Current Affairs search results for tag: awards
By admin: March 27, 2024

1. Abel Prize 2024 awarded to Michel Talagrand

Tags: Awards

Michel Talagrand of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France, has been honored with the 2024 Abel Prize by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

An Overview of the News

  • Michel Talagrand was recognized for his pioneering work in probability theory and functional analysis.

  • His contributions have had significant applications in mathematical physics and statistics.

  • Talagrand's achievements were deemed groundbreaking by the Academy, leading to this prestigious award.

  • Talagrand's research primarily focuses on the Gaussian distribution, also known as the bell curve, which influences various aspects of life, from birth weights to school test scores and athlete retirement ages.

The Abel Prize recognizes Talagrand's contributions in three key areas:

  • Analysis of supremum in stochastic processes, aiding in predicting extreme events like the largest wave hitting a beach.

  • Development of quantitative estimates for the concentration of measures, where different sources of randomness can lead to more predictable outcomes.

  • Application of statistics and probability theory to understand spin glass matter, contributing to the completion of Giorgio Parisi's Nobel Prize-winning work in 2021.

By admin: March 26, 2024

2. Bina Agarwal and James Boyce receive the first 'Global Inequality Research Award

Tags: Awards

Bina Aggarwal and James Boyce were awarded the inaugural "Global Inequality Research Award" for their remarkable progress in addressing global inequalities, particularly in the social and environmental sectors.

An Overview of the News

  • The conferences in Paris are being coordinated with the Socio-Ecological Change (SET) initiative of Sciences Po.

  • Bina Agarwal's award announcement was broadcast by the Global Development Institute (GDI) of the University of Manchester.

  • James Boyce's award announcement was broadcast by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

  • The World Inequality Lab (WIL) and Sciences Po's Center for Research on Social Inequalities (CRIS) have collaborated to present the inaugural edition of the Global Inequality Research Award (GiRA).

  • The purpose of this award is to recognize significant contributions to the understanding of global inequalities.

  • The collaboration between WIL and CRIS marks a concerted effort to highlight and honor important research efforts in the area of global inequality.

GiRA Award Objectives

Recognition of Excellent Researchers:

  • The GiRA Prize aims to honor researchers from all disciplines who have made extraordinary contributions to the understanding of global inequalities.

  • It will be presented biennially to acknowledge the efforts of notable scholars in this field.

Two major perspectives on inequality:

  • The award seeks to recognize important scholarship related to global inequality from two different perspectives:

    • Inequality research has been conducted globally, covering different regions and contexts.

    • Understanding inequality as a multidimensional issue requires examination from different perspectives to achieve comprehensive understanding and effective mitigation strategies.

By admin: March 26, 2024

3. Aviation Week Laureates Award for Chandrayaan-3

Tags: Science and Technology Awards

ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission received the prestigious Aviation Week Laureates Award.

An Overview of the News

  • Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador at the Indian Embassy in the US, accepted the award on behalf of ISRO.

  • The award recognizes aerospace excellence, celebrating innovation and exploration.

Aviation Week Laureates Award:

  • Highly regarded accolade in the aviation and aerospace industry.

  • Celebrates extraordinary achievements encompassing exploration, innovation and vision.

  • Over 400 industry professionals and influencers participated, acknowledging the unprecedented achievements.

  • ISRO's successful Chandrayaan-3 mission exemplifies the tradition of honoring outstanding contributions to aerospace exploration.

About Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

  • Launch and craft details: Launched from Sriharikota on July 14, 2023, using a GSLV-Mark III (LVM-3) heavy-lift rocket. It consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan excluding an orbiter.

  • Mission objectives: to perform safe landing, rover exploration and conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

  • Budget: Estimated Rs 615 crore.

  • Lander and Rover Specifications: Vikram, 2 meters long and weighing more than 1,700 kg, carries a 26 kg lunar rover named Pragyan for spectrometer analysis.

  • Landing and deployment: Scheduled for August 23, 2023 on the Moon.

  • Operational Period: Designed to operate for up to one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.

By admin: March 23, 2024

4. PM Modi Receives Bhutan's 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Award

Tags: Popular Awards International News

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created history by becoming the inaugural non-Bhutanese recipient of Bhutan's prestigious 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo'.

An Overview of the News

  • PM Modi received this prestigious honor from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan during his two-day official visit to Thimphu.

