Awards and Trophies

VidyaarOctober 27, 20260257 views

200. Which UK-born professor at an American university received a Nobel Prize in 2025?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2026]

(A) John Clarke

(B) Joel Mokyr

(D) Michel H. Devoret

Answer: (A) John Clarke

Explanation: John Clarke was born in Cambridge, England, and worked at the University of California, Berkeley. He shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for experimental discoveries concerning macroscopic quantum tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.

199. Which statements about the BAFTA-recognised Indian film Boong are correct:
(1) it won the Children’s and Family Film category,
(2) Lakshmipriya Devi directed it,
(3) it was the first Indian film to win this category?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2026]

(A) 2 and 3 only

(B) 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Boong is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and achieved a landmark BAFTA win in the Children’s and Family Film category. All three statements describe that recognition correctly. It was a notable international distinction for Indian regional-language cinema.

198. Who received the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 for advocating democratic rights in Venezuela?

[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I — 2026]

(A) María Corina Machado

(B) Michelle Bachelet

(D) Juan Guaidó

Answer: (A) María Corina Machado

Explanation: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was selected for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her peaceful advocacy for democratic rights and political transition. She should not be confused with Nobel laureates in the science categories.

197. Which Indian education non-profit received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2025?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2026]

(A) Educate Girls

(B) Akshaya Patra

(D) Teach For India

Answer: (A) Educate Girls

Explanation: Educate Girls, an organisation founded by Safeena Husain, was recognised for its efforts to bring out-of-school girls back into classrooms. The Ramon Magsaysay Award honours transformative Asian leadership and public service, rather than academic examination results.

196. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature winner László Krasznahorkai is associated with which country?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2026]

(A) Slovakia

(B) Romania

(D) Hungary

Answer: (D) Hungary

Explanation: László Krasznahorkai is a Hungarian author recognised for visionary literary work. His prose is known for long sentences and apocalyptic themes. The Nobel Prize in Literature is selected by the Swedish Academy rather than a film or journalism organisation.

195. Which economist shared the 2025 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with two other economists?

[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-II — 2026]

(A) Daron Acemoglu

(B) Paul Krugman

(D) Thomas Piketty

Answer: (C) Joel Mokyr

Explanation: Joel Mokyr was honoured alongside Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt. Their contributions concern technological progress, innovation and economic growth. The economics award was established by Sweden’s central bank and is distinct from the original five Nobel Prize fields.

194. Regarding the Jnanpith Award, which is correct:
(1) the 58th award honoured Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and
(2) the first award was given in 1965?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]

(A) Both 1 and 2

(B) 1 only

(D) 2 only

Answer: (A) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: The 58th Jnanpith was shared by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and Gulzar. The inaugural award went to G. Sankara Kurup in 1965 for Malayalam literature. Bharatiya Jnanpith confers this prestigious literary honour, not the Sahitya Akademi.

193. Who among Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi and Sanjay Chauhan were associated with winning the 2025 International Booker Prize?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]

(A) Banu Mushtaq only

(B) Deepa Bhasthi and Sanjay Chauhan

(D) All three

Answer: (C) Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi

Explanation: Banu Mushtaq wrote the Kannada short-story collection Heart Lamp, and Deepa Bhasthi translated it into English. The 2025 International Booker Prize recognises both author and translator, unlike the separate annual Booker Prize for English-language fiction.

192. In the 2025 Padma Vibhushan list, which pairing is correct for Osamu Suzuki?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]

(A) Art

(B) Literature and Education

(D) Medicine

Answer: (C) Trade and Industry

Explanation: Osamu Suzuki, the former head of Suzuki Motor Corporation, was recognised posthumously in the Trade and Industry category. Padma awards acknowledge exceptional service across different professions and are announced around Republic Day each year.

191. Who was among the Indian writers on the jury for the 2026 International Booker Prize?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]

(A) Rajni Chauhan

(B) Kiran Desai

(D) Nilanjana S. Roy

Answer: (D) Nilanjana S. Roy

Explanation: Writer and critic Nilanjana S. Roy was named to the jury connected with the 2026 International Booker Prize. The panel reviews translated fiction published in English; this prize should be distinguished from the original Booker Prize for English-language novels.

190. Who won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for James?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]

(A) Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

(B) Percival Everett

(D) Susie Ibarra

Answer: (B) Percival Everett

Explanation: Percival Everett received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for James, his reimagining of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s perspective. The Pulitzer Prizes are administered by Columbia University and recognise journalism, literature, drama and music.

189. Which literary award was linked to the honour given to lyricist and poet Gulzar in 2025?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) Padma Bhushan

(B) Padma Shri

(D) Jnanpith Award

Answer: (D) Jnanpith Award

Explanation: Gulzar received recognition through the 58th Jnanpith Award, shared with Sanskrit scholar Rambhadracharya. The Jnanpith honours outstanding literary achievement across eligible Indian languages. Gulzar is also well known for screenwriting, song lyrics and poetry.

188. The Jnanpith honour presented to Jagadguru Rambhadracharya in May 2025 was which numbered award?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) 52nd

(B) 48th

(D) 62nd

Answer: (C) 58th

Explanation: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, a Sanskrit scholar and spiritual teacher, was one of the recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award. The number refers to the award edition, not the calendar year when the investiture ceremony was held.

187. Who received the 2025 Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year award?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) Mohamed Salah

(B) Erling Haaland

(D) Harry Kane

Answer: (A) Mohamed Salah

Explanation: Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian forward playing for Liverpool, was selected by football writers for his outstanding performances in the 2024–25 English season. This award is distinct from both the Premier League Golden Boot and the Ballon d’Or.

186. Who received the Freedom to Publish honour at the 2025 British Book Awards?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) Hilary Mantel

(B) J. K. Rowling

(D) Margaret Atwood

Answer: (D) Margaret Atwood

Explanation: Canadian author Margaret Atwood received recognition for championing freedom of expression and publication. She wrote The Handmaid’s Tale, a novel frequently discussed in debates on censorship, political power and women’s rights.

185. Which biochemist won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research on the structure of insulin?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) Frederick Sanger

(B) Eduard Buchner

(D) Rosalind Franklin

Answer: (A) Frederick Sanger

Explanation: Frederick Sanger established the amino-acid sequence of insulin, revealing how proteins possess a definite sequence. He subsequently won a second Chemistry Nobel in 1980 for DNA sequencing techniques, making him a rare two-time laureate.

184. The 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognised Paul Ehrlich for work in which area?

[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) Discovery of penicillin

(B) Sulpha-drug antibacterial effects

(D) Immunology

Answer: (D) Immunology

Explanation: Paul Ehrlich shared the 1908 medicine prize with Ilya Mechnikov for studies of immunity. Ehrlich’s side-chain theory helped explain antibody activity. His later work on Salvarsan is associated with the beginnings of targeted chemotherapy.

