1. Gita Press, Gorakhpur, awarded Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021
Tags: Awards National News
Gita Press, Gorakhpur, will be awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 in recognition of its exceptional contribution to social, economic, and political transformation through non-violent and Gandhian methods.
An overview of the news
The jury, headed by Prime Minister Modi, unanimously selected Gita Press as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize.
PM Modi highlighted Gita Press's efforts in promoting Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony, emphasizing that the award signifies recognition of their community service after a century of establishment.
About Gita Press
Established in 1923, Gita Press is renowned as one of the world's largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore copies of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.
About Gandhi Peace Prize
The Gandhi Peace Prize, instituted in 1995 on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 125th birth anniversary, is an annual award that pays tribute to Gandhi's ideals.
The award is open to individuals irrespective of nationality, race, language, caste, creed, or gender.
The prize includes a monetary amount of ₹1 crore, a citation, a plaque, and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.
Previous recipients of the Gandhi Peace Prize include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said of Oman in 2019 and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh in 2020.
2. NTPC Barauni secures First Rank at 4th National Water Awards, in Best Industry Category
Tags: Awards
NTPC Barauni has achieved a significant milestone by securing the first rank in the Best Industry Category at the 4th National Water Awards.
An overview of the news
The award was presented to CMD, NTPC Gurdeep Singh, and Head of Project, NTPC Barauni,Rajeev Khanna by the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on June 17, 2023.
The recognition was given by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, highlighting NTPC's commitment and efforts in conserving and managing water resources.
NTPC has demonstrated its dedication to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, which played a crucial role in this achievement.
The company has implemented innovative initiatives to effectively conserve and manage water resources, resulting in significant water savings and a reduced environmental footprint.
NTPC remains dedicated to its mission of contributing to the nation's growth while embracing environment-friendly practices.
3. National Water Awards: Madhya Pradesh tops in Best State category
Tags: Awards National News
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presented the fourth National Water Awards in New Delhi on June 17.
An overview of the news
The awards, announced by the Jal Shakti Ministry, recognized 41 winners across 11 categories for their outstanding contributions to water conservation in India in 2022.
Madhya Pradesh received the first prize in the best State category, while the best district award went to Ganjam District in Odisha.
The Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana was honored with the best Village Panchayat award.
Each winner was presented with a citation, a trophy, and cash prizes.
National Water Awards
The National Water Awards aim to acknowledge and encourage the efforts made by individuals and organizations in realizing the government's vision of a water-prosperous India.
They also seek to create awareness about the importance of water and promote the adoption of best practices for its sustainable use.
Vice-President stressed the significance of adopting the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - to revive ancient water harvesting systems such as ponds.
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared that approximately 56,000 Amrit Sarovars (sacred ponds) have been constructed in the country.
4. RBI chief Shaktikanta Das named 'Governor of the Year' at Central Banking Awards in London
Tags: Economy/Finance Awards
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was named 'Governor of the Year' at the Central Banking Awards in London.
An Overview of the News
The award is presented by Central Banking, a leading organisation that covers matters related to central banks and financial regulators globally.
The Central Banking Awards 2023 announced the winners at the end of March, the National Bank of Ukraine received the title of Central Bank of the Year.
Shaktikanta Das, representing the Reserve Bank of India, was honoured with the Governor of the Year award at the event.
About Reserve Bank of India
The RBI was established on April 1, 1935, as per the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
The central office of the Reserve Bank was established in Kolkata which was permanently shifted to Mumbai in the year 1937.
It was nationalised in 1949 and now the Government of India owns the RBI.
It has the power to regulate banks under the Banking Regulation Act 1949.
It has the power to regulate Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under the RBI Act 1934.
RBI is also the regulator of digital payment systems under the Payment and Settlement Act 2007.
Headquarters of RBI: Mumbai
RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das
5. 5 buildings and structures from Telangana selected for International Green Apple Awards
Tags: Awards State News
Five buildings and structures from Telangana have been selected to receive the 'International Green Apple Awards for Beautiful Buildings' in the Urban and Real Estate Sector category.
An overview of the news
These awards are presented by 'The Green Organisation,' an independent non-profit organization based in London.
This is the first time any building or structure in India has received these prestigious awards and all five nominated structures from Telangana have been recognised.
Selected buildings and constructions from Telangana
Mozzam-Jahi Market (Heritage category)
This building has been acknowledged for its exceptional restoration and re-use.
The market holds historical significance and has been beautifully preserved and adapted for contemporary use.
Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge (Bridge category)
The unique design of this cable bridge has earned it recognition.
It showcases innovative engineering and adds to the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding area.
B R Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat Building (Aesthetically designed office and workspace building category)
This building stands out for its architectural beauty and well-thought-out design.
It provides an efficient and visually appealing workspace for government officials.
Integrated Command Control Centre of Telangana Police (Unique office category)
This structure has been acknowledged for its uniqueness and functionality as a command and control center.
It incorporates advanced technology and serves as a hub for monitoring and managing various operations of the Telangana Police.
Yadadri Temple (Excellent religious structures category)
The temple, dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, has been recognized for its excellence in religious architecture.
It showcases intricate craftsmanship and devotion to detail.
About Green Organization
The Green Organization, founded in 1994 in London, is an independent non-profit organization that focuses on acknowledging, rewarding, and promoting environmental best practices globally.
Since 2016, they have been organizing the annual 'Green Apple Awards' in London, UK.
