Awards, Honours & Persons in News Current Affairs MCQs

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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.

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Saniyaa Kadree appointed Chairperson of The Grappling Committee of India for Jammu & Kashmir, recommended by Subham Choudhary. Responsibilities include overseeing grappling sports operations and providing strategic guidance. Her appointment aims to promote and nurture grappling talent in the region, covering all areas within the state for grassroots development.

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Columbia University announced the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners on May 7. The prestigious award, established by Joseph Pulitzer in 1904, recognizes excellence in journalism, arts, and culture. Winners are selected by the Pulitzer Prize Board, with categories spanning journalism and arts. The ceremony, to be held later, will see recipients honored by the university president. This year’s winners join a legacy dating back to the first prize in 1917.

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IN-SPACe, India’s National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre, received the Geospatial World Forum Leadership Award for “Public Policy: Enabling Industry Development” at the 2024 event in Rotterdam. Rajeev Jyoti and Kriti Khatri accepted the honor on behalf of IN-SPACe. The award recognizes their groundbreaking efforts in advancing India’s space sector and supporting non-government entities. GWF Leadership Awards commend innovation and contributions to the global geospatial field since 2007.

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Renowned Hindi and Marathi storyteller Malti Joshi, Padma Shri awardee, passed away at 90 due to oesophagus cancer in New Delhi on May 15, 2024. Born on June 4, 1934, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, she grew up in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She excelled in Hindi literature, earning a Master’s from Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University. Known as the “Meera of Malwa,” Joshi’s impactful storytelling legacy spans across Hindi literature.

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NTPC earned the third rank globally for Talent Development at the ATD BEST Awards 2024. The award, presented on May 21 in New Orleans, was accepted by Ms. Rachana Singh Bhal, NTPC’s chief general manager of strategic HR & talent management. The ATD BEST Awards, established in 2003, recognize organizations excelling in employee development. NTPC, India’s largest power sector company, was founded in 1975 and has diversified into various power generation methods.

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The National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru received the 2024 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion from WHO. This award, established in 2019, honors significant contributions to health promotion. Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra congratulated NIMHANS, highlighting it as a recognition of India’s efforts in inclusive healthcare and pioneering mental health work.

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Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, a UN peacekeeper serving in Congo, was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal during the UN’s International Day of Peacekeepers. The medal, established in 1997, honors peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives under the UN’s authority. Named after Dag Hammarskjöld, it’s awarded annually to nations losing peacekeepers. The ceremony takes place at the UN headquarters. Singh’s recognition highlights the dedication of peacekeepers worldwide.

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Poet and playwright Siddhalinga Pattanashetti has been awarded the prestigious Gudleppa Hallikeri Award for 2024 by the Gudleppa Hallikeri Memorial Foundation, Hosaritti (Haveri District). The announcement was made by Veeranna Chekki, senior trustee of the foundation. This 19th award presented on June 6, commemorating Gudleppa Hallikeri’s birth anniversary. Hallikeri (1906–1972) was a notable Indian freedom fighter from Karnataka, known for founding the Gandhi Grameena Gurukul and using nonviolent protests. He worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and others for Karnataka’s unification, and a college in Haveri is named after him.

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Former Indian cricketer David Jude Johnson tragically passed away after falling from his fourth-floor apartment balcony in Kothanur, Bengaluru. A respected figure in domestic cricket, Johnson, originally from Arsikere, Hassan, had made his Test debut for India against Australia in 1996. His untimely demise has left a void in the cricketing community, mourning the loss of a talented player and beloved individual.