183. In which year did Paul Ehrlich receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?

[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2025]

(A) 1905

(B) 1901

(D) 1913

Explanation: Paul Ehrlich shared the 1908 Nobel Prize with Ilya Mechnikov for research on immunity. Ehrlich later developed Salvarsan, an early treatment for syphilis. The examination year is 2025, while the Nobel award date being tested is 1908.

182. Which Padma Shri 2025 recipient trained women in the traditional Bengali dhak percussion art?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2025]

(A) Sheen Kaaf Nizam

(B) Gokul Chandra Das

(D) Shyam Bihari Agrawal

Answer: (B) Gokul Chandra Das

Explanation: Gokul Chandra Das is a dhak artist associated with Bengali folk percussion. His work opened opportunities for women in an occupation long dominated by men. His Padma Shri recognition was recorded in the art category.

181. Which of the following Padma awardee and field pairs is correct?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2025]

(A) Dinesh Saini — Environment

(B) Gokul Chandra Das — Folk Music

(D) Farooq Ahmad Mir — Literature

Answer: (B) Gokul Chandra Das — Folk Music

Explanation: Gokul Chandra Das received the Padma Shri for contributions to folk percussion and training women as dhak players. The other pairings mix up the recipient’s actual work or field, making this a matching question rather than mere name recall.

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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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.

170. For which award was sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar selected in 1999?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Padma Bhushan

(B) Padma Vibhushan

(D) Bharat Ratna

Answer: (D) Bharat Ratna

Explanation: Pandit Ravi Shankar, who helped bring the sitar to audiences worldwide, received India’s highest civilian honour in 1999. His earlier Padma honours belonged to different years, so reading the year in the question is essential.

169. Which award did tabla player Zakir Hussain receive from the Government of India in 2023?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Padma Shri

(B) Padma Bhushan

(D) Bharat Ratna

Answer: (C) Padma Vibhushan

Explanation: Zakir Hussain was given the Padma Vibhushan in 2023 for outstanding service in music. He had earlier received the Padma Shri in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002, which makes the year decisive.

168. Which honour did Zakir Hussain receive in 2002, becoming a notably young percussionist to receive it?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Grammy Award

(B) Padma Bhushan

(D) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Answer: (B) Padma Bhushan

Explanation: The tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain received the Padma Bhushan in 2002. His Padma Shri was awarded in 1988 and the Padma Vibhushan followed in 2023. The three Padma categories should not be confused.

167. The 21st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award was presented to which sarod maestro?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Amjad Ali Khan

(B) Ali Akbar Khan

(D) Hariprasad Chaurasia

Answer: (A) Amjad Ali Khan

Explanation: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, known for sarod performances, received the 21st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award. The award recognises efforts supporting communal harmony and national integration and is not a government civilian decoration.

166. Which Indian classical dancer from Odisha was the first in the state to receive Padma Vibhushan?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Birju Maharaj

(B) Kelucharan Mohapatra

(D) Uday Shankar

Answer: (B) Kelucharan Mohapatra

Explanation: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was a leading figure in the revival and international recognition of Odissi dance. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 2000. Odissi originated in Odisha and has a distinct classical tradition.

165. Which classical dance form led to Ranjana Gauhar receiving the Padma Shri in 2003?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Sattriya

(B) Odissi

(D) Kuchipudi

Answer: (B) Odissi

Explanation: Ranjana Gauhar is an Odissi dancer and teacher, recognised with the Padma Shri in 2003. Odissi is distinguished by the tribhanga posture and the cultural heritage of Odisha. This award-related question tests the recipient’s artistic discipline.

164. Which instrument is associated with Padma Bhushan recipient Ustad Sabri Khan?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Sarod

(B) Santoor

(D) Sarangi

Answer: (D) Sarangi

Explanation: Ustad Sabri Khan was a renowned sarangi player whose performances popularised the bowed string instrument internationally. He received the Padma Bhushan in 2006. A sarangi is different from the plucked sarod and hammered santoor.

163. Who was the Padma Shri-recognised folk singer from Uttar Pradesh among the listed artistes?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Ajita Srivastava

(B) Ila Arun

(D) Gurmeet Bawa

Answer: (A) Ajita Srivastava

Explanation: Ajita Srivastava was recognised for preserving folk singing traditions of Uttar Pradesh, especially its regional musical repertoire. The question distinguishes her from folk artists associated with Rajasthan, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

162. Which organisation has bestowed the Sangeet Kala Acharya honour since 1993?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Shankar Mahadevan Academy

(B) Calcutta School of Music

(D) Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts

Answer: (C) Madras Music Academy

Explanation: The Music Academy in Chennai presents the Sangeet Kala Acharya distinction for contributions to classical music teaching and scholarship. The institution also stages a major annual music season associated with Carnatic music.

161. Which violinist was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) T. N. Krishnan

(B) V. G. Jog

(D) Annavarapu Rama Swamy

Answer: (D) Annavarapu Rama Swamy

Explanation: Annavarapu Rama Swamy is a classical violinist from Andhra Pradesh who received the Padma Shri in 2021. The honour recognises his service to Indian classical music, a field represented across several civilian-award lists.

160. Which of these awards was conferred on the choir conductor Coomi Nariman Wadia in 2023?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Padma Vibhushan

(B) Padma Shri

(D) Bharat Ratna

Answer: (B) Padma Shri

Explanation: Coomi Nariman Wadia, associated with Western choral music in India, was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023. Her work extended choral conducting and music education, showing that Padma recognition is not limited to Indian classical forms.

159. In which year was the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) 2018

(B) 2019

(D) 2023

Explanation: The Government of India renamed the highest individual sporting honour in August 2021 after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. The award recognises outstanding international sporting performance, while the separate Dronacharya Award is for coaches.

158. Who was awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan for the year 2002?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Ravi Shankar

(B) Lata Mangeshkar

(D) Asha Bhosle

Answer: (C) Bhimsen Joshi

Explanation: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a leading Hindustani vocalist of the Kirana gharana, was a Maharashtra Bhushan recipient for 2002. He later received the Bharat Ratna in 2008, which is a separate national-level decoration.

157. The Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer was established by which state?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Tripura

(B) Gujarat

(D) Maharashtra

Answer: (C) Andhra Pradesh

Explanation: Andhra Pradesh instituted the Nandi Awards to celebrate achievements in Telugu cinema. The Best Male Playback Singer category dates to 1977. These are state film honours, separate from the National Film Awards.

156. Which state honoured Vani Jairam with the M. S. Subbulakshmi Award for 2019?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Kerala

(B) Telangana

(D) Karnataka

Answer: (C) Tamil Nadu

Explanation: Vani Jairam, a multilingual playback singer, was honoured by Tamil Nadu with an award named after Carnatic legend M. S. Subbulakshmi. Such honours recognise musical contribution but are separate from the national Padma awards.