Importance of Award:

  • The 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' is Bhutan's premier civilian honor recognizing lifetime achievements.

  • It has the distinction of being the highest civilian honor given in Bhutan.

  • This prestigious award takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals of the country.

  • To date, only four distinguished individuals have been honored with this prestigious award.

Previous Award Winners:

  • Her Royal Queen GrandmotherAshi Kesang Choden Wangchuck was awarded this honor in 2008.

  • The 68th Je Khenpo of Bhutan, His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup, also received the award in 2008.

  • His Holiness Je Khenpo Trulku Ngawang Jigme Choedra was awarded the award in 2018.

  • Recipients include Je Khenpo, who holds the position of chief abbot of Bhutan's central monastic body.

About Bhutan

Capital- Thimphu

King - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk

Currencies - Bhutanese Ngultrum, Indian Rupee

Official language- Dzongkha

By admin: March 22, 2024

5. Famous Indian dancer Dr. Uma Rele honored with the Maharashtra Gaurav Award

Tags: Awards

Dr. Uma Rele, the distinguished Principal of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai was honored with the prestigious Maharashtra Gaurav Award.

An Overview of the News

  • The Maharashtra Gaurav Award was presented to her by Maharashtra Industrial Minister Uday Sawant and Minister Deepak Vasant Kesarkar in acknowledgment of her significant contribution to the field of Indian classical dance, especially Bharat Natyam.

Early background of Dr. Uma Rele

  • Her intense love for Bharat Natyam led her to pursue postgraduate studies at Nalanda College of Dance Arts, where she excelled.

  • In 2001, she achieved another significant milestone by completing her doctoral research on 'Nayikas, Heroines of Indian Classical Dance', demonstrating her deep understanding and expertise in this field.

  • Dr. Uma Rele is a versatile personality in the field of dance, excelling as a performer, theorist and guru, her influence extends beyond borders.

Global Impact:

  • His influence transcends geographical boundaries, as he has nurtured many students in India and abroad.

  • She conducts workshops and judges dance tests in various countries including Doha, Mauritius and the United States.

Adorable Presentations:

  • Dr. Uma Rele and her troupe have given mesmerizing performances at prestigious stages like Khajuraho Dance Festival and Rajgir Festival.

By admin: March 20, 2024

6. TM Krishna and Neena Prasad selected for the prestigious Kalanidhi Award

Tags: Awards

Carnatic musician T M Krishna has been selected for the 2024 Sangeet Kalanidhi Award and Neena Prasad for the Nritya Kalanidhi Award.

An Overview of the News

  • The Executive Committee of the Sangeet Academy decided to confer the award during its meeting on March 17, 2024.

  • T M Krishna will be honored with the prestigious Sangeet Kalanidhi Award by the Music Academy, Madras.

  • The award to TM Krishna was announced by Music Academy President N Murali.

About T M Krishna

  • Krishna is recognized for his notable contributions to the field of music, including analytical writing and advocacy of social issues.

  • Krishna wrote a book titled 'Sebastian and Sons: A Brief History of Mridangam Makers' focusing on MS Subbulakshmi.

About Dr. Neena Prasad

  • Prasad has been selected as the recipient of the Nritya Kalanidhi Award for 2024.

  • Neena Prasad received training in Mohiniyattam from Kalamandalam Kshemavathi and Kalamandalam Sugandhi.

  • Prasad also learned Bharat Natyam from Music Art Acharya Adyar's Lakshmanan, Kuchipudi from Vempati Chinna Satyam and Kathakali from Vembayam Appukuttan Pillai.

  • Her PhD from Rabindra Bharati University focused on Lasya and Thandava in South Indian classical dances.

By admin: March 20, 2024

7. Prabha Verma wins 33rd Saraswati Samman for 'Roudra Sathwikam'

Tags: Awards

Famous Malayalam poet and writer Prabha Varma was honored with the 33rd Saraswati Samman for the year 2023 for his novel in verse 'Roudra Sathwikam'.

An Overview of the News

  • Prabha Verma's novel 'Roudra Sathwikam' was published in 2022.

  • In 1991, K.K. Saraswati Samman, instituted by the Birla Foundation, is one of India's most respected literary awards.

  • It acknowledges exceptional literary contributions in various Indian languages with a focus on works published within the last decade.

