Current Affairs search results for tag: awards
By admin: Sept. 15, 2023

1. Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Professor Najma Akhtar received Lifetime Achievement Award in Academia

Tags: Awards

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Vice-Chancellor Professor Najma Akhtar received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award-Academia'.

An Overview of the News

  • The award was presented to Najma Akhtar by Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar during the "Making India Employable" Grand Conference and Awards Ceremony organized by TeamLease EdTech.

  • Professor Najma Akhtar was selected for this prestigious award by a jury panel comprising academicians and industry experts.

  • Under his leadership, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) achieved the third position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF 2023) ranking in the university category for two consecutive years.

  • A team of engineering students from Jamia won the Kavach 2023, a 36-hour cyber security hackathon organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education from August 8 to 9.

  • The university also lauded the achievements of three alumni, Amit Kumar Bhardwaj, Mohammad Kashif and Arib Ahmed, who were part of the ISRO Chandrayaan-3 team that successfully made a soft landing on the south pole of the Moon.

'Making India Employable Awards':-

  • These awards recognize excellence, innovation and real-world impact in education, employability and skills.

  • The awards celebrate individuals who have made exemplary contributions towards the goal of improving employability in India.

  • In May, the University Placement Cell (UPC) organized "Career Connect" or Job Utsav, a job and internship fair, with 2,000 student registrations.

  • 500 students were selected for the earlier round in the employment fair.

By admin: Sept. 11, 2023

2. 12 scientists selected for the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for 2022

Tags: Awards

The country's top annual science award, the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, was announced after a gap of two years. This year, 12 scientists were selected for the award in seven different scientific categories.

An Overview of the News

  • Director General of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Dr. N. Kalaiselvi officially announced the awards for the year 2022.

  • Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award are awarded in seven scientific disciplines, including physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences. They are named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR.

One Week One Lab Program:

  • Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh launched the 'One Week One Lab' program at CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NISCPR).

  • The event aims to share unique ideas and technological breakthroughs from various CSIR laboratories with the public and will run till 16 September.

'One Month One Theme' Campaign: 

  • Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned that in the future, CSIR plans to expand its outreach efforts by running a 'One Month One Theme' campaign to inform the public about the contribution of its units. 

Book Released:

  • Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also released two books titled 'Collection of 80 Articles of Vigyan Pragati Patrika' and 'CSIR@80: A Photo Journey' on the occasion.

By admin: Sept. 7, 2023

3. Indian-American physician Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee nominated for the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction in London

Tags: Awards

Indian-American physician and cancer researcher Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee has been nominated for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in London, a prestigious £50,000 prize.

An Overview of the News

  • His book "The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human" is one of 13 books selected for the long list.

  • The six finalists for the prize are to be announced on 8 October and will be revealed during a live event at England's annual Cheltenham Literature Festival.

  • The winner of the prize will be announced at a ceremony at the Science Museum in London on 16 November.

  • Established in 1999, the award covers several categories of English non-fiction, including current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography, and art.

  • Last year's recipient of the award was Katherine Rundell, who was recognized for her biography of the poet "Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne".

Book focus and Mukherjee's background:

  • The book highlights the transformative impact of cellular research on medicine, leading to breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's and AIDS.

  • Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Rhodes Scholar, has authored bestsellers such as "The Gene" and "The Emperor of All Maladies" and has a strong academic and publishing background.

By admin: Sept. 7, 2023

4. The 48th Toronto International Film Festival begins in Canada

Tags: Awards

The 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) began on 7 September in Canada.

An Overview of the News

  • India will actively participate in the 48th TIFF, which will run from September 7 to September 17, and highlight its talent, content, and entertainment industry.

  • The official Indian delegation participating in TIFF will be led by Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

  • India has a comprehensive plan for participation with the intention of showcasing its creative and technological strengths. The country aims to attract international collaboration to co-produce films in India and use Indian locations for shooting.

  • This year TIFF has selected six Indian films to be part of its official selection. These films include "Dear Jassi" directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandhwar, "Kill" directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt, and "Thank You for Coming" directed by Karan Boolani.

About TIFF

  • Established in 1976, TIFF is one of the world's most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals. It takes place annually in September in Toronto, Canada.

  • It is headquartered at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Cultural Center in downtown Toronto.

  • The People's Choice Award at TIFF, determined by audience voting, is considered a strong predictor of success during awards season, including the Academy Awards.

  • Past recipients of the People's Choice Award include Oscar-winning films such as "Life Is Beautiful," "American Beauty," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "Nomadland."

  • In 2022, the festival took place from 8 to 18 September, with Cameron Bailey as executive director.

By admin: Sept. 6, 2023

5. Professor Satyajit Majumdar of TISS receives Dr. VG Patel Memorial Award 2023

Tags: Awards Person in news

Professor Satyajit Majumdar, serving as the Dean of the School of Management and Labor Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, was awarded the 'Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023'.

An Overview of the News

  • He received this prestigious award in the category of 'Entrepreneurship Coach, Educator, and Mentor' for his outstanding contribution to promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship in India.

  • Dr. V.G. Patel is widely recognized as a pioneer of the entrepreneurship movement in India, which makes this award particularly significant.

  • Professor Satyajit Mazumdar was selected for this award from among 400 applicants from 26 different states. The selection was done by a jury appointed by the Indian Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDII) in Ahmedabad.

  • Over the past two decades, Professor Majumdar, who is 63, has played a key role in pioneering entrepreneurship.

  • With his dedicated team, he has provided mentorship to over 350 startups, including 40 from the Jammu and Kashmir region, as well as cluster startups in Jhabua, West Bengal.

  • Since his appointment at TISS in 2010, Professor Majumdar's primary focus has been on establishing a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurship within the institute.

  • In 2012, under his leadership, TISS established a dedicated Entrepreneurship Cell, reflecting his commitment to promoting entrepreneurship in the academic context.

By admin: Sept. 4, 2023

6. Kathmandu-Kalinga Literature Festival concludes in Lalitpur, Nepal

Tags: Awards

The three-day Kathmandu-Kalinga Literature Festival concluded successfully in Lalitpur, Nepal.

An Overview of the News

  • The Kathmandu-Kalinga Literature Festival was inaugurated by Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud and played an important role in promoting cultural exchange within South Asia by promoting literary and cultural activities.

  • Artists from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka participated in the event, which showcased various art forms includingliterature, music, dance, poetry, and more.

  • The'Yashasvi Sahitya Samman' awards were presented to notable personalities, including Professor Awadhesh Pradhan, actress and writer Divya Dutta, Professor Madhav Prasad Pokharel, and actress Manisha Koirala.

In addition, the 'Yashasvi Book Prize' was instituted this year, in which awards were given in various categories:

  • Bibek Ojha received the award for fiction in recognition of his book 'Aithan'.

  • Dr. Nawaraj KC was awarded for creative non-fiction for his work 'Sunyako Mulya'.

  • Renuka GC received the award for her storybook 'Sanesh'.

  • Dr. Mahendra Malla received the award for poetry in the collection 'Bhasako Bakpatra'.

  • Govinda Giri Prerana was given the award in the Biography category for 'Sushree Parijaat'.

  • Anuradha received the Children's Literature Award for 'Chhamchhako Chhamchhami'.

Other recipients of the 'Yashasvi Book Prize' include:

  • Reema KC Awarded for the translation of 'Selected Poems of Amrita Pritam'.

  • In the Food and Drug category, Narayan Ghimire was awarded for his book 'Raithane Khanpan Ra Chadparva'.

  • Lakpa Dendi Sherpa for his autobiography 'Himalayan Maverick'.

  • Sushant Thapa was awarded in the category of English poetry writing for his compilation of poems titled 'Means of Merit'.

By admin: Sept. 2, 2023

7. President of India to honor outstanding teachers with National Teacher Awards 2023 on 5th September

Tags: Awards

The President of India Draupadi Murmu will confer the National Awards to Teachers 2023 to 75 teachers on September 5, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

An Overview of the News

  • The event is organized annually on 5th September, the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, which is celebrated as National Teachers' Day in India.

  • The objective of the National Teacher Awards is to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary contribution of teachers to education and the positive impact they have on the lives of students.

Reward Benefits:

  • Each award includes a certificate of merit.

  • Cash prize of Rs. 50,000.

  • A silver medal.

  • Opportunity to interact with the Honorable Prime Minister.

