1. Cyclist Swasti Singh gets Ekalabya Puraskar
Tags: Sports Awards Person in news
The ‘Ekalabya Puraskar’ for the year 2022 was presented to cyclist Swasti Singh. This award is given every year to encourage young sporting talents.
Important facts
Singh was on 23rd December presented with a citation, trophy and Rs 5 lakh cash in a programme organised by Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of IMFA.
She was honoured for her performance from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022 at both national and international levels.
Football player Pyari Xaxa and Hockey player Shilanda Lakra also were honoured with a citation and Rs 50,000 cash each.
Billiards and snooker world champion Pankaj Advani attended the ceremony as the chief guest while Pranati Mishra, Asian Games medalist was the guest of honour.
Trustee Baijayant Panda, Chairman Eklabya Puraskar Committee – 2022 was present along with the jury members.
Mercurial cyclist Swasti has bagged two gold and as many silver medals at the national level.
About Ekalabya Puraskar
Eklavya Puraskar has come a long way since 1993 to be recognized as the most prestigious sports award of Odisha and is at par with many national awards.
This award is given every year to the young sportspersons of Odisha for their outstanding performance in the last two years.
2. Indian scientist Prof. Thalappil Pradeep receives VinFuture special prize 2022
Tags: Awards
Renowned researcher and Madras IIT Professor Pradeep Thalappil has bagged the VinFuture Prize 2022 instituted by the VinFuture Prize Council to honour breakthrough research projects on 22 December.
Important facts
- Thalappil has been awarded the ‘Special Prize dedicated to Innovators from Developing Countries’ for his development of a low-cost filtration system to remove arsenic and other heavy metals from groundwater.
- The award was presented by Prize Council Chairman Richard Friend at a ceremony in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi.
- Earlier, Thalappil was awarded the Padma Shri for developing affordable and safe drinking water solutions using nanomaterials.
- Prof. Pradeep has been able to identify the most suitable and advanced materials to remove specific contaminants from water in the most economical and sustainable manner.
- American professor Pamela C. Ronald, 61, was awarded the Special Prize for Women Innovators for basic research on rice varieties that are flood-tolerant and can bring high yields.
About VinFuture Prize
- The Winfuture Prize is awarded every year by the Winfuture Fund to recognize breakthrough scientific and technological inventions that have the potential to make a meaningful difference to people's lives.
- The fund was launched on 20 December 2020 as an independent and non-profit organization, founded by billionaire Pham Nhat.
- Its objective is to creating positive changes in the everyday lives of millions of people around the world.
- After 2 seasons, 16 scientists have been honored by the Prize.
3. NHPC wins ‘Best Globally Competitive Power Company of India award at the PRAKASHmay ‘15th Enertia Awards 2022’
Tags: Awards
The government of India owned company NHPC Limited has been awarded as Winner of ‘Best Globally Competitive Power Company of India – Hydropower and Renewable Energy Sector’ at PRAKASHmay ‘15th Enertia Awards 2022’.
U.S. Sahi, Executive Director, NHPC received the award on behalf of NHPC at a glittering function held at New Delhi Institute of Management, New Delhi on 22nd December 2022.
This award is organized by ENERTIA Foundation and supported by the Renewable Energy Promotion Association and the New Delhi Institute of Management.
NHPC
- It was earlier called the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.
- It was set up by the Government of India in 1975.
- It is the largest organisation for hydropower development in India.
- The company is now also engaged in the business of solar and wind power.
- NHPC Limited presently has an installation base of 7071.2 MW from 24 power stations.
- NHPC is presently engaged in the construction of 11 projects aggregating to a total installed capacity of 7539 MW.
- Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana.
Chairman and Managing Director: Rajiv Kumar Vishnoi
4. UIDAI wins DSCI best Security practices award in the government sector award
Tags: place in news Science and Technology Summits Awards
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has won the Data Security Council of India's (DSCI) Best Security Practices in Government Sector award.
