1. Shankari Chandran honoured with Miles Franklin Literary Award for novel “Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens”
Tags: Awards
Sri Lankan-born Australian author Shankari Chandran has been awarded the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Prize in 2023 for the novel "Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens".
An Overview of the News
Ten years earlier, he had encountered difficulty publishing his first book, as publishers doubted its appeal to the local Australian market, as it was not "Australian" enough.
Chandran's award-winning novel, titled 'Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens', revolves around themes of family, memories, community, race and highlights Australia's complex relationship with multiculturalism and the consequences of colonialism.
The novel has been hailed as an inter-generational epic that explores the complexities of Australia's multicultural society and the miseries of post-colonialism.
Chandran's story emphasises that our personal stories play an important role in shaping us as individuals and the fabric of society.
Remarkably, 'Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens' is Chandran's third published novel, which shows his growth and dedication as a writer.
Miles Franklin Literary Award:
It is an annual award given to a novel of the highest literary merit that explores some aspect of Australian life.
The judging panel for this year's award included:
Richard Neville - State Library of NSW Mitchell librarian and Chair
Bernadette Brennan - author
Mridula Nath Chakraborty - translator
James Ley - critic
Elfie Shiosaki - poet
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious literary awards in Australia.
Previous winners of the award include acclaimed authors like Thea Astley, Jessica Anderson, and Tim Winton, among others.
2. Seven-year-old Indian Moksha Roy receives 'Points of Light' award in UK
Tags: Awards
Indian-origin seven-year-old Moksha Roy has been honored with the British Prime Minister's 'Points of Light' award.
An Overview of the news:
- Indian-origin Moksha Roy has been working for the United Nations' sustainable initiative against microplastic pollution since she was just three years old.
- British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden presented the award to seven-year-old Moksha Roy in the third week of July.
- Moksha Roy has been given the title as the world's youngest sustainability advocate.
- Moksha is recognized for her work in several sustainable campaigns including raising funds to help children in need.
- Moksha's parents Raginiji Roy and Sourav Roy said that their daughter's effort proves that even small children in the society can play an important role in combating climate change.
3. Professor Thalappil Pradeep honoured with Eni Award
Tags: Awards
Professor Thalappil Pradeep of IIT Madras has received the prestigious 'Eni Award' for scientific research in energy and environment.
An Overview of the News
The Eni Award was established in 2007 and is a globally recognized honour.
Professor Pradeep's research focuses on cost-effective and clean water solutions using advanced nanoscale materials.
His groundbreaking work led to the discovery of sustainable materials that remove toxic pollutants from water.
These water purification technologies benefit 1.3 million people in India every day.
The President of Italy will confer the Eni Award on Professor T. Pradeep.
About the Eni Award
They are awarded in three categories: Energy Transitions, Energy Frontiers and Advanced Environmental Solutions.
Yu Huang from the University of California (Los Angeles, USA) and Jeffrey R. Long from the University of California (Berkeley, USA) were awarded in the Energy Transition category.
Matthew Rosensky from the University of Liverpool (UK) received the award in the Energy Frontiers category.
The primary purpose of the Eni Award is to promote and recognize unprecedented progress in energy efficiency, renewable energy, decarbonization and environmental protection.
The purpose of this award is to inspire and support the work of young researchers in these important areas.
4. President conferred Bhoomi Samman 2023
Tags: Awards National News
On July 18, 2023, Indian President Draupadi Murmu presented the "Bhoomi Samman" 2023 at a function organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
An Overview of the news:
- The awards were received by the State Secretaries and District Collectors along with their teams who have shown excellence in achieving completion of major components of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Program (DILRMP).
Honor to the secretaries of nine states and officers of 68 districts:
- Officers of the team of total 68 districts including nine secretaries of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tripura and West Bengal were honored at the Bhoomi Samman-2023 function held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Most awards to Odisha and Madhya Pradesh:
- Among these, 57 officers from 19 districts of Odisha, 35 officers from 15 districts of Madhya Pradesh, who received maximum awards, were awarded Bhoomi Samman by the President.
