1. Naval Investiture: Honors for Bravery and Excellence at INS Hansa Ceremony
Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), presided over the ceremony at INS Hansa, Goa.
An Overview of the News
Awards presented on behalf of President Droupadi Murmu of India.
Awards and Recognitions
35 naval personnel honored for acts of bravery, leadership, professional excellence, and distinguished service.
Notable recipients:
Commander Manish Singh Karki
Commander Kaustab Banerjee
Lieutenant Commander Panneerselvam Vishnu Prasanna
Lieutenant Commander Bhaskar, awarded Nao Sena Medals for Gallantry.
Special Recognitions
CNS Trophy for Best Green Practices 2023: Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and INS Valsura.
Unit Citations awarded to various Naval units, including INS Teg, INS Kolkata, INS Karmuk, INS Sumedha, INS Sumitra, INS Sharda, submarine INS Sindhukesari, flight squadron INAS 550, and shore establishments Chilka, Circars, Eksila, Dronacharya, and Naval Ship Repair Yard (Karwar).
Individual Achievements
Lt VK Jain Memorial Gold Medal 2024 presented to Shubham Hira for pioneering research in weapon improvement and electrical engineering.
Capt Ravi Dhir Memorial Gold Medal 2024 awarded to Tabsheer Ahmed Wani for contributions to flight safety.
2. Israeli Mathematician Avi Wigderson Wins 2023 ACM Turing Award
Tags: Awards International News
Avi Wigderson, an Israeli mathematician and computer scientist, was awarded the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award.
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This award is widely regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Computing".
He holds the position of Herbert H. Maass Professor in the School of Mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
Reason for Award:
Wigderson was honored for his foundational contributions to the theory of computation.
His work significantly influenced the understanding of randomness in computation and mathematics.
He was recognized for his intellectual leadership in theoretical computer science.
The ACM A.M. Turing Award carries a prestigious cash prize of USD 1 million.
Contributions and Career Highlights:
In 1986, Wigderson began his academic career as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.
He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1987 and later became a full Professor at the Computer Science Institute of the Hebrew University.
In 1993, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Computer Science Institute at Hebrew University.
In 1999, he joined the faculty as a Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey.
3. Gagandeep Kang becomes first Indian woman to win 2024 Canada Gairdner Global Health Award
Tags: Awards
On April 11, 2024, Gagandeep Kang, an Indian microbiologist and virologist, received the prestigious John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award from the Toronto-based Gairdner Foundation.
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Kang is the first Indian woman to be bestowed with this honor.
Kang's recognition stemmed from her extensive cohort-based epidemiological, environmental, and clinical trial research on enteric diseases in children.
Her work has had a significant impact on vaccine development and health policy in India and globally.
Background of Gagandeep Kang
Kang serves as an adjunct professor at the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, she holds the position of Director of enteric diagnostics, genomics, and epidemiology at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Kang's contributions include playing a pivotal role in the development and introduction of two Indian rotavirus vaccines, Rotavac and Rotasiil, into the National Immunisation Program.
John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award
This award is presented annually to researchers who have utilized rational, scientifically based research to improve the health and well-being of populations facing health inequities globally.
About the Canada Gairdner Awards
Established in 1957 with a donation from philanthropist James A. Gairdner, the Gairdner Foundation is a non-profit organization that acknowledges outstanding achievements in biomedical research worldwide.
The Canada Gairdner Awards have been presented annually since 1957 by the Gairdner Foundation.
Recipients of these awards receive CDN 100,000 each along with a medal.
4. National Maritime Day 2024: Sagar Samman Awards and Recognition
Tags: Awards
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MOPSW) celebrated the 61st National Maritime Day (5 April 2024) with awards and recognition in the maritime sector.
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The event was held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra, organized by the National Maritime Day Celebrations (NMDC) Central Committee.
Theme of the event: "Sustainable Shipping: Opportunities and Challenges."