The award was given to UIDAI during DSCI's three day Annual Information Security Summit (AISS) in Gurugram for its significant role in securing national critical Aadhaar infrastructure that provides digital identity based welfare services to residents.
The Annual Information Security Summit (AISS) was organised by Nasscom -DSCI from 20-22 December in Gurugram. Data Security Council of India is a premier industry body on data protection in India. It was set up by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
It was set up on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
UIDAI was created to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), Aadhaar, to all residents of India. It issues a 12 digit biometric Aadhaar number to the residents of India after satisfying the verification process laid down by the Authority.
Chief Executive officer (CEO): Dr Saurabh Garg
5. UIDAI HQ Building wins top Green Building Award
Tags: Awards
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Headquarter in New Delhi has won the prestigious GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award 2022, a top national level Green Building Award.
Important facts
GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is a national rating system for green buildings in India.
UIDAI HQ has been declared a winner among the existing highest rated building category.
UIDAI believes and promotes the idea of recycle and reuse to reduce carbon footprint.
It has been harnessing solar power to meet a portion of its energy consumption.
It is recycling and reusing water and has been adhering to sustainable waste management practices.
On average, 25% to 30% of its daily water consumption is coming from recycled water.
Similarly, UIDAI Headquarter building is also recharging ground water on an average of 3590 KL per year.
In 2021, the UIDAI Headquarters building was declared the runner-up.
6. 'Naatu Naatu' from RRR movie becomes the first Indian song to be shortlisted for Oscar Award
Tags: Awards National News
The song 'Natu-Natu' from SS Rajamouli's film 'RRR' has been shortlisted for Oscars 2023.
Important facts
This song has been shortlisted in the Best Song category, which is one of the 15 songs shortlisted for Oscars 2023.
This is India's first song to be shortlisted for Oscars.
Besides Natu Natu, other songs on this list include Nothing Is Lost from the movie Avatar: The Way of Water, 'Lift Me Up' from Blank Panther and 'Hold' from Top Gun: Maverick. Hold My Hand'.
Song 'Naatu-Naatu' is composed by MM Keeravani and written by Chandrabose, voiced by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaal Bhairav.
The song was released as "Naacho Naacho" in Hindi, "Nattu Koothu" in Tamil and "Halli Naatu" in Kannada.
This song was also nominated for Best Original Song at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
The 95th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will honor films releasing in 2022.
The award ceremony will be held on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California.
7. Shalini Kumari received first prize in 3rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum
Tags: Awards
Ms Shalini Kumari from India received first prize in the Grassroots Innovation Competition at the 3rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum for her innovation ‘Modified walker with adjustable legs’.
Important facts
The first prize winner from India Ms Shalini Kumari at the forum, a resident of Patna in Bihar; she was first recognized by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India.
The technology was transferred to the industry, Vissco Rehabilitation Aids, a leading manufacturer of orthopaedic products in the country.
It is available for purchase through Brick and Mortar stores and also through marketplaces like Amazon India for purchase by common people of the country.
Ms Shalini Kumari received the prize from H E Dr Hul Seingheng, Cambodia COSTI Chairman and Director General, General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation under the Ministry of Industry Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), Kingdom of Cambodia.
She has won the cash prize of USD 1,500 by virtue of being the winner of first prize.
The second and third prizes were won by innovators from the Philippines and Myanmar, who won US$1000 and US$500, respectively.
A total of 45 innovators participated and represented 9 nationalities in the competition.
The first and second prize in the Student Innovation competition has been won by participants from Thailand whereas the third prize has been won by the student from Lao PDR.