These awards aim to recognize and appreciate businesses, local authorities, and communities that demonstrate outstanding efforts in environmental sustainability.
One of the categories within these awards is the "International Beautiful Buildings Green Apple Awards," which specifically honors buildings that have a positive and visually appealing impact on their surroundings, among other criteria.
The Green Apple Awards play a significant role in recognizing and encouraging environmentally responsible construction and design practices.
6. Advocate Lalitha Natarajan wins America's Iqbal Masih Award
Tags: Awards
Chennai-based advocate and activist Lalitha Natarajan won the 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the Eradication of Child Labor presented by the US Department of Labor.
An Overview of the News
The award ceremony took place on 30 May at the US Consulate General in Chennai, where Consul General Judith Ravin presented the award to Lalitha Natarajan.
Lalitha Natarajan is known for her leadership in combating exploitative child labor in southern India.
As a member of the Child Welfare Committee (North Zone) under the Department of Social Defence, Tamil Nadu, Natarajan ensures that child labor victims receive compensation as per the Child Labor Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
About Iqbal Masih Award
It is an annual non-monetary award established by the US Congress in 2008.
It is administered by the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking within the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the US Department of Labor.
The award recognizes individuals or organizations making an extraordinary contribution to combating child labour.
It is named after Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani child who was sold into slavery and forced to work in a carpet factory.
He was murdered in 1995 at the age of twelve.
The award aims to raise awareness about child labor and honour those fighting against it.
'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012':
This is the law related to child sexual abuse in India.
This act was passed by the Parliament of India on 22 May 2012.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development framed guidelines and regulations to aid in the implementation of the Act.
In November 2012, rules were framed to ensure effective enforcement of the Act.
The objective of the Act is to prevent, detect and prosecute sexual offences against children.
It covers various forms of sexual abuse including molestation, rape and child pornography.
7. RSL Christopher Bland Award 2023 won by Patterson Joseph
Tags: Awards
Paterson Joseph has been awarded the prestigious RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2023 for his debut novel 'The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho'.
An Overview of the News
The RSL Christopher Bland Prize is a renowned literary prize, and this year is in its fifth edition.
'The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho' is the title of Patterson Joseph's first novel, which has garnered critical acclaim and recognition within the literary community.
About the book 'The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho'
This book is a historical fiction about Charles Ignatius Sancho.
Sancho was the first black man to vote in England.
RSL Christopher Bland Award:
It is a prestigious annual award that recognizes the achievements of first-time authors in the genre of fiction or nonfiction.
It is specifically awarded to individuals who have published their first work at the age of 50 or more.
The RSL Christopher Bland Award was instituted in 2018 to pay tribute to the memory of the famous British politician Sir Christopher Bland.
Patterson D. Joseph:
He is an English actor and writer who was born in London, England.
He has recently been officially appointed as the Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University.
One of his notable early films was "In the Name of the Father".
8. WHO Award for 'When Climate Change Turns Violent'
Tags: Awards
The documentary titled 'When Climate Change Turns Violent' has bagged the special award in the 'Health for All' category at the 4th annual Health for All Film Festival held at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva on 7 June 2023.
An Overview of the News:
- This documentary has been directed by Vandita Saharia from Rajasthan. She was the only Indian in the list of winners.
- The 4.32-minute documentary 'When Climate Change Turns Violent' focuses on the relationship between domestic violence, climate change and human trafficking.
- The ceremony announced the winning films for seven different categories, while four films received special mentions by the jury.
World Health Organization (WHO):
- Establishment: 1948 (Started functioning from 7th April, 1948)
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Member: 194 countries
- It is an intergovernmental organization that usually works in collaboration with the ministries of health of its member states.
9. President Droupadi Murmu conferred with highest civilian honour of Suriname
Tags: Awards International News
Suriname awarded President Draupadi Murmu its highest civilian honour, the Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, on 5 June, making her the first Indian to receive the award.
An overview of the news
President Murmu was presented with the award by Chandrikaprasad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname.
He dedicated the award to successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, in recognition of the important role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening the fraternal ties between the two countries.
During her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Draupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on 4 June.
In addition, India and Suriname signed four important Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in the fields of health, agriculture and capacity building.
The agreements were finalized after delegation level talks between President Murmu and President Santokhi.
About Suriname
Suriname is a country located on the northern coast of South America. It is one of the smallest countries in South America.
Formerly known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname was a plantation colony of the Netherlands that gained its independence on November 25, 1975.
President: Chandrikapersad Santokhi
Capital: Paramaribo
Official Language: Dutch
Currency: Suriname dollar
10. Etihad Airways named Environmental Airline of the Year 2023
Tags: Awards International News
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has been named the Environmental Airline of the Year 2023 for the second year in a row at the Airline Rating Awards.
An Overview of the News
The prestigious award acknowledges the airline's commitment to sustainable aviation through innovation and collaboration.
Etihad is ranked third in the 'Top 10 Airlines' category, which evaluates comfort, innovation, value and safety in economy, business and first class.
Etihad's sustainability strategy focuses on emissions reduction, industry alignment, collaboration with the UAE ecosystem and proactive transparency.
Key initiatives of the airline include the Greenliner program using Boeing 787 Dreamliners and the deployment of Sustainable50 A350-1000 aircraft.
Antonaldo Neves, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group
Geoffrey Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, AirlineRatings.com
About United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Location: It is located in Western Asia.
Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Official language - Arabic
Government - Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy
President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
