Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an Indian researcher, earns the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for her pioneering work in enteric diseases. Her cohort-based research has influenced vaccine development and health policy globally. The Gairdner Foundation celebrates her significant contributions to biomedical and global health research, highlighting her impact on understanding childhood diseases’ effects on life course.

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Kristalina Georgieva has been re-appointed as Managing Director of the IMF for a new 5-year term starting on October 1, 2024. The IMF Managing Director is chosen by the executive board, with Kristalina Georgieva being the sole candidate this year. Nominations for the MD position can come from an IMF Fund Governor or Executive Director. The Board of Governors, comprising finance ministers and central bank governors, is the IMF’s highest decision-making body.

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Derek Underwood, England’s leading wicket-taker and esteemed left-arm spinner, has died. He claimed 297 wickets in 86 Test matches and 2465 wickets in 676 first-class cricket games. Underwood held the presidency of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2008 and was honored with induction into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009. His legacy extends beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, leaving an indelible mark on cricket history.

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Nalin Prabhat, a senior IPS officer, has been named Director General of India’s National Security Guard (NSG), responsible for counter-terrorism and counter-hijack operations. Serving as Additional Director General of the CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir, he belongs to the 1992 IPS batch of Andhra Pradesh cadre. Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet until August 31, 2028, he succeeds Daljit Singh Chaudhary, who held additional charge of the NSG.

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GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) won the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ award by Skytrax at the Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 17. This highlights the staff’s exceptional service quality across various fronts, recognized for attitude, friendliness, and efficiency. The accolade underscores their dedication in enhancing the overall passenger experience, covering roles from customer help to security and food services.

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Pavuluri Subba Rao, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Ananth Technologies, was honored with the prestigious ‘Aryabhatta Award’ by the Aeronautical Society of India (ASI) for his outstanding contributions to astronautics in India. Additionally, Rao was named a ‘Distinguished Fellow’ by ASI, recognizing his remarkable impact on the aerospace and aviation sectors.

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Professor Naima Khatoon is appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the first woman to hold the position in its history. The appointment was made by the Ministry of Education and approved by President Droupadi Murmu. Khatoon, currently the Principal of AMU’s Women’s College, will serve for five years or until she turns 70. She becomes the third VC of a Central University and the second woman VC in India after Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit.

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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) received the Outstanding Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Year award at the All India Management Association (AIMA) Managing India Awards. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar presented the award in Delhi on April 23. HAL achieved record revenue of over ₹29,810 crore in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, marking an impressive 11% growth. AIMA, established in 1957, promotes management excellence across India, collaborating with various sectors to advance the profession.

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Gina Justus, a teacher at English High School, Sharjah Girls’ Branch, UAE, wins the MENA region in the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards. Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, she’s worked in the UAE since 2005. Recognized for mentorship and charity work, she stood out among 14,840 nominations from 141 countries. The awards honor primary and secondary educators globally, highlighting their pivotal role in shaping students’ futures.

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Palestinian journalists covering Gaza won the 2024 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, recognizing their bravery in perilous conditions. The award ceremony held on 2 May during the World Press Freedom Conference in Santiago, Chile. Amid ongoing Gaza conflict, 26 journalists and media workers lost their lives since October 2023, prompting UNESCO to call for collective action to safeguard journalists worldwide. Additional cases of concern are under review.