening in nine TB-affected districts, identifying over 4,600 new TB cases.

Notes:
Nikhil Singhal, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide and President of the Noida High Rise Federation, received the Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award for his outstanding work in public relations and strategic communication. The award was presented by Shri Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, during a grand ceremony on March 31, 2025, at the Taj Lucknow, organized by the Tapasya Foundation Trust. The event gathered leading figures from media, corporate communications, and governance, recognizing Singhal’s role in transforming the public relations (PR) industry with innovative and impactful strategies.