1. Russian poetess Maria Stepanova wins Leipzig Book Prize 2023
Tags: Awards
Maria Stepanova, a Russian author currently living in Berlin, has won the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2023.
An Overview of the News
Stepanova's novel, In Memory of Memory, which explores themes of Stalinism and the collapse of the Soviet Union, has earned her a nomination for the Booker Prize in 2021.
The Leipzig Book Prize was awarded to Stepanova for her poetry collection 'Girls Without Clothes', which sensitively addresses the issue of power dynamics that fuel violence and oppression against women.
The award ceremony was held on 25 April 2023 at the 30th Leipzig Book Fair.
The Leipzig Book Prize has been presented since 1994 for "Progress of Reconciliation" in Europe.
Stepanova, born in Moscow in 1972, is a Russian-Jewish poet, novelist and journalist who has been an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's administration.
Stepanova has expressed her admiration for Ukraine's resistance to the invasion, describing it as a battle of "good versus evil" in an interview with German public broadcaster RBB.
About the Leipzig Book Prize
The Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding is a prestigious literary prize awarded annually since 1994.
The prize aims to promote greater understanding between European cultures by recognizing outstanding works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry that contribute to this goal.
The prize is awarded as part of the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany and is presented in three categories: fiction, non-fiction and translation. The winner in each category receives a cash prize and a bronze statuette.
The jury for the Leipzig Book Prize is made up of literary scholars, critics and journalists from all over Europe. They evaluate works from different European countries and languages to select the winners.
2. Rajasthan Housing Board got National Award for Real Estate
Tags: Awards National News
On April 26, 2023, the National Real Estate Award was presented to the Rajasthan Housing Board by the Central Government Agency National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO).
An overview of the news
National Real Estate Development Council National President Rajan Bandelkar and RERA Delhi Chairman Anand Kumarpresented the award to Rajasthan Housing Commissioner Pawan Arora at a national level function.
The Rajasthan Housing Board was honored with the award for registering the maximum number of housing projects in the country under RERA, selling the maximum number of houses and doing excellent work in the field of real estate.
Earlier in the function, Rajasthan Housing Commissioner was specially invited for a panel discussion on the topic 'Real Estate in the Era of RERA'. He was also honored on this platform.
Rajasthan Housing Board has become the biggest organization to register 101 project RERA numbers.
Under the leadership of Housing Commissioner Pawan Arora, the board has received a total of 15 awards in the last four years.
These include World Book of Records in house sales, Scotch Award-2021, Award of Excellence, Honor by National Real Estate Development Council, National Housing Award, I.B.C. and prestigious awards like 'Star of Governance-Gold Award'.
3. Ratan Tata honoured with Australia's highest civilian honour
Tags: Awards Person in news
Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tatahas received the Order of Australia (AO), Australia's highest civilian honour.
An Overviews of the News
The award was announced by Barry O'Farrell, Australia's High Commissioner to India.
The award was given to Ratan Tata for his contribution in strengthening bilateral relations between India and Australia.
Ratan Tata has been a strong supporter of the 2022 India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a subsidiary of Tata Sons, has the largest workforce of any Indian company in Australia with around 17,000 employees.
Ratan Tata was recently named an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his contribution to promoting trade, investment and philanthropy between India and Australia.
The recognition came just a month before he received Australia's highest civilian honour for his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
About the Order of Australia
It is an honour awarded to Australian citizens and other individuals in recognition of their exceptional achievements and services.
The honour was created on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia, after a recommendation to the Australian Government.
The Order of Australia has various levels including companion (AC), officer (AO), member (AM), medal (OAM) and honorary award.
The Order of Australia also has a motto, which is "Do what you can," and it encourages individuals to strive for excellence in their respective fields.
Established - 14 February 1975
Honoured - achievement and merit in service to Australia or humanity
Chancellor - David Hurley
Sovereign Head - Charles III of Australia
4. TAL Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Breast Surgeon Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti
Tags: Awards Person in news
On 24 April, breast surgeon Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisettiwas presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Telugu Association of London.