Digital India Land Records Modernization Program (DILRMP):
- DILRMP was launched by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in August 2008 for the digitization of land records.
Objective of DILRMP:
- Modernization of land records management,
- To reduce the scope of land/property disputes,
- Increase transparency in the land records maintenance system and
- To facilitate eventual move towards guaranteed adjudication rights for immovable properties in the country.
Main components of DILRMP:
- Change of land ownership;
- Digitization of maps and integration of curriculum and spatial data;
- Survey/Re-survey and
- Computerization of all land records including original land records.
Rural development is necessary for overall development:
- Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu said that it was necessary to accelerate rural development for the overall development of the country, as the livelihood of the majority of the rural population depended on land resources.
- Transparency will increase with the digitization of a comprehensive integrated land management system in rural areas.
Benefits to come:
- Digitization of land records and its linkage with various government departments will help in proper implementation of welfare schemes.
- Now this document will be protected from damages caused by calamities like flood and fire.
- This will reduce the time wasted by the administration and the judiciary in disputes related to the land of a large population of the country.
- Through digitization and information connectivity, the energy of people and institutions, which used to be spent in resolving disputes, will now be used for development.
Land Parcel Identification Number:
- Under the Digital India Land Information Management System, a unique Land Parcel Identification Number is being provided, which can be used like an Aadhaar card.
- This number will be helpful in making and implementing new welfare schemes along with proper use of land.
- Linking e-courts with the land records and registration data-base would have many benefits.
- Digitization of land will bring transparency in administration.
- Unethical and illegal activities related to land will be curbed.
- Now getting land related information in a free and convenient way will have many other benefits.
5. NTPC wins ET HR World Future Skills Awards 2023
Tags: Awards
Power major NTPC has been honoured with the prestigious Economic Times (ET) HR World Future Skills Awards 2023.
An Overview of the News
The company received awards in two categories: "Best Use of AI/AR/VR in Learning and Upskilling" and "Best Advances in Creating Extended Enterprise Learning Programs."
Director HR, NTPC, Dilip Kumar Patel accepted the award on behalf of the company during a function held at Gurugram on July 13, 2023.
These accolades are in recognition of NTPC's dedication to incorporate cutting-edge technologies, especially Virtual Reality (VR), in its Learning and Development (L&D) initiatives.
They serve as testimony to NTPC's commitment to enhance the skill sets of both its own employees and outsourced workers through various L&D programs including iGuru that utilise VR-based training.
In addition, NTPC has launched several other innovative training initiatives such as GPILEARN, Futureskills courses and SAMARTH modules.
About NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) Limited
It is a Central Public Sector Undertaking in India.
It is owned by the Ministry of Power and the Government of India.
NTPC is involved in various activities, mainly focused on power generation.
Purpose - Electricity generation and distribution, natural gas exploration, production, transportation and distribution
Establishment - 7 November 1975
Headquarters - New Delhi
6. Golden Peacock' Environment Management Award 2023 to Adani Transmission Limited
Tags: Awards
Indian company Adani Transmission Limited (ATL) has been awarded the 'Golden Peacock Environment Management Award' by the 'Institute of Directors' in the 'Power Transmission Sector'.
An Overview of the news:
- This year an assessment group comprising environment, health and safety, energy and climate change experts assessed more than 520 applications.
- These applications were approved by Justice M.N. The review was done by an eminent jury committee headed by Venkatachaliah.
Golden Peacock Environment Management Award:
- The award is given for reducing its ecological footprint through programs such as zero waste in landfills, single-use plastic free, water-positive operations, promoting renewable energy integration and implementation of best-in-class environmental management strategies.
- ATL was declared the 'Winner' by its B2C arm i.e. Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited for its unique strategic initiative of increasing renewable energy in bulk power purchase for distribution in Mumbai region.
