Awards – GK Questions

Ashapurna Devi, a Bengali writer, was the first woman to win the Jnanpith Award in 1976 for her novel 'Pratham Pratisruti', though she wrote primarily in Bengali, not Hindi. Correction: Mahadevi Varma was honored later; Ashapurna Devi was indeed the first woman recipient.

The song 'Naatu Naatu' from the Telugu film 'RRR' won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2023, marking the first Oscar win for an Indian-produced film in this category.

As of 2024, Ratan Tata has not been awarded the Bharat Ratna. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1997), Sachin Tendulkar (2014), and Lata Mangeshkar (2001) are all Bharat Ratna awardees.

Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan became the youngest Nobel laureate ever when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at age 17 for her advocacy for girls' education and human rights.

The Dronacharya Award is named after Guru Dronacharya, the royal preceptor of the Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata, symbolizing excellence in coaching and mentorship in sports.

Hilary Mantel, though British, won the Booker Prize twice (2009 for 'Wolf Hall' and 2012 for 'Bring Up the Bodies'). Among Indian-born authors, no one has won twice; Salman Rushdie won once for 'Midnight's Children' (1981).

The Param Vir Chakra is made of standard metal (a bronze alloy). The obverse bears the national emblem of India surrounded by four copies of Indra's Vajra with the words 'Param Vir Chakra' inscribed in Hindi and English.

Government servants, including those working with PSUs (except doctors and scientists), are generally NOT eligible for Padma Awards. This restriction aims to recognize contributions from non-government individuals.

The Emmy Awards, presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, honor outstanding achievements in television programming, including drama, comedy, news, and documentaries.

Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, established the Nobel Prizes in his 1895 will to award those who confer the 'greatest benefit to humankind' in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace.

Recipients of the Arjuna Award receive a bronze statue of Arjuna, a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize (currently ₹15 lakh), recognizing their consistent outstanding performance in sports.

The Fields Medal is awarded every four years by the International Mathematical Union to mathematicians under 40 years of age for outstanding achievements and future promise in mathematics.

Although there is no statutory limit, a convention established in 1999 suggests that a maximum of three Bharat Ratna awards may be conferred in a year. However, this is not a rigid rule.

The Academy Awards, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), are popularly known as the Oscars. The origin of the nickname dates back to the 1930s.

The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is India's second-highest military decoration awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.

The Sahitya Akademi Award recognizes literary excellence in 24 Indian languages, including English, and is one of the most prestigious literary honors in India.

As per Alfred Nobel's will, the Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, while the other prizes (Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature) are awarded in Stockholm by Swedish institutions.

The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, instituted in 1958 by CSIR, recognizes exceptional research in biological, chemical, earth, engineering, mathematical, medical, and physical sciences.

The Grammy Awards are presented by the Recording Academy (formerly National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry.

The Padma Vibhushan is indeed the second-highest civilian award in India, after Bharat Ratna and before Padma Bhushan. It recognizes exceptional and distinguished service in any field.