Current Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced the Swachh Vayu Sarveshan Award 2025, recognizing the best-performing cities under the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025, conducted across 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). ABOUT SWACHH VAYU SARVESHHAN AWARD 2025 Population Categories: Category 1: Cities with Population > 10 lakh Category 2: Cities with Population 3–10 lakh Category 3: Cities with Population < 3 lakh Awarded Cities (Total: 11 out of 130 NCAP cities) Category 1 (>10 lakh): 1st: Indore, 2nd: Jabalpur, 3rd: Agra & Surat Category 2 (3–10 lakh): 1st: Amravati, 2nd: Jhansi &....Read More

CURRENT CONTEXT : An Indian non-profit organisation, Foundation to Educate Girls Globally (Educate Girls), has been named a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee.  ABOUT FOUNDATION TO EDUCATE GIRLS GLOBALLY Founded: 2007 by Safeena Husain Mission: “One girl at a time” – ensuring girls’ education in rural, disadvantaged areas. Initiatives: Development Impact Bond (2015) – world’s first in education, benefiting 2 million girls in 30,000 villages. Pragati Open Schooling Program – helps women aged 15–29 continue education (expanded from 300 to 31,500 participants). ABOUT RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD Established: 1958 (named after former Philippines President Ramon Magsaysay) Objective: Honors individuals/organizations showing transformative leadership,....Read More

Current Context: The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education has selected 16 teachers from Higher Educational Institutions and Polytechnic Institutes for National Awards to Teachers 2024. ABOUT NATIONAL AWARDS TO TEACHERS Established: 1958 Purpose: To recognise meritorious teachers and headmasters for improving the quality of education and enriching learning experiences. Presented By: President of India / Vice-President of India on 5th September (Teachers’ Day) every year. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education ELIGIBILITY Teachers & Heads of Schools in: State Govt./UT schools, local body schools, aided schools, and private schools affiliated to State/UT Boards Central Govt. schools (KVs, JNVs, Sainik....Read More

Current Context: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has invited nominations for the National Youth Award (NYA) 2024. ABOUT NATIONAL YOUTH AWARD Ministry: Sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Purpose: To recognize and motivate Indian youth for their outstanding work in social service and national development. To encourage responsibility, leadership, and citizenship among youth. To honor voluntary organizations working with youth. Eligibility: Individuals aged 15–29 years and organizations involved in youth-centric development activities (health, culture, sports, human rights, art, tourism, traditional medicine, research, etc.). Award Categories: Individual Category – Up to 20 awards annually. Organisation Category....Read More

Current Context : Recently, seven senior military leaders were conferred with the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) for their distinguished service and leadership during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. ABOUT SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL (SYSM) Nature of Award: India’s highest wartime distinguished service honour. Purpose: Awarded for exceptional leadership during war, conflict, or hostilities. Prestige: Equivalent to Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), which is conferred for peacetime distinguished service. Rarity: Has been awarded only three times before (including during the Kargil War). AWARDEES OF SYSM 2025 Indian Air Force (IAF) – 4 Recipients Air Marshal....Read More

Current Context: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has opened nominations for the National Gopal Ratna Award 2025 under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.  ABOUT THE AWARD Launched in: 2021 Sector: Livestock and Dairy (highest national honour in this sector) Objective: Encourage excellence among farmers, dairy cooperatives, milk producer companies (MPCs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs) with a focus on indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds Award Categories Best Dairy Farmer (rearing indigenous breeds) Best Dairy Cooperative / MPC / FPO Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) Special Awards: For North Eastern Region (NER) and Himalayan States....Read More

Current Context : Bibi Fatima Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) from a small village in Dharwad district, Karnataka, has won the prestigious Equator Initiative Award for their work in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and biodiversity conservation. ABOUT UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE AWARD Presented by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Equator Initiative. Frequency: Biennially (once every two years). Purpose: Recognise and honour outstanding Indigenous Peoples and local community initiatives. Support efforts addressing land degradation, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood improvement. Reputation: Known as the "Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation". ABOUT BIBI FATIMA WOMEN’S SELF-HELP GROUP (SHG) Location: Dharwad district, Karnataka, India. Key Initiatives:....Read More

Current Context : The 71st National Film Awards, honouring films released in 2023, were announced recently.  ABOUT NATIONAL FILM AWARDS Established: 1954 Purpose: To recognise films that contribute meaningfully to Indian cinema and culture Presented By: President of India (annually)  MAJOR AWARDS FOR 2023 FILMS Best Feature Film: 12th Fail Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) Best Actress: Rani Mukerji ( Chatterjee Vs Norway) Best Short Film: Giddh – The Scavenger Best Non-Feature Film: Flowering ManRead More

Current Context : The United Nations awarded the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize 2025 to Brenda Reynolds (Canada) and Kennedy Odede (Kenya) for their exceptional service to humanity and community development.  ABOUT THE PRIZE Founded: Established in 2014–15 as a quinquennial award given by the UN Secretary-General to one male and one female from different regions. Recognition Criteria: Honorees demonstrate life-long dedication to reconciliation, social cohesion, and community service, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy. Prize Details: Winners receive a plaque with citation and Mandela quote; no monetary prize. UN staff are ineligible. Indian Participation: No Indian has received the award to....Read More

Current Context:  Recently, 17 Members of Parliament (MPs) awarded Sansad Ratna Awards for outstanding performance in the 18th Lok Sabha. Based on metrics like debates, questions, bills, attendance, and committee work. Notable recipients: Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Ravi Kishan (BJP), Nishikant Dubey (BJP), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-UBT). Special Jury Awards given for sustained excellence to: Bhartruhari Mahtab K. Premachandran Supriya Sule Shrirang Appa Barne  ABOUT SANSAD RATNA AWARDS Established : Initiated in 2010, inspired by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to recognize parliamentary excellence. Selection Criteria : Based on objective data: debates, MP questions, bills, attendance, committee contributions. Significance Encourages transparency, efficiency, and....Read More