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has been awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for the year 2021 in the steel sector by the Institute of Directors. SAIL has been the winner of this award for three consecutive years.
Managing Director and CEO of Adani Transmission Limited: Anil Sardana.
7. Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor awarded to Prime Minister Modi
Tags: Awards
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the highest French award 'Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour' by the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron on 13 July 2023.
An Overview of the news:
- Prime Minister Modi was honored at an award ceremony held at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
- The Prime Minister thanked President Macron on behalf of the people of India for this distinguished honour.
- Prime Minister Modi is on an official visit to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13 to 15 July 2023.
- This is the sixth visit of Prime Minister Modi to France.
- The Prime Minister is the Chief Guest at the Bastille Day Parade on 14 July 2023, in which a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces from the three Services is also participating.
- This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership and the Prime Minister's visit will provide an opportunity to chart out a roadmap for the future of the partnership in various areas such as strategic, cultural, scientific, educational and economic cooperation.
France:
- Capital: Paris
- Currency: Euro
- President: Emmanuel Macron
8. British National Award for director Shekhar Kapur
Tags: Awards
Noted film director Shekhar Kapur has been presented with the British National Award for Best Director for 'What's Love Got To Do With It'.
An Overview of the news:
- At the award ceremony, the film 'What's Love Got To Do With It' was nominated in nine categories, out of which the film won four.
- Apart from Best Director, the film was also awarded Best British Film, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.
- Shekhar Kapur is best known for directing films ranging from Bandit Queen, Mr. India to Elizabeth.
National and International Career of Shekhar Kapur:
- Shekhar's international career His film Elizabeth, which came in 1998, was given the Oscar Award in the Best Make-up category.
- Its sequel Elizabeth - The Golden Age, which came in the year 2007, won the Oscar Award in the Best Costume Design category.
- Currently Shekhar is in news for the sequel of his classic Hindi film Masoom.
- What's Love Got To Do With It is a British romantic comedy, released in the UK as well as the US and India.
- The film stars Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Emma Thompson, Sajal Ali, Oliver Chris and Asim Chowdhary in lead roles.
9. NMDC Receives Two Prestigious Awards at ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Awards 2023
Tags: Awards
National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) was honored with two prestigious awards at the ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Awards 2023 in Kolkata.
An Overview of the News
The awards received by NMDC were the 'Mineral Development Award' and the 'Employer Brand of the Year Award.'
These awards recognize NMDC's significant contributions to the mining sector and its exemplary human resources practices.
The awards were presented by Anurag Srivastava, IAS, Secretary of the Industry, Commerce, and Enterprise Department, Government of West Bengal.
NMDC is the largest producer of iron ore in India and the sixth largest in the world, playing a pivotal role in the country's mineral development.
The company's state-of-the-art Research and Development (R&D) Centre focuses on enhancing productivity, promoting sustainable mining practices, and developing advanced beneficiation technologies.
NMDC is committed to zero-waste mining and continuous innovation, contributing to the growth and advancement of the mining industry.
National Mineral Development Corporation:
It is a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise.
It comes under the Ministry of Steel.
Chairman & Managing Director - Sumit Deb
Headquarters - Hyderabad
10. British writer Michael Rosen honored with Pen Pinter Prize, 2023
Tags: Awards
Renowned British poet and author Michael Rosen has been awarded the prestigious PEN Pinter Prize, 2023 for his literary contribution.
An Overview of the news:-
- Michael Rosen is known for making poetry accessible to children through his work and performances.
- The subjects of Rosen's writings are often social, political, and moral.
Pen Pinter Award:
- It was established in the year 2009 by PEN Institute of UK.
- It is the founding center of a global literary network.
- This institution promotes literature and human rights.
- It is awarded annually to a writer living in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Commonwealth or a former Commonwealth.
- The winner must be an author of plays, poems, essays or fiction of literary excellence written in English.
- Lemon Sissey, Hanif Qureshi, Mallory Blackman etc. are the main ones among the former recipients of this award.