Grassroots Innovation Competition
1st Prize | India - Ms Shalini Kumari | Modified walker with adjustable legs |
2nd Prize | Philippines - Mrs Meriam Bouquia | Multi purpose Fiber Stripper |
3rd Prize | Myanmar - Mr. Myo Thaw | GreenToddy’s Plamyra palm coconut |
Student Innovation Competition
1st Prize | Thailand - Ms. Napaschol Inthapan | ORA (Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation Assistant) |
2nd Prize | Thailand - Mr. Tanapat Charunworaphan | The HealthTech that keeps your heart in checked |
3rd Prize | Lao PDR - Mr. Phonsena Chanthavong | Intelligent boat for a cleaner river |
8. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs wins Platinum Icon in Digital India Awards 2022
Tags: Awards
The Smart Cities Mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has won the Platinum Icon at the Digital India Awards 2022 for their initiative "DataSmart Cities: Empowering Cities through Data".
Important facts
The award was announced under the ‘Data Sharing and Use for Socio-Economic Development’ category.
About Data smart Cities Initiative
The DataSmart Cities Initiative is a key step in creating a robust data ecosystem that enables evidence-based decision-making in cities.
It aims to harness the power of data for better governance in India’s 100 Smart Cities.
It is based on a ‘People, Platform, Process’ strategy, which is helping in the convergence of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs' efforts for performance management, empowerment of communities, and research, co-creation & open innovation.
The initiative has institutionalised a Data Ecosystem in cities through 100 City Data Offices and more than 50 Data Policies.
About Digital India Awards 2022
It is a prestigious National competition that seeks to encourage and honour innovative digital solutions by government entities in realising the Digital India vision.
These are conducted by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
9. India's Sargam Kaushal wins Mrs World 2022 title, Title returned to India after 21 years
Tags: Awards
Sargam Kaushal has won the title of Mrs. World 2022, becoming the winner among contestants from 63 countries. This title has returned to India after 21 years.
Important facts
America's Mrs. World 2021 Shaylin Ford crowned Mumbai's Sargam Kaushal at an event held at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on the evening of 18 December.
Mrs. Polynesia was named the first runner-up, followed by Mrs. Canada as the second runner-up.
The Mrs. India pageant announced the winner on its official Instagram page.
The newly crowned Mrs. World Sargam Kaushal hails from Jammu and Kashmir.
Actress-model Aditi Govitrikar, who brought the Mrs India crown to India in 2001, also shared a congratulatory message on the Mrs World pageant's page.
For the final round, Kaushal wore a pink slit dazzling gown designed by Bhavana Rao and was guided by pageant expert and model Alessia Raut.
About Mrs World title
Mrs World is the first beauty pageant for married women.
The pageant was conceived in 1984 and traces its roots to the Mrs. America pageant.
Initially this pageant was named Mrs. Woman of the World.
It became known as Mrs. World in 1988. Most of the winners are from America.
India has won the title of Mrs. World only once, in 2001 when Dr. Aditi Govitrikar bagged the coveted crown.
Dr. Govitrikar has served as a judge for Mrs. India Inc. 2022-23.
10. NMDC wins IEI Industry Excellence Award 2022
Tags: Economy/Finance Awards
National Miner National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) won the coveted IEI (Institution of Engineers, India) Industry Excellence Award 2022 on 16th December,2022 in Chennai.
Important facts
On behalf of NMDC, N R K Prasad, CGM (IE & MS), received the award from Dr K Ponmudy, Minister for Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu.
NMDC, the largest producer of iron ore in the country, was honoured at the 37th Indian Engineering Congress for its outstanding performance and high level of business excellence.
The Institution of Engineers (India) has given the Industry Excellence Award to NMDC , after reviewing the business operations, financial performance, environmental performance, research and development, CSR and corporate governance policies of a company.
With an eco-friendly, economic and efficient approach, NMDC is undertaking transformational projects to maintain its domestic leadership and move towards becoming a global mining company.
About NMDC
It was incorporated in 1958 as a Government of India public enterprise.
It is India’s largest producer of iron ore.
Since inception, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, it has been exploring minerals including copper, rock phosphate, limestone, magnesite, diamond, tungsten and beach sand, among others.
Headquarters: Hyderabad
