50. Who received the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation for 2011?
[UPPSC Civil Services Prelims — 2012]
(A) Aung San Suu Kyi
(B) Dalai Lama
(C) Bill Clinton
(D) Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Answer: (B) Dalai Lama
Explanation: The Dalai Lama was honoured for his nonviolent advocacy and efforts promoting reconciliation. This Gandhi-linked award associated with South Africa should not be confused with the Government of India’s separate Gandhi Peace Prize.
49. Which Pakistani national was awarded India’s Bharat Ratna?
[UPPSC GIC Examination — 2010]
(A) Muhammad Iqbal
(B) Liaquat Ali Khan
(C) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
(D) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Answer: (C) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Explanation: Frontier Gandhi Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan received the Bharat Ratna in 1987. He was a committed advocate of nonviolent resistance and founded the Khudai Khidmatgar movement, earning admiration in both India and Pakistan.
48. Which organisation confers the Crystal Award to integrate cultural leaders into its meetings?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2009]
(A) World Health Organization
(B) World Economic Forum
(C) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(D) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Answer: (B) World Economic Forum
Explanation: The World Economic Forum presents Crystal Awards to artists and cultural leaders whose work improves society. Recipients are recognised during the WEF annual meeting at Davos, integrating arts and culture with discussions of economics and global cooperation.
47. Consider:
(1) the V. K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in New Delhi,
(2) K. G. Balakrishnan was the first recipient of its award.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2009]
(A) Neither statement
(B) Both statements
(C) Statement 1 only
(D) Statement 2 only
Answer: (D) Statement 2 only
Explanation: The V. K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in London, so the New Delhi statement is inaccurate. K. G. Balakrishnan was the first recipient of the award. The item tests both institutional location and award history.
46. Kim Dae-jung, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was a leader of which country?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2008]
(A) South Korea
(B) Cambodia
(C) Vietnam
(D) Japan
Answer: (A) South Korea
Explanation: South Korean politician Kim Dae-jung won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for promoting democracy, human rights and reconciliation with North Korea. He served as President of South Korea, where his engagement policy became known as the Sunshine Policy.
45. In which year was Bharat Ratna first awarded, including to Dr S. Radhakrishnan?
[CGPSC Prelims — 2008]
(A) 1953
(B) 1952
(C) 1948
(D) 1954
Answer: (D) 1954
Explanation: The Bharat Ratna was instituted in January 1954. Its first recipients were C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and C. V. Raman. The award ranks above Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri in civilian honours.
44. Which foreign citizen among the listed people received India’s Bharat Ratna?
[BPSC 48th–52nd Prelims — 2008]
(A) Bill Clinton
(B) Adolf Hitler
(C) Boris Yeltsin
(D) Nelson Mandela
Answer: (D) Nelson Mandela
Explanation: South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela received the Bharat Ratna in 1990. His historic struggle against racial segregation made him an internationally recognised figure of reconciliation and democratic equality.
43. Which research organisation won the 2006 CSIR Award for Science and Technology Innovations for Rural Development?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2007]
(A) Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI)
(B) National Dairy Research Institute
(C) Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(D) National Dairy Development Board
Answer: (A) Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI)
Explanation: The Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai was recognised for technologies that improved rural leather processing and supported artisans. The CSIR innovation award highlighted science with practical developmental benefits beyond laboratory research.
42. In which year was Bharat Ratna first conferred?
[Uttarakhand UDA/LDA Prelims — 2007]
(A) 1951
(B) 1954
(C) 1953
(D) 1956
Answer: (B) 1954
Explanation: Bharat Ratna began in 1954, with three recipients: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, C. Rajagopalachari and C. V. Raman. The decoration is India’s highest civilian honour for exceptional service or performance.
41. In which Olympic sport is the Val Barker Cup awarded?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2006]
(A) Swimming
(B) Long jump
(C) High jump
(D) Boxing
Answer: (D) Boxing
Explanation: The Val Barker Cup is awarded in Olympic boxing for distinguished technical and stylistic excellence. It takes its name from an English boxing administrator. The trophy relates to an individual boxer rather than a team championship.