Extent of Award Area:

  • The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education organizes this event to honor outstanding teachers.

  • This year the National Award to Teachers has been expanded to include the following teachers:

    • Higher Education Department

    • Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Number of award winners:

  • A total of 75 teachers will be honored in 2023:

    • 50 school teachers

    • 13 Higher Education Teacher

    • 12 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

By admin: Aug. 28, 2023

8. SVAMITVA Yojana of Ministry of Panchayati Raj gets National Award for e-Governance 2023

Tags: Awards

In the 26th National Conference on e-Governance 2023, the National Award was given to the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

An Overview of the News

  • The objective of the SVAMITVA scheme is to survey the population of villages, map rural areas with advanced technology, and provide ownership rights of property to individuals living in rural areas.

  • State-of-the-art technologies such as drones and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for this initiative.

  • Property cards have been created, which enable rural property owners to leverage their property for financial benefits.

Significance of the Award:

  • The National Award for e-Governance was given in the category "Application of emerging technology for providing citizen-centric services".

  • It recognizes the innovative use of technology in the scheme to provide services that directly benefit citizens.

National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG):

  • The 26th NCeG was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

  • The theme was "Developing India, Empowering Citizens" with a focus on advanced technologies and effective e-governance strategies.

  • The objective of the conference is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and promote collaboration among stakeholders.

National e-Governance Awards Categories:

  • The National e-Governance Awards were presented in five categories, including government process re-engineering, emerging technology applications, district-level e-governance initiatives, research on citizen-centric services, and emerging technology applications by start-ups.

Effect of SVAMITVA Scheme:

  • SVAMITVA Scheme is implemented in collaboration with the Survey of India, State Revenue and Panchayati Raj Departments, and NIC-GIS.

  • Property cards empower rural property owners to access bank loans and resolve land disputes with accurate maps.

Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department - Giriraj Singh

By admin: Aug. 26, 2023

9. PM Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor from Greece

Tags: Awards

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the highest civilian honor Grand Cross of the Order of Honor by Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou in Athens

An Overview of the News

  • The award is the highest civilian honor Greece can bestow on a foreign head of government.

  • The award recognizes PM Modi's outstanding contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Greece and India.

  • The citation given along with the award highlights PM Modi's commitment to enhancing political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

  • He is also the first foreign head of government to be honored with the award since 2017.

  • The award reflects PM Modi's efforts to strengthen ties between India and Greece, which share a history of friendship and cooperation.

About the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor

  • It is awarded by the President of Greece.

  • Recipients include Prime Ministers and eminent personalities.

  • Award winners are recognized for enhancing the prestige and status of Greece.

  • The Order of Honor was established in 1975.

  • The medallion depicts the Greek goddess Athena.

  • Accompanying the image of Athena are the words "Only the righteous should be respected".

  • Blue and white ribbons are used to wear the badge around the neck.

By admin: Aug. 2, 2023

10. Maharashtra to confer first 'Udyog Ratna' award to Ratan Tata; Three more awards for entrepreneurs announced

Tags: Awards

Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant will present the first 'Udyog Ratna' award to veteran industrialist and Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata.

An Overview of the News

  • Along with the Udyog Ratna award, the Maharashtra government will introduce three other awards. One award will be given to a woman entrepreneur, second to a Marathi entrepreneur and third to a young entrepreneur from the state.

  • The Udyog Ratna Award is equivalent to the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan Award and will be given to Ratan Tata for the first time.

  • The main objective behind the Maharashtra Udyog Ratna Awards is to acknowledge and honour individuals and organisations that have made noteworthy contributions to various sectors, such as business, industry, education, real estate, tourism, financial services, fashion, electronics, agriculture, banking, IT, food items, and health, within the state of Maharashtra.

Ratan Tata has been honoured with several prestigious awards for his contributions:

  • He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and the Padma Bhushan in 2000, both of which are India's highest civilian awards.

  • In a recent remarkable achievement, Ratan Tata was conferred with the 'Order of Australia' award, Australia's highest civilian honour.

About Maharashtra

  • It is a state located in the western part of India and covers a significant part of the Deccan Plateau.

  • Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde

  • Governor - Ramesh Bais

  • Official Animal - Indian giant squirrel

  • Official Bird - Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

  • Official Dance - Lavani