155. Norman E. Borlaug received which Nobel Prize in 1970 for his agricultural work?

[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Nobel Prize in Chemistry

(B) Nobel Prize in Physics

(D) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Answer: (C) Nobel Peace Prize

Explanation: Agronomist Norman Borlaug received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for contributions to increasing agricultural productivity and combating hunger. The improved wheat varieties he promoted helped advance the Green Revolution in multiple countries.

154. Which sporting honour, unlike the other listed national sports awards, carried no cash component in the cited scheme?

[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy

(B) Dronacharya Award

(D) Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna

Answer: (C) Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar

Explanation: Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar recognises institutions, organisations and companies promoting sport. The question contrasts this recognition with individual and institutional sports honours that carry prescribed cash awards under the respective schemes.

153. Which Indian award honours lifetime contribution by sportspersons, including service after retirement?

[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Dronacharya Award

(B) Arjuna Award

(D) Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna

Answer: (C) Dhyan Chand Award

Explanation: The Dhyan Chand Award was introduced in 2002 to honour lifetime contribution by athletes. Dronacharya primarily recognises coaching, while the Arjuna Award recognises athletic performance and the Khel Ratna outstanding recent sporting achievement.

152. Which politician received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2023 for public affairs?

[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Mulayam Singh Yadav

(B) Balkrishna Doshi

(D) G. M. C. Balayogi

Answer: (A) Mulayam Singh Yadav

Explanation: Mulayam Singh Yadav, a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was honoured posthumously in Public Affairs. Balkrishna Doshi and Dilip Mahalanabis were also Padma Vibhushan recipients, but associated with different fields.

151. Match Devendra Jhajharia, Sumit Antil, Neeraj Chopra and Shikhar Dhawan with their cited sports or Padma awards. Which sequence is correct?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2024]

(A) Jhajharia–Khel Ratna, Antil–Padma Shri, Chopra–Arjuna, Dhawan–Padma Bhushan

(B) Jhajharia–Padma Shri, Antil–Arjuna, Chopra–Padma Bhushan, Dhawan–Khel Ratna

(D) Jhajharia–Padma Bhushan; Antil–Padma Shri; Chopra–Khel Ratna; Dhawan–Arjuna

Answer: (D) Jhajharia–Padma Bhushan; Antil–Padma Shri; Chopra–Khel Ratna; Dhawan–Arjuna

Explanation: These four athletes represent para-athletics, javelin and cricket. Devendra Jhajharia received Padma Bhushan in 2022; Sumit Antil received Padma Shri; Neeraj Chopra was among the 2021 Khel Ratna recipients; Shikhar Dhawan received Arjuna Award.

150. Who received the Rohini Nayyar Prize in 2023?

[CGPSC State Service Prelims — 2024]

(A) Deenanath Rajput

(B) Neil Shanker

(D) Surya Charan

Answer: (A) Deenanath Rajput

Explanation: Deenanath Rajput was recognised for his work empowering tribal women in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The Rohini Nayyar Prize acknowledges outstanding grassroots contributions to rural development and social progress in India.

149. Which statement about the Padma Awards is correct?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) A Padma award is used as a title before a name

(B) The Padma Awards are conferred annually

(D) Awardee names are never published in the Gazette

Answer: (B) The Padma Awards are conferred annually

Explanation: Padma awards are normally announced around Republic Day every year and conferred by the President. Recipients may not use them as titles attached to names, and the number of awards follows specified government guidelines.

148. What is the correct descending order of the three Padma Awards?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan

(B) Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan

(D) Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan

Answer: (C) Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri

Explanation: Padma Vibhushan is the highest of the three Padma categories, followed by Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Bharat Ratna ranks above them as India’s highest civilian honour. The Padma awards were instituted in 1954.

147. Which statements about Padma Subrahmanyam are true: (1) Bharatanatyam dancer, (2) Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, (3) Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) Only 1 and 2

(B) Only 1 and 3

(D) All three

Answer: (D) All three

Explanation: Padma Subrahmanyam is a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer and scholar. She received Padma Shri in 1981, Padma Bhushan in 2003 and a Sangeet Natak Akademi honour. She was subsequently selected for Padma Vibhushan in 2024.

146. Shovana Narayan, a Padma Shri recipient, is a leading exponent of which classical dance?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) Bharatanatyam

(B) Sattriya

(D) Kathak

Answer: (D) Kathak

Explanation: Shovana Narayan is an accomplished Kathak dancer, choreographer and author. She received Padma Shri for artistic contribution and is recognised for exploring narrative themes through the North Indian classical Kathak tradition.

145. Mukund Nayak received Padma Shri in 2017 for promoting which folk performance tradition?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) Yakshagana

(B) Sattriya

(D) Nagpuri Jhumar

Answer: (D) Nagpuri Jhumar

Explanation: Mukund Nayak is a folk singer and artist from Jharkhand known for preserving Nagpuri and Jhumar traditions. His Padma Shri acknowledged outstanding contributions to the region’s performing arts and intangible cultural heritage.

144. Usha Barle, honoured with Padma Shri in 2023, is associated with which Chhattisgarh folk narrative tradition?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) Panihari

(B) Kajari

(D) Lavani

Answer: (C) Pandwani

Explanation: Pandwani is an oral singing and storytelling tradition of Chhattisgarh that narrates episodes from the Mahabharata. Performer Usha Barle was recognised for preserving this genre, which blends song, dramatic narration and musical accompaniment.

143. Who wrote the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning Hindi novel Zindaginama?

[SSC MTS — 2024]

(A) Mahadevi Verma

(B) Amrita Pritam

(D) Krishna Sobti

Answer: (D) Krishna Sobti

Explanation: Hindi author Krishna Sobti won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980 for Zindaginama. The novel evokes rural Punjab and its social life. Sobti later received the Jnanpith Award for her distinguished literary career.

142. Who received the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Mithali Raj

(B) Ellyse Perry

(D) Lizelle Lee

Answer: (C) Smriti Mandhana

Explanation: Indian opener Smriti Mandhana was recognised for her performances across international cricket formats during 2021. The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy bears the name of the pioneering England women’s cricket captain. It is distinct from the men’s Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.

141. For which contribution did Padma Shri awardee Narthaki Nataraj receive recognition in 2019?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Agricultural women’s empowerment

(B) Bharatanatyam and overcoming social exclusion

(D) Promotion of Indian cuisine

Answer: (B) Bharatanatyam and overcoming social exclusion

Explanation: Narthaki Nataraj is a Bharatanatyam exponent and a pioneering transgender cultural figure. Her Padma Shri in the art category honoured both artistic work and the crossing of social barriers. She trained in classical dance traditions in Tamil Nadu.

140. Which percussionist and music director received the Padma Shri in 2019?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Sivamani

(B) Nucleya

(D) Bappi Lahiri

Answer: (A) Sivamani

Explanation: Sivamani is known for percussion performances combining classical and contemporary rhythms. He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2019 for contributions to art. The alternatives represent other musical styles and generations but were not the corresponding awardee.

139. Which state’s Baiga dance tradition was represented by Padma Shri 2022 recipient Arjun Singh Dhurve?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Rajasthan

(B) West Bengal

(D) Madhya Pradesh

Answer: (D) Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: Arjun Singh Dhurve is associated with Baiga tribal dance and culture in Madhya Pradesh. His Padma Shri recognised work preserving traditional performance. Baiga communities are primarily associated with central India, especially parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

138. Which dance form was represented by Padma Shri awardee V. Satyanarayana Sarma?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Kathak

(B) Odissi

(D) Bharatanatyam

Answer: (C) Kuchipudi

Explanation: Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma was a celebrated Kuchipudi dancer and teacher. He was particularly recognised for female roles in traditional dance drama. Kuchipudi is a classical art form originating in Andhra Pradesh.

137. Who received a 2023 Padma award for reviving the eco-friendly craft of Etikoppaka toys?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) C. V. Raju

(B) Victor Banerjee

(D) Radheyshyam Khemka

Answer: (A) C. V. Raju

Explanation: C. V. Raju is associated with Etikoppaka wooden toys made in Andhra Pradesh. His work helped safeguard traditional lac-turned toy craftsmanship while encouraging environmentally friendly methods. The Padma distinction acknowledged preservation of an endangered craft.

136. Aditi Mangal Das received the Mahari Award in 2022 for which classical dance?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Kathak

(B) Manipuri

(D) Bharatanatyam

Answer: (A) Kathak

Explanation: Aditi Mangaldas is a Kathak performer known for combining classical vocabulary with contemporary choreographic approaches. Her recognition through the Mahari Award related to dance performance. Kathak developed in North India and uses intricate footwork and spins.

135. Padma Shri 2020 recipient Vajira Chitrasena, from Sri Lanka, was recognised for work promoting what?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Educational exchange

(B) India–Sri Lanka cultural ties through classical dance

(D) Classical instrumental music

Answer: (B) India–Sri Lanka cultural ties through classical dance

Explanation: Vajira Chitrasena is a distinguished Sri Lankan dancer whose artistic work contributed to cultural understanding between India and Sri Lanka. Her Padma Shri illustrated the possibility of Indian civilian honours going to foreign nationals.

134. Joravarsinh Jadav received the Padma Shri in 2019 for preserving which regional performance tradition?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Yakshagana of Karnataka

(B) Tamasha of Maharashtra

(D) Gujarati Bhavai folk tradition

Answer: (D) Gujarati Bhavai folk tradition

Explanation: Joravarsinh Jadav devoted decades to documenting Gujarati folklore, folk theatre and traditions such as Bhavai. His 2019 Padma Shri acknowledged the preservation of intangible culture. Bhavai is associated with Gujarat and neighbouring regions.

133. Who was honoured with the Padma award in 2023 for reviving traditional Naga folk music using innovation?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2023]

(A) Moa Subong

(B) Baba Balia

(D) T. Senka Ao

Answer: (A) Moa Subong

Explanation: Moa Subong of Nagaland is known for the development and promotion of traditional Naga instruments and folk music, including the bamhum. His Padma recognition highlighted the importance of indigenous musical traditions.

132. Who composed the Golden Globe-winning song Naatu Naatu from RRR?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2023]

(A) M. M. Keeravani

(B) Anirudh Ravichander

(D) A. R. Rahman

Answer: (A) M. M. Keeravani

Explanation: Composer M. M. Keeravani created the music for Naatu Naatu, with lyrics by Chandrabose. The song won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2023 and subsequently the Academy Award in the same category.

131. Who received BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star recognition for 2022?

[WBCS Prelims — 2023]

(A) Lionel Messi

(B) Roger Federer

(D) Cristiano Ronaldo

Answer: (A) Lionel Messi

Explanation: Lionel Messi was recognised after Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The BBC’s World Sport Star award honours outstanding global sporting achievement and differs from tournament-specific honours such as the Golden Ball.

130. Which organisation was selected for the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021?

[RPSC RAS Prelims — 2023]

(A) Gita Press, Gorakhpur

(B) Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari

(D) Sulabh International

Answer: (A) Gita Press, Gorakhpur

Explanation: Gita Press of Gorakhpur was selected in 2023 to receive the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021. The award recognises contributions to social transformation through nonviolence and Gandhian ideals, including the dissemination of literature.

129. Which statements about the 2022 Padma Vibhushan are correct:
(i) four people were selected,
(ii) two were posthumous,
(iii) Prabha Atre was selected?

[CGPSC State Service Prelims — 2023]

(A) (i), (ii) and (iii)

(B) (i) only

(D) (i) and (iii) only

Answer: (D) (i) and (iii) only

Explanation: Four personalities received Padma Vibhushan for 2022, including Hindustani classical vocalist Prabha Atre. The claim about two posthumous recipients was incorrect. Care is needed because the announcement year and investiture date may differ.

128. Padma Shri recipient Sanathoiba Sharma was recognised in 2023 for preserving which Manipuri martial art?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Thang-Ta

(B) Mukna

(D) Khong Kangjei

Answer: (A) Thang-Ta

Explanation: Thang-Ta is an indigenous Manipuri martial-art tradition involving sword and spear techniques. Sanathoiba Sharma received the Padma Shri for his contribution to safeguarding and teaching this cultural practice, distinct from the state’s traditional games.

127. Which Indian musician won an Academy Award for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Anu Malik

(B) Bappi Lahiri

(D) A. R. Rahman

Answer: (D) A. R. Rahman

Explanation: A. R. Rahman won Academy Awards in 2009 for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for Slumdog Millionaire. The song Jai Ho also earned a Grammy. Film music awards differ from the separate National Film Awards.

126. Which former Indian women’s hockey captain received the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Rani Rampal

(B) Savita Punia

(D) Vandana Katariya

Answer: (C) Pritam Siwach

Explanation: Former India captain Pritam Siwach was honoured by the BBC for her lasting contribution to women’s hockey and her work motivating new players. Her recognition highlights lifetime influence beyond an athlete’s medals and immediate results.

125. Gurcharan Singh received Padma Shri in 2023 for contributions to which sport?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Tennis

(B) Cricket

(D) Badminton

Answer: (B) Cricket

Explanation: Gurcharan Singh is a respected Indian cricket coach who trained numerous players and promoted cricket development. His 2023 Padma Shri recognised his substantial service to the game, particularly through mentoring and coaching rather than an international playing career.

124. For which folk dance form was Rani Machaiah given Padma Shri in 2023?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Lambadi

(B) Ummathat

(D) Dhimsa

Answer: (B) Ummathat

Explanation: Rani Machaiah is associated with the Ummathat folk dance of the Kodava community in Karnataka. Her Padma Shri acknowledged efforts to preserve this regional cultural expression and share it with younger generations.

123. Which pair of musicians were both Bharat Ratna awardees as of May 2023?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar

(B) A. R. Rahman and Hariprasad Chaurasia

(D) Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Answer: (D) Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Explanation: Sitarist Ravi Shankar received Bharat Ratna in 1999, and vocalist Bhimsen Joshi received it in 2008. Both were leading figures in Hindustani classical music. The other listed pairs did not both receive this national honour.

122. In what year did the Government of India institute the Arjuna Award?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) 1963

(B) 1964

(D) 1961

Answer: (D) 1961

Explanation: The Arjuna Award began in 1961 to recognise outstanding achievements in sports. It is one of India’s major national sporting distinctions, separate from the Dronacharya Award for coaches and the highest individual Khel Ratna.

121. Which honour was awarded to Chhattisgarh folk performer Domar Singh Kunvar in 2023?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Bharat Ratna

(B) Padma Vibhushan

(D) Padma Shri

Answer: (D) Padma Shri

Explanation: Domar Singh Kunvar received the Padma Shri for preserving the traditional Natya Nacha performance of Chhattisgarh. His work brought attention to the folk theatre and dance heritage of central India and its social messages.

120. Which folk performance tradition is associated with 2023 Padma Shri awardee Domar Singh Kunvar?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Natya Nacha

(B) Soowa

(D) Pandwani

Answer: (A) Natya Nacha

Explanation: Natya Nacha combines folk theatre, storytelling, music and dance in Chhattisgarh. Domar Singh Kunvar helped preserve the form over several decades. The examination tested his artistic field rather than merely the tier of his Padma honour.

119. Guru Niranjan Rout and Guru Ramahari Das received the 2022 Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award for which dance and music tradition?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Kathak

(B) Sattriya

(D) Kuchipudi

Answer: (C) Odissi

Explanation: The two gurus were honoured for service to Odissi dance and music. The award commemorates Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, a major figure in the modern revival of the classical Odissi form, associated with Odisha.

118. Kalidas Samman is a prestigious arts award presented by which state government?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Kerala

(B) Madhya Pradesh

(D) Rajasthan

Answer: (B) Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: The Madhya Pradesh government instituted Kalidas Samman to celebrate distinguished achievements in classical music, dance, theatre and visual arts. It is named for the Sanskrit poet Kalidasa and belongs to the state’s cultural-award tradition.

117. Which Indian singer was the first Indian woman to receive a Grammy?

[SSC MTS — 2023]

(A) Palak Muchhal

(B) Shilpa Rao

(D) Shalmali Kholgade

Answer: (C) Tanvi Shah

Explanation: Singer and lyricist Tanvi Shah received a Grammy in 2010 connected with the song Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire. This distinction made her an early Indian woman recipient of a major international music honour.

116. Who was the first Indian musician to receive a Ramon Magsaysay Award?

[SSC CPO — 2022]

(A) Bismillah Khan

(B) Bhimsen Joshi

(D) M. S. Subbulakshmi

Answer: (D) M. S. Subbulakshmi

Explanation: Carnatic vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi received a Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1974 for public service. She later became the first musician awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1998. These honours recognised different aspects of her contribution.

115. In which year did sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar receive the Bharat Ratna?

[SSC CPO — 2022]

(A) 1998

(B) 1999

(D) 1996

Answer: (B) 1999

Explanation: Pandit Ravi Shankar was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999 for his musical contribution. His performances and international collaborations popularised the sitar. The honour followed earlier Padma awards in a long artistic career.

114. Which Indian woman was the first to win a Grammy Award?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2022]

(A) Tanvi Shah

(B) Neeti Mohan

(D) Shalmali Kholgade

Answer: (A) Tanvi Shah

Explanation: Singer and lyricist Tanvi Shah shared a Grammy Award for Jai Ho, associated with the film Slumdog Millionaire. She contributed Spanish lyrics. The song’s global success also earned major recognition for A. R. Rahman.

113. Who received the Dronacharya Award 2021 in the regular coaching category for table tennis?

[SSC CHSL Tier-I — 2022]

(A) Sathiyan Gnanasekaran

(B) Mouma Das

(D) Subramanian Raman

Answer: (D) Subramanian Raman

Explanation: Subramanian Raman was honoured for his coaching contribution to table tennis. The Dronacharya Award specifically recognises coaches; the other options are known primarily as competitive players, which is the distinction this PYQ tests.

112. Which award did Birju Maharaj receive in 2012 for his choreography?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2022]

(A) National Film Award

(B) Filmfare Award

(D) Sangam Kala Award

Answer: (A) National Film Award

Explanation: Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj received the National Film Award for choreography associated with a cinematic dance performance. He was also a Padma Vibhushan awardee, but the question specifically asks about the 2012 film distinction.

111. Who received the 2021 Sahitya Akademi Award for writing in English?

[WBCS Prelims — 2022]

(A) Kiran Desai

(B) Arundhati Roy

(D) Namita Gokhale

Answer: (D) Namita Gokhale

Explanation: Namita Gokhale received the Sahitya Akademi Award in English for Things to Leave Behind. Sahitya Akademi honours literary works in recognised Indian languages, including English, and is separate from the Jnanpith.

110. Who won the Oscar for Best Director at the 2022 Academy Awards?

[WBCS Prelims — 2022]

(A) Steven Spielberg

(B) Kenneth Branagh

(D) Jane Campion

Answer: (D) Jane Campion

Explanation: Jane Campion won Best Director for The Power of the Dog at the 94th Academy Awards. The film is a psychological Western. The director category should not be confused with the Best Picture prize.

109. Which former Japanese Prime Minister was chosen for the 2022 Netaji Award?

[WBCS Prelims — 2022]

(A) Yukio Hatoyama

(B) Shinzo Abe

(D) Yoshihide Suga

Answer: (B) Shinzo Abe

Explanation: The Netaji Research Bureau announced an honour for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, reflecting the historical connection between Japan and Subhas Chandra Bose. The Netaji Award is distinct from India’s statutory national decorations.

108. Which Indian architect received the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 2022?

[WBCS Prelims — 2022]

(A) Charles Correa

(B) Balkrishna Doshi

(D) B. V. Doshi’s contemporary Hafeez Contractor

Answer: (B) Balkrishna Doshi

Explanation: Balkrishna Doshi was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects for his lifetime contribution to architecture. He was also the first Indian Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, receiving that honour in 2018.

107. Who won the Miss World 2021 title at the event held in Puerto Rico in March 2022?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2022]

(A) Shree Saini

(B) Manasa Varanasi

(D) Karolina Bielawska

Answer: (D) Karolina Bielawska

Explanation: Karolina Bielawska of Poland won the postponed Miss World 2021 competition in March 2022. The year in the title refers to the competition edition, while the actual final took place in the following calendar year.

106. Which feature correctly describes the medal of India’s Param Vir Chakra gallantry decoration?

[CGPSC 2021 Prelims (held 2022) — 2022]

(A) Four replicas of Indra’s vajra are embossed

(B) Twenty-five awards existed by December 2021

(D) The medal was instituted in 1952

Answer: (A) Four replicas of Indra’s vajra are embossed

Explanation: The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest wartime gallantry decoration. Its bronze medal displays four replicas of Indra’s vajra surrounding the central emblem. It was instituted in 1950 with effect from India’s first Republic Day.

105. In which year did Amartya Sen receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences?

[SSC MTS — 2021]

(A) 1998

(B) 1999

(D) 1997

Answer: (A) 1998

Explanation: Amartya Sen won the 1998 economics prize for welfare economics and social-choice theory. His study of famines stressed access to food rather than solely total food production. He subsequently received India’s Bharat Ratna in 1999.

104. What does the Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award primarily recognise?

[SSC MTS — 2021]

(A) Wildlife protection

(B) Marine transport

(D) Energy conservation

Answer: (A) Wildlife protection

Explanation: The award honours exceptional courage and dedication to the protection of wildlife. It commemorates Amrita Devi Bishnoi and the 1730 Khejarli sacrifice in Rajasthan, associated with the protection of khejri trees and the wider natural environment.

103. Who received the 55th Jnanpith Award, associated with the year 2019?

[SSC CHSL — 2021]

(A) Raghuveer Chaudhari

(B) Amitav Ghosh

(D) Chandrashekhara Kambara

Answer: (C) Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Explanation: Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was honoured with the 55th Jnanpith Award. His writings include Irupatham Noottandinte Ithihasam. Amitav Ghosh received the preceding, 54th award, so the award number is the decisive clue.

102. Who was the first woman from India to win a Grammy Award?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2021]

(A) Tanvi Shah

(B) Neeti Mohan

(D) Palak Muchhal

Answer: (A) Tanvi Shah

Explanation: Tanvi Shah shared a Grammy for the song Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire in 2010. She contributed Spanish lyrics to the internationally acclaimed song. The Grammy is a music-industry award, unlike the Academy Awards for film.

101. Who was the first Indian to win a competitive Academy Award?

[SSC MTS — 2021]

(A) A. R. Rahman

(B) Bhanu Athaiya

(D) Satyajit Ray

Answer: (B) Bhanu Athaiya

Explanation: Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya won for Gandhi at the 1983 Academy Awards, sharing the Costume Design award with John Mollo. Satyajit Ray received an honorary Oscar in 1992, which is a different form of recognition.

100. In which year was the Ramon Magsaysay Award established?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2021]

(A) 1957

(B) 1962

(D) 1965

Answer: (A) 1957

Explanation: The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in 1957 after the death of the Philippine President of that name. The first awards were conferred in 1958. It is frequently called Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

99. Which of the listed individuals received Padma Vibhushan in 2021?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2021]

(A) Tarlochan Singh

(B) Sumitra Mahajan

(D) Sudarshan Sahoo

Answer: (D) Sudarshan Sahoo

Explanation: Odisha sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo received Padma Vibhushan in the Art category. Tarlochan Singh and Sumitra Mahajan received Padma Bhushan, while table tennis player Mouma Das received Padma Shri, making award tier the core distinction.

98. Since which year have Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards been associated with performing arts?

[SSC MTS — 2021]

(A) 1959

(B) 1950

(D) 1952

Answer: (D) 1952

Explanation: The national academy for music, dance and drama was founded in 1952 and inaugurated in 1953. Its awards recognise artists in the performing arts. Sahitya Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi followed as other national cultural academies.

97. Who won the Jnanpith Award for 2018?

[RRB NTPC CBT-I — 2021]

(A) Rana Dasgupta

(B) Upamanyu Chatterjee

(D) Arundhati Roy

Answer: (C) Amitav Ghosh

Explanation: Novelist Amitav Ghosh became the first author writing in English to win the Jnanpith Award, for 2018. His notable books include The Shadow Lines and the Ibis trilogy, combining history, migration and ecology.

96. Who won the 55th Jnanpith Award for 2019?

[RRB NTPC CBT-I — 2021]

(A) Krishna Sobti

(B) Chitra Mudgal

(D) Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Answer: (D) Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Explanation: Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was a Malayalam poet and essayist. The 55th Jnanpith recognised his contributions to Malayalam letters. Amitav Ghosh was the preceding awardee, so distinguishing the 54th and 55th editions is important.

95. Who was the first Indian recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award?

[MPPSC State Service — 2021]

(A) R. K. Laxman

(B) Jawaharlal Nehru

(D) Mahatma Gandhi

Answer: (C) Vinoba Bhave

Explanation: Vinoba Bhave received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1958 for community leadership. His Bhoodan movement encouraged voluntary land donation. The prize began in 1957 and is named after a former President of the Philippines.

94. Which cricketer received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 2020?

[WBCS Prelims — 2021]

(A) Mahendra Singh Dhoni

(B) Shikhar Dhawan

(D) Rohit Sharma

Answer: (D) Rohit Sharma

Explanation: Indian opening batter Rohit Sharma was one of the recipients of the 2020 Khel Ratna Award. The country’s highest individual sports honour was renamed after Major Dhyan Chand in 2021.

93. About the Laureus World Sports Award:
-Tiger Woods the inaugural male winner
–Roger Federer the most frequent winner,
–Formula One drivers predominated?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2021]

(A) Statements 1 and 2 only

(B) Statements 2 and 3 only

(D) All three statements

Answer: (C) Statements 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Tiger Woods was the first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. Roger Federer accumulated a record number of honours in the relevant comparison, while Formula One drivers did not dominate winners. The awards began in 2000.

92. Which Indian scientist received the International Eni Award for 2020?

[RPSC RAS Prelims — 2021]

(A) C. N. R. Rao

(B) Ramesh Gandhi

(D) Satyanarayana Reddy

Answer: (A) C. N. R. Rao

Explanation: Materials scientist C. N. R. Rao received the Eni Energy Frontiers recognition for research on renewable energy technologies and advanced materials. He had previously received the Bharat Ratna for his work in science and engineering.

91. Which Rajasthan award is given by the State Sports Council to outstanding coaches?

[RPSC Assistant Professor General Studies — 2021]

(A) Guru Vashisht Award

(B) Dronacharya Award

(D) Major Dhyan Chand Award

Answer: (A) Guru Vashisht Award

Explanation: The Rajasthan State Sports Council honours coaches with the Guru Vashisht Award. The Dronacharya Award is the national coaching distinction, while Maharana Pratap and Major Dhyan Chand awards concern different sporting honours and jurisdictions.

90. Who received the 2020 Mahakavi Kanhaiyalal Sethia Award?

[RPSC Assistant Professor General Studies — 2021]

(A) Kesari Singh Barhath

(B) Arvind Krishna Mehrotra

(D) Narayan Singh Bhati

Answer: (B) Arvind Krishna Mehrotra

Explanation: Poet and literary critic Arvind Krishna Mehrotra was honoured with the award during the Jaipur Literature Festival. The distinction is named for Rajasthani poet Kanhaiyalal Sethia and celebrates outstanding writing.

89. Which Rajasthan-associated musician received Padma Shri in 2021?

[RPSC Assistant Professor General Studies — 2021]

(A) Shyam Sunder Paliwal

(B) Srikant Datar

(D) Arjun Singh Shekhawat

Answer: (C) Lakha Khan

Explanation: Lakha Khan is a Manganiyar folk musician and sarangi player from Rajasthan. His Padma Shri recognised outstanding traditional music. The other options include recipients noted for environmental work and literature, making the field important.

88. Who was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, later given to Amitabh Bachchan?

[UPSC CDS-I — 2020]

(A) Naushad

(B) Prithviraj Kapoor

(D) Devika Rani

Answer: (D) Devika Rani

Explanation: Devika Rani received the first Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969. The Government of India established it to recognise lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was named for the pioneering filmmaker behind Raja Harishchandra.

87. The Vyas Samman, instituted in 1991, recognises outstanding literary writing in which language?

[Delhi Police examination — 2020]

(A) Sanskrit

(B) Hindi

(D) Rajasthani

Answer: (B) Hindi

Explanation: The K. K. Birla Foundation instituted Vyas Samman to recognise important works of Hindi literature. Saraswati Samman, also associated with the foundation, covers a broader range of Indian languages, making the two literary prizes easy to confuse.

86. Who received the Icon of Golden Jubilee Award during IFFI 2019?

[WBCS Prelims — 2020]

(A) Rajinikanth

(B) Kamal Haasan

(D) Amitabh Bachchan

Answer: (A) Rajinikanth

Explanation: Actor Rajinikanth received the Icon of Golden Jubilee honour at the 50th International Film Festival of India in Goa. IFFI is a film festival, not the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA).

85. Which Indian foundation received the Food Vision 2050 Prize in 2020?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2020]

(A) Akshaya Patra Foundation

(B) Naandi Foundation

(D) Barefoot College

Answer: (B) Naandi Foundation

Explanation: The Naandi Foundation was recognised for its Arakunomics model linking farmer livelihoods, sustainable agriculture and ecological regeneration. The Food Vision 2050 Prize rewarded ideas capable of transforming food systems, rather than a traditional literary or cinematic accomplishment.

84. Who received the Lifetime Excellence Award in Earth System Science from the Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2020?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2020]

(A) Ashok Sahni

(B) M. S. Swaminathan

(D) K. Kasturirangan

Answer: (A) Ashok Sahni

Explanation: Palaeontologist Ashok Sahni was associated with the Lifetime Excellence distinction in Earth System Science. His research is known for studies of fossils and the geological history of the Indian subcontinent, especially vertebrate palaeontology.

83. Who received a UNDP Sustainable Development Goals Special Humanitarian Action Award in 2020?

[CGPSC State Service Prelims — 2020]

(A) A. R. Rahman

(B) Kangana Ranaut

(D) Sonu Sood

Answer: (D) Sonu Sood

Explanation: Actor Sonu Sood was recognised for humanitarian work, particularly helping migrant workers return home during the COVID-19 restrictions. This United Nations Development Programme-linked honour was distinct from the Padma awards of the Government of India.

82. Who was the first person of Indian origin to receive a Pulitzer Prize?

[UPSC CDS-I — 2019]

(A) Jhumpa Lahiri

(B) Arundhati Roy

(D) Vijay Seshadri

Answer: (C) Gobind Behari Lal

Explanation: Science journalist Gobind Behari Lal shared the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Reporting. Later Indian-origin recipients include Jhumpa Lahiri in fiction and Siddhartha Mukherjee in general nonfiction. The Pulitzer awards are administered at Columbia University.

81. The United Nations Sasakawa Award recognises work in which field?

[UPSC CDS-II — 2019]

(A) Poverty eradication

(B) Hospital services

(D) Peacekeeping

Answer: (C) Disaster risk reduction

Explanation: The UN Sasakawa Award celebrates practical achievements in reducing disaster risk. It is linked with international disaster-risk-reduction efforts and not with the better-known Nobel Peace Prize or United Nations Population Award.

80. Which country’s highest civilian honour is the Order of Zayed?

[UPSC CAPF — 2019]

(A) United Arab Emirates

(B) Saudi Arabia

(D) Qatar

Answer: (A) United Arab Emirates

Explanation: The Order of Zayed is the highest civilian decoration of the United Arab Emirates. It commemorates Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a founding leader of the federation. Recipients often include foreign heads of state.

79. Who received the Saraswati Samman for 2018?

[UPSC CAPF — 2019]

(A) Mahabaleshwar Sail

(B) Sitanshu Yashaschandra

(D) Padma Sachdev

Answer: (C) K. Siva Reddy

Explanation: Telugu poet K. Siva Reddy won for his poetry collection Pakkaki Ottigilite. Saraswati Samman is awarded by the K. K. Birla Foundation for outstanding literary works in eligible Indian languages.

78. Who was the first Indian-origin Pulitzer Prize recipient?

[SSC CGL Tier-I — 2019]

(A) Siddhartha Mukherjee

(B) Jhumpa Lahiri

(D) Geeta Anand

Answer: (C) Gobind Behari Lal

Explanation: Gobind Behari Lal shared the Pulitzer Prize for Reporting in 1937, preceding better-known Indian-origin winners in fiction, poetry and nonfiction. The category being tested here is journalism rather than an award for a novel.

77. For which field is Saraswati Samman given?

[SSC MTS — 2019]

(A) Dance

(B) Music

(D) Literature

Answer: (D) Literature

Explanation: Saraswati Samman honours an outstanding literary work in an Indian language recognised for the prize. Instituted by the K. K. Birla Foundation in 1991, it is distinct from the performing arts honours of Sangeet Natak Akademi.

76. Which Indian sports award recognises lifetime achievement after a sporting career?

[SSC MTS — 2019]

(A) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

(B) Arjuna Award

(D) Dronacharya Award

Answer: (C) Dhyan Chand Award

Explanation: The Dhyan Chand Award was instituted in 2002 for lifelong contribution by sportspersons. The Dronacharya Award is chiefly for coaches, and the Khel Ratna recognises exceptional performance. These categories test distinct aspects of sporting achievement.

75. Which Indian wrestler received a Laureus World Sports Award nomination in 2019?

[SSC GD Constable — 2019]

(A) Anirban Chatterjee

(B) Dutee Chand

(D) Vinesh Phogat

Answer: (D) Vinesh Phogat

Explanation: Vinesh Phogat was nominated for the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year honour after winning wrestling gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. A nomination must be distinguished from winning the international award.

74. In what field is the Jnanpith Award presented?

[SSC GD Constable — 2019]

(A) Cinema

(B) Medicine

(D) Social work

Answer: (C) Literature

Explanation: The Jnanpith Award honours outstanding literary contributions. Its first recipient in 1965 was Malayalam poet G. Sankara Kurup. It is conferred by Bharatiya Jnanpith, not by the Sahitya Akademi or the film-award authorities.