About the novel 'Roudra Sathwikam'

  • According to the Birla Foundation, Prabha Varma's "Roudra Sathwikam" presents a distinctive exploration of the conflict between power and politics, the individual and the state, and art and power.

  • The novel, written in poetic Malayalam verse, transcends conventional notions of time and space, engaging with the complexities of righteousness (dharma) and adharma in a creative philosophical manner.

  • Through its deeply poetic narrative, the work highlights complex themes of morality, ethics, human nature, and the perpetual struggle between the forces of good and evil.

By admin: Oct. 9, 2023

8. 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to Claudia Goldin

Tags: Awards

American labor economist Claudia Goldin was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for her significant contributions to our understanding of women's labor market outcomes.

An Overview of the News

  • Hans Ellgren, Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, announced the Nobel Prize awards in Stockholm on October 9.

  • Claudia Goldin, born in New York in 1946, received her PhD from the University of Chicago and is currently a professor at Harvard University in Cambridge.

  • Claudia Goldin became the third woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics, after Elinor Ostrom (2009) and Esther Duflo (2019). 

  • Claudia Goldin will receive prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor.

Last year's Nobel Prize in Economics (2022):

  • In 2022, the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to American economists Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig as well as former Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke for their research on banks during times of financial turmoil.

History of Nobel Prize in Economics:

  • The Nobel Prize in Economics was first awarded in 1969 to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen for their work on dynamic economic models.

First Nobel Prize Winner:

  • Jean Henry Dunant and Frederick Passy were the first winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

First Indian Nobel Prize Winner:

  • Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize specifically in Literature in 1913.

About Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences:

  • The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 by Sveriges Riksbank, the central bank of Sweden, in memory of Alfred Nobel. It is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences following the same principles as the original Nobel Prizes.

Indian Nobel Prize Winners in Economics:

  • Amartya Sen is the only Indian economist to receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998.

  • Indian-American economist Abhijit Banerjee shared the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019 with Esther Duflo and Michael Cramer for their experimental approach to addressing global poverty.

By admin: Oct. 6, 2023

9. Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel Peace Prize 2023

Tags: Awards

The Swedish Academy in Stockholm awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi.

An Overview of the News

  • Nerges Mohammadi is known for her courageous fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and freedom for all.

  • Narges Mohammadi, a 51-year-old Iranian author and human rights activist, currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC).

  • She is currently imprisoned in Tehran's Evin prison, and is facing multiple sentences totaling 12 years for "spreading anti-state propaganda".

  • Her activism primarily focuses on abolishing the death penalty in Iran and advocating for women's rights.

Notable achievements and persecutions of Narges Mohammadi:

  • Over the past decade, Narges Mohammadi has been in and out of jail due to her activism, which led to her being arrested 13 times, convicted five times and sentenced to 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.

  • Her Nobel Peace Prize win makes her the second Iranian woman to receive the prestigious award, following Shirin Ebadi's recognition in 2003.

Nobel Prize and historical context:

  • The Nobel Prize was established in honor of Alfred Nobel's testamentary wishes, with the aim of rewarding those who have made significant contributions to the betterment of humanity.

  • The Nobel Foundation was established in 1900 and the first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901.

  • The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded 104 times between 1901 and 2023, has recognized 141 individuals and organizations.

  • Notable recipients include the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has received the Nobel Peace Prize three times, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, awarded twice.

  • In 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ales Bilyatsky of Belarus, Memorial (a Russian human rights organization) and the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties.

By admin: Oct. 6, 2023

10. Professor Dr. Joyeeta Gupta wins the Spinoza Prize for climate work

Tags: Awards

Indian-origin environmental scientist Professor Dr. Joyeeta Gupta has received the prestigious Spinoza Prize, the highest honor in Dutch science.

An Overview of the News

  • The award ceremony took place in the Netherlands, where Dr. Gupta was honored for his significant contributions to the field of climate change.

  • The Spinoza Prize was presented to him by Robert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Science and Culture of the Netherlands, at a ceremony held in The Hague.

Award Utility

  • The Spinoza Prize, awarded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), includes a generous monetary reward of 1.5 million euros.

  • Dr. Gupta has announced his intention to allocate this substantial prize money to activities related to scientific research and the application of knowledge.

  • Dr. Joyeeta Gupta holds the position of Professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam.