180. Which Padma Vibhushan 2025 recipient is correctly paired with Literature and Education and Kerala?
[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2025]
(A) Jagdish Singh Khehar — Art
(B) Kumudini Lakhia — Medicine
(C) Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy — Public Affairs
(D) M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Answer: (D) M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Explanation: M. T. Vasudevan Nair, a major Malayalam novelist and screenwriter from Kerala, was honoured posthumously in Literature and Education. The other personalities had different areas of achievement, including medicine, public affairs and classical dance.
179. Which former United States President won the Nobel Peace Prize for seeking peaceful solutions to international conflicts and promoting democracy and human rights?
[UPSC NDA-I GAT — 2025]
(A) Jimmy Carter
(B) Woodrow Wilson
(C) Al Gore
(D) Barack Obama
Answer: (A) Jimmy Carter
Explanation: Former American President Jimmy Carter received the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for decades of work toward peaceful conflict resolution, democratic institutions and human rights. Other names in the options also won Nobel awards, making the prize citation crucial.
178. Which United Nations agency has received the Nobel Peace Prize more than once?
[UPSC CDS-I General Studies — 2025]
(A) World Food Programme
(B) UNICEF
(C) UNHCR
(D) International Labour Organization
Answer: (C) UNHCR
Explanation: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and again in 1981 for protection and assistance of displaced people. The other listed United Nations agencies have received one Nobel Peace Prize apiece.
177. Who was NOT conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2024?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims — 2025]
(A) Vyjayantimala Bali
(B) Chiranjeevi
(C) A. R. Rahman
(D) M. Venkaiah Naidu
Answer: (C) A. R. Rahman
Explanation: Vyjayantimala Bali, Chiranjeevi and former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu were Padma Vibhushan recipients in 2024. Composer A. R. Rahman had received the Padma Bhushan in 2010, not that higher award in 2024.
176. Which award had hockey goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh NOT received by February 2025?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims — 2025]
(A) Padma Bhushan
(B) Dronacharya Award
(C) Arjuna Award
(D) Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
Answer: (B) Dronacharya Award
Explanation: P. R. Sreejesh had received the Arjuna Award and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna for his playing career, and Padma Bhushan was announced in 2025. The Dronacharya Award recognises coaches, not his playing achievements.
175. For what purpose are the Shankar Shah and Rani Durgavati awards presented to tribal students in Madhya Pradesh?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims — 2025]
(A) Rewarding national entrance examination qualifiers
(B) Encouraging meritorious Class 10 and 12 students
(C) Providing postgraduate accommodation
(D) Encouraging only technical education
Answer: (B) Encouraging meritorious Class 10 and 12 students
Explanation: These awards are intended to encourage academically successful Scheduled Tribe students in Madhya Pradesh, particularly high achievers in school board examinations. The question tests a state-level educational distinction rather than the nationwide civilian Padma honours.
174. Who received Madhya Pradesh’s Kishore Kumar Samman for the year 2023?
[MPPSC State Service Prelims — 2025]
(A) Kailash Kher
(B) Vishal Bhardwaj
(C) Rajkumar Hirani
(D) Shankar Mahadevan
Answer: (C) Rajkumar Hirani
Explanation: Film director Rajkumar Hirani received the state honour recognising distinguished contribution to cinema. The award is named for singer and actor Kishore Kumar and is associated with Madhya Pradesh, notably his birthplace Khandwa.
173. Which state government instituted the Tansen Samman in 1980 for Hindustani classical musicians?
[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Bihar
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (D) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: The Madhya Pradesh government instituted Tansen Samman to honour excellence in Hindustani classical music. Its name commemorates Tansen, a celebrated singer in Akbar’s court. The award is strongly associated with the Gwalior music tradition.
172. Which honour was conferred upon Lata Mangeshkar in 2001?
[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]
(A) Dadasaheb Phalke Award
(B) Bharat Ratna
(C) Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
(D) Padma Vibhushan
Answer: (B) Bharat Ratna
Explanation: Lata Mangeshkar received the Bharat Ratna in 2001. She had received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. The different award years are the key distinction this question examines.
171. Which state conferred the Banga Vibhushan Award on tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee?
[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]
(A) Tripura
(B) West Bengal
(C) Assam
(D) Jharkhand
Answer: (B) West Bengal
Explanation: Banga Vibhushan is a state civilian honour of West Bengal, not one of the national Padma decorations. Tabla exponent Anindo Chatterjee was recognised by the state in 2022. The word Banga itself provides the regional clue.