An Overviews of the News
Dr. Raghu Ram is the founder and director of AKIMS-Ushalakshmi Center for Breast Disease, located in Hyderabad.
Dr. Raghu Ram is one of the few persons to have received this prestigious award. He is also the only Indian living outside the UK to have been given this honour.
The Telugu Association of London (TAL) recognized the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Raghu Ram by presenting him with the award during the Ugadi 2023 celebrations.
TAL is the largest Telugu charity organisation in the UK and represents a Telugu speaking community of around 10,000 people in and around London.
Founder President of TAL - Dr. Ramulu Dasoju
Current President of TAL - Bharati Kandukuri
Councillor, Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow - Raghvinder Sidhu
About United Kingdom
It is a sovereign state located in northwestern Europe and consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Capital - London
Additional Information
On 26 April, Infosys co-founder and chairman Nandan Nilekani was honoured with the 'Lifetime Achievement' award in the Business Today-PwC India Best CEO rankings.
5. Dalai Lama Receives Ramon Magsaysay Award
Tags: Awards
Dalai Lama personally received the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award from members of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation at his residence.
An Overview of the News
President of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Susanna B. Affan, along with Foundation Trustee Emily A. Abrera, presented the award to the Dalai Lama.
The award was given in August 1959 by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation in the Philippines.
The Dalai Lama's elder brother Gyalo Thonden accepted the Magsaysay Award on his behalf in August 1959 in Manila, Philippines.
Since his exile from Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama has been living in India.
Dalai Lama:
He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and is considered one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism.
The title "Dalai Lama" is a combination of the Mongolian word "Dalai," meaning ocean, and the Tibetan word "lama," meaning master, teacher, or mentor.
The Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.
The current 14th Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who was born in Tibet in 1935.
He was recognized as the Dalai Lama at the age of two and was enthroned in 1950.
In 1959, he had been living in exile in India since a failed rebellion against Chinese rule.
About Ramon Magsaysay Award
It is an annual award that recognizes individuals and organisations in Asia for exceptional courage, integrity and service to their communities.
The award was established in 1957 and is named after the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.
The award is given in six categories: government service, public service, community leadership, journalism, creative arts, and peace and international understanding.
The award has recognized individuals and organisations from various fields and is known as the "Nobel Prize of Asia".
6. PGCIL wins Global Gold Award for CSR work
Tags: Awards
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a Maharatna CPSU of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has been conferred with the Global Gold Award by The Green Organisation.
An overview of the news
The award was given on 25 April at the Green World Awards 2023 ceremony held in Miami, USA.
Dr. V.K. Singh, Director (Personnel), POWERGRID received the award on behalf of the organization.
The award has been given to POWERGRID for improving agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods through watershed management, community participation and better crop management practices in 10 villages of Jayapatna block of Kalahandi district in Odisha.
It is a 60-month farmer centric project which started in late October 2019.
POWERGRID lays emphasis on getting involved in several CSR programs for the community and the environment.
With a well-optimized exit policy for its CSR projects, POWERGRID values community participation through effective collaboration, capacity building and sustainability in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
7. 49th India Gem & Jewellery Awards
Tags: Awards
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal attended the 49th edition of India Gem & Jewellery Awards in Mumbai on 23 April.
An overview of the news
Organized by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the event felicitates top exporters from the sector.
The Union Minister felicitated 28 top exporters and facilitators during the award ceremony, which also had Frank Geerkens, Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai, as the guest of honour.
The event was also attended by Chairman GJEPC, Vipul Shah, Senthilnathan, Chairman and Managing Director Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC).
The GJEPC chairman expressed hope that the free trade agreements with the UK, Canada and the European Union that are being negotiated will help exporters reach US$1 trillion in exports.
Gem & jewelry exports
For FY 2022-23, the overall gem & jewelry exports grew 2.48% to Rs 300462.52 crores as compared Rs 293193.19 crores for the same period previous year.
In terms of US dollars, the overall gem & jewelry exports accounted for US$ 37468.66 million as compared to US$ 39331.71 million for the same period last year.