Sagar Samman Award Winners:
Sagar Samman Varun Award: Dhirendra Kumar Sanyal
Sagar Samman Award for Excellence: Captain Kamal Kant Chaudhary
Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry: Captain Subir Saha and Captain OM Dutta
NMDC Awards for Excellent Maritime Training Institutions and Recognition:
During the function NMDC also announced awards for excellent maritime training institutions and recognition.
About National Maritime Day:
It commemorates the inaugural voyage of the first Indian-owned ship "SS Loyalty" from Mumbai to London in 1919.
5th April is celebrated as an annual festival all over India.
5. Chandrayaan-3 Mission Team Wins 2024 John L "Jack" Swigert Jr. Award
Tags: Awards
The Chandrayaan-3 mission team of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was awarded the 2024 John L "Jack" Swigert Jr. award for Space Exploration.
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The award was received by i.DC Manjunath, Consul General of India (CGI) in Houston, United States of America (U.S.A.), on behalf of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 team.
The award ceremony took place on 8th April, 2024, during the Opening Ceremony of the annual Space Symposium organized by Space Foundations in Colorado, U.S.A.
Chandrayaan-3 mission was announced as the recipient of the 2024 John L "Jack" Swigert Jr. award for space exploration by Space Foundation in January 2024.
Other Winners:
Included teams from NASA, such as OSIRIS-REx, Mars Ingenuity Helicopter, Insight-Mars Cube One, and Dawn and Cassini missions.
About Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
Launched on 14th July, 2023, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (A.P.).
The lander module successfully touched down on the moon on 23rd August, 2023.
Consists of a lunar lander named "Vikram" and a lunar rover named "Pragyan."
About John L "Jack" Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration:
Established in 2004 in honor of former NASA astronaut John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr. by Space Foundation.
Recognizes significant achievements in space exploration.
Presented annually at the Space Symposium by the Space Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1983.
About ISRO:
Established in 1969
President - Sridhar Panikkar Somnath
Headquarters - Bengaluru, Karnataka
6. Mamta G. Sagar received WOW World Literary Award
Tags: Awards
Mamta G. Sagar was awarded the WOW World Literary Award by the World Organization of Writers (WOW) for her literary contribution.
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The ceremony was held during the VII World Literary Festival “WOW-LIFFT-2024” in Abuja, Nigeria from April 4-6, 2024.
The award consists of a gold medal, a cash prize and a publishing contract.
Mamta G. Sagar's Background:
Currently a facilitator at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Previously taught at Hyderabad University and Bangalore University before joining Srishti Manipal in 2016.
Her poems and research have garnered international recognition and have been translated into various Indian and foreign languages.
Awards and Honors Received:
Recognized with accolades such as the Sanchi Honnamma Kavya Prashasti (2019), Bhashabharathi Translation Award (2019), and the Charles Wallace India Trust fellowship (2015) at the British Centre for Literary Translation, University of East Anglia, UK.
Notable Works by Mamta G. Sagar:
Authored four poetry collections, including "Footsteps of the Wild Peacock" (1992) and "Hide & Seek" (2014).
Notable works also include the musical play for children "Chukki Chukki Chandakki" (1999) and the translation of the Kannada play "Mayye Bhaara Manave Bhaara" as "The Swing of Desire" (2004).
About WOW World Literary Prize:
Established by the WOW as the successor to the "Golden LIffT" literary prize.
Aims to encourage authors who make significant contributions to world literature.
Co-founded by the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, Pan-African Association of Writers (PAWA), and LIFFT Foundation for the Promotion of Cultural Projects of the Eurasian Peoples.
Accepts works in Russian, English, Spanish, and Arabic, along with their translations.
Presented in two categories: Poetry and Prose.
7. Avantika Vandanapu Named 'South Asian Person of the Year' at Harvard University
Tags: Awards
Avantika Vandanapu was honored as the 'South Asian Person of the Year' by the South Asian Association (SAA) at Harvard University on April 9, 2024.
An Overview of the News
She was recognized for her remarkable achievements and significant impact in both the international and Indian entertainment industries.
Avantika was born on January 25, 2005, in California, USA, into an Indian family originally from Hyderabad, Telangana.
She began her acting career as a child artist, starring in Telugu films such as Brahmotsavam and Manamantha.
Avantika gained prominence with her first lead role in the Disney original movie 'Spin' (2021) and later appeared in Netflix's 'Senior Year' (2022).
She expanded her repertoire by debuting in the Indian OTT series 'Big Girls Don't Cry' (2024).
8. Professor Meena Charanda to receive 'International Culture Award' in 2024
Tags: Awards
Professor Meena Charanda, in the role of Principal at Kalindi College, Delhi University, was honored with the prestigious 'International Culture Award' for the year 2024.
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Prof. Charanda was bestowed with this accolade at the India International Center on March 30, 2024, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in education and social service.
Highlights of the award presentation include the presentation of a memento, plaque, shield and a citation on behalf of the University.
The selection for the award was made by a 5-member committee led by K Yogesh, Chairman, of Socrates Social Research University (Trust), comprising members from diverse backgrounds.
About Professor Meena Charanda
Charanda has taught political science at Kalindi College for over 20 years.
She did his PhD from Delhi University with specialization on Dalit assemblies of Uttar Pradesh and Professor Charanda wrote a book on Dalit MLAs in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Her work includes more than 50 published articles in various newspapers and magazines and currently, she guides two PhD researchers.
9. Hardik Singh and Salima Tete win top honors at Hockey India Awards 2023
Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named male and female players of the year respectively at the Hockey India Awards 2023 in New Delhi.
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Indian men's team vice-captain Hardik Singh was part of the hockey team that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2023 Olympics and the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023.
Salima Tete, an Olympian, was in the women's team that won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Hardik Singh also won the Midfielder of the Year award.
Salima Tete was selected as the winner of the Asian Hockey Federation's Emerging Player of the Year Award in 2023.
Munich 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Ashok Kumar was honored with the Hockey India Lifetime Achievement Award, named after his father Dhyan Chand, for his contribution to the sport.
Ashok Kumar scored the winning goal in the 1975 World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur.
Personal Honors:
PR Sreejesh received the Hockey India Baljeet Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year.
Manpreet Singh was celebrated for completing 350 international caps for the Indian men's hockey team.
Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh were celebrated for achieving the milestone of 250 and 200 international caps respectively for India.
Harmanpreet Singh also won the Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year.
Abhishek won the Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year.
The Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal-winning Indian men's team and the bronze medal-winning Indian women's hockey team were felicitated.
Hockey India Awards 2023 winners
Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: Ashok Kumar
Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of The Year (Men): Hardik Singh
Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of The Year (Women): Salima Tete
Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year recipient: PR Sreejesh
Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year recipient: Harmanpreet Singh
Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year recipient: Hardik Singh
Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year recipient: Abhishek
Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women – Under 21): Deepika Soreng
Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Men – Under 21): Araijeet Singh Hundal
10. Star Estate's Vijay Jain receives Times Power Icon 2024 award
Tags: Awards
Vijay Jain, Managing Director, of Star Estate, was honored with the Times Power Icon 2024 Award.
An Overview of the News
Times Group organized a prestigious event in Noida where notable attendees included industry leaders and celebrities like Adah Sharma, who presented the awards.
Under Jain's leadership, Star Estate has become renowned for reliability and trustworthiness in real estate consultancy.
The company has expanded its operations to various cities including Noida, Gurugram, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru.
Commitment to Sustainable Development:
Jain's leadership has focused on promoting sustainable real estate growth.
Despite his achievements, Jain is focused on the future, aiming to make Star Estate a leader in sustainability.
Star Estate:
Established in 2012, Star Estate provides consultancy services in residential, commercial and retail real estate.
The company emphasizes sustainable development and community benefit in its operations.