About The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)
It was set up by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India in 1966.
Since 1998, the GJEPC has been granted autonomous status.
This is the apex body of the gems & jewellery industry and today represents 9000 members in the sector.
With headquarters in Mumbai, GJEPC has Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Jaipur.
8. Karnataka got national award for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Tags: Awards State News
Karnataka received the National Award for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the award was accepted by Shivayogi Kalasad, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Govt.
An Overview of the News
Karnataka was recognized as the leading state in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) scheme during a national conference in Chhattisgarh.
According to agriculture department officials, an amount of Rs 687.4 crore has been settled for 5.66 lakh farmers with pending claims since 2018.
In Karnataka, the PMFBY scheme is being implemented through a state designed and developed portal called 'SANRAKSHAN' created in collaboration with the National Informatics Center (NIC).
Enrollment of farmers for the PMFBY scheme in Karnataka was 16.15 lakh in 2021, to increase to 23.86 lakh in 2022, showing an increase of 47.74% in enrollment over the previous year.
The increase in enrollment was attributed to the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns conducted across the state.
lakh, which shows an increase of 47.74% in enrollment as compared to the previous year. The increase in enrollment was attributed to the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns conducted across the state.
About Karnataka
It is a state in southwest India and is bordered by Maharashtra to the north, Goa to the northwest, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest.
The state has a varied landscape, with the Arabian Sea to its west and the Western Ghatsto its east.
Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is known as the "Silicon Valley of India" and is a major centre of technology and innovation.
Chief Minister - Basavaraj Bommai
Governor - Thawar Chand Gehlot
Recent Awards
Maratha Udyog Ratna 2023 Award - Nilesh Sambre
Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023 - Utsa Patnaik
Business Leader of the Decade - Kumar Mangalam Birla
Pravasi Bhartiya Samman -Raj Subramaniam
9. PM Gati Shakti NMP receives PM's Award for Excellence
Tags: Awards National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 21st April conferred an award for excellence in public administration to PM Gati Shakti national master plan (NMP) initiative.
An overview of the news
The award was presented to the Department for Promotion of Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the category 'Innovation-Central' for the successful implementation of the prestigious 'PM Gatishakti National Master Plan' programme.
The Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration has been instituted to recognize the extraordinary and innovative work done by districts and organizations of the Central and State Governments for public welfare.
About PM Gati Shakti initiative
It is a transformative approach to economic growth and sustainable development.
It was launched on 13 October 2021 to provide multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.
Its targets are to cut logistic costs, increase cargo handling capacity and reduce the turnaround time.
Economic zones like Textile Clusters, Pharmaceutical Clusters, Defence Corridor, Electronic Park, Industrial Corridor, Fishing Clusters, Agri Zone will be covered under this program to improve connectivity.
PM GatiShakti National Master Plan was implemented on 21st October 2021.
The approach of PM Gati Shakti is driven by 7 engines-
Railways
Roads
Ports
Waterways
Airports
Mass Transport
Logistics Infrastructure
Significance
It will give a boost to the overall infrastructure of the country.
It will strive to build next generation infrastructure that improves ease of living as well as ease of doing business.
It will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services as a mode of transport.
It will create many employment opportunities and boost the economy.
It will improve the global competitiveness of local products by cutting logistics costs and improving the supply chain.
10. Wing Commander Deepika Misra becomes 1st woman IAF officer to get Gallantry Award
Tags: Awards
Wing Commander Deepika Mishra became the first woman officer of the Indian Air Force to receive a gallantry award on 20 April.
An overview of the news
Wing Commander Mishra, a Rajasthan-based helicopter pilot, has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for "extraordinary courage" displayed during a flood relief operation in Madhya Pradesh.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhary presented the Yudh Seva Medal at Vayu Sena Auditorium Subroto Park New Delhi.
Two IAF officers were awarded Yudh Seva Medal, 13 officers, and air warriors received Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 13 officers Vayu Sena Medal and 30 Vishisht Seva Medal.
A total of 58 persons, 57 from the IAF and one from the Army, received gallantry awards.