73. Who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the novel Less?

[WBCS Prelims — 2019]

(A) Anthony Doerr

(B) Jennifer Egan

(D) Andrew Sean Greer

Answer: (D) Andrew Sean Greer

Explanation: Andrew Sean Greer won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Less, a comic novel following a writer on an international journey. The exam year and the publication or award year are different.

72. Which young woman from Chhattisgarh received the 2017–18 President’s National Service Scheme award?

[CGPSC State Service Prelims — 2019]

(A) Ragini Bissa

(B) Priyanka Bissa

(D) Pushpalata

Answer: (B) Priyanka Bissa

Explanation: Priyanka Bissa, an NSS volunteer from Chhattisgarh, received a national recognition for volunteer service. The National Service Scheme involves youth participation in community programmes and social awareness, separate from competitive sports and literary honours.

71. Which ministry is responsible for organising India’s National Film Awards?

[RRB Group D — 2018]

(A) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

(B) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

(D) Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer: (A) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Explanation: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting administers the National Film Awards through India’s film-policy and festival infrastructure. The awards celebrate filmmaking in many Indian languages, unlike the private Filmfare or IIFA ceremonies.

70. Who received Vyas Samman 2017 for the Hindi work Dukham Sukham?

[RRB ALP — 2018]

(A) Namita Gokhale

(B) Meena Kandasamy

(D) Mamta Kalia

Answer: (D) Mamta Kalia

Explanation: Hindi author Mamta Kalia was recognised for the novel Dukham Sukham. Vyas Samman is an award specifically for Hindi literary works and is conferred by the K. K. Birla Foundation.

69. The Emmy Awards honour achievement in which industry?

[RRB Group D — 2018]

(A) Television

(B) Music

(D) Cinema

Answer: (A) Television

Explanation: The Emmy Awards recognise excellence in television programming and production. They are broadly comparable to the Oscars for cinema, the Grammys for music and the Tonys for theatre, but each has a distinct field.

68. Who received the Balzan Prize 2017 for work on women and agriculture in India?

[WBCS Prelims — 2018]

(A) Ela Bhatt

(B) Medha Patkar

(D) Bina Agarwal

Answer: (D) Bina Agarwal

Explanation: Economist Bina Agarwal received the Balzan Prize for her research on gender relations and agriculture. Her scholarship highlights women’s property and land rights and their importance to economic independence.

67. Who received the ICCR Distinguished Indologist Award connected with 2017?

[WBCS Prelims — 2018]

(A) Sheldon Pollock

(B) Wendy Doniger

(D) Hiroshi Marui

Answer: (D) Hiroshi Marui

Explanation: Japanese scholar Hiroshi Marui was recognised for contributions to Indology. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations promotes academic and cultural connections with other countries, and the award honours scholarship on Indian civilisation.

66. Who was the Nobel Prize in Literature recipient for 2017?

[WBCS Prelims — 2018]

(A) Patrick Modiano

(B) Olga Tokarczuk

(D) Bob Dylan

Answer: (C) Kazuo Ishiguro

Explanation: British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro won the 2017 Literature Nobel. His fiction includes The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go. The Swedish Academy awards this Nobel honour independently of the Booker Prize.

65. Which filmmaker received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2016?

[UPSC CAPF — 2017]

(A) Gulzar

(B) K. Viswanath

(D) Shashi Kapoor

Answer: (B) K. Viswanath

Explanation: Telugu director K. Viswanath received the honour for 2016. His films, including Sankarabharanam and Sagara Sangamam, are particularly associated with music, classical arts and social themes.

64. Which film brought Akshay Kumar the Best Actor National Film Award at the 64th awards?

[UPSC CAPF — 2017]

(A) Mukti Bhawan

(B) Rustom

(D) Naam Shabana

Answer: (B) Rustom

Explanation: Akshay Kumar won for his performance as a naval officer in Rustom. The 64th National Film Awards were announced in 2017 and honoured the preceding cinema year, making the distinction between award edition and film-release year important.

63. Which novel won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction?

[UPSC CAPF — 2017]

(A) The Underground Railroad

(B) The Sympathizer

(D) All the Light We Cannot See

Answer: (A) The Underground Railroad

Explanation: Colson Whitehead won the 2017 Pulitzer for The Underground Railroad. The novel follows an enslaved girl escaping from a plantation in the American South. Its historical theme uses an imaginative literal depiction of the escape network.

62. Which author won the 2015 Mailer Prize for Lifetime Achievement?

[WBCS Prelims — 2017]

(A) Vikram Seth

(B) Salman Rushdie

(D) Arundhati Roy

Answer: (B) Salman Rushdie

Explanation: Salman Rushdie was honoured for an extensive literary career including Midnight’s Children. The Mailer Prize, named in memory of Norman Mailer, differs from the Booker Prize that Rushdie received earlier.

61. Who received the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award linked to 2015?

[WBCS Prelims — 2017]

(A) Malala Yousafzai

(B) Aqeela Asifi

(D) Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Answer: (B) Aqeela Asifi

Explanation: Aqeela Asifi was recognised for her work educating Afghan refugee girls in Pakistan. The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honours extraordinary service to displaced people, reflecting humanitarian work rather than literary distinction.

60. Who received the 2016 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences?

[WBCS Prelims — 2017]

(A) Angus Deaton

(B) Eugene Fama and Lars Peter Hansen

(D) Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmström

Answer: (D) Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmström

Explanation: Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmström won the 2016 economics prize for contract theory. Their analysis addresses how contractual terms shape incentives, responsibilities and decision-making within organisations. The award is often informally called the Nobel Prize in Economics.

59. Who received the Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award associated with 2016?

[WBCS Prelims — 2017]

(A) Viswanathan Anand

(B) Sunil Gavaskar

(D) Kapil Dev

Answer: (A) Viswanathan Anand

Explanation: Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand received this cultural honour, reflecting the recognition of outstanding personalities beyond cinema or vocal music. Anand was also the inaugural Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient for 1991–92.

58. Which country conferred the Amir Amanullah Khan Award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016?

[RPSC RAS Prelims — 2016]

(A) Afghanistan

(B) Uzbekistan

(D) Iran

Answer: (A) Afghanistan

Explanation: Afghanistan bestowed its highest civilian honour on Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the Afghan–India Friendship Dam near Herat. The decoration is named after King Amanullah Khan, associated with Afghan independence and reform.

57. Which technology company won a 2015 Aegis Graham Bell Award for Internet of Things innovation?

[WBCS Prelims — 2016]

(A) Tata Consultancy Services

(B) Wipro

(D) HCL Technologies

Answer: (B) Wipro

Explanation: Wipro received recognition in an Internet of Things innovation category at the Aegis Graham Bell Awards. The prizes recognise achievements in telecommunications and technology rather than the fields of literature or performing arts.

56. Who won a 2015 TWAS Award in engineering according to the WBCS question?

[WBCS Prelims — 2016]

(A) U. Ramamurthy

(B) Raghunath Mashelkar

(D) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Answer: (A) U. Ramamurthy

Explanation: The World Academy of Sciences recognises scientific contributions from developing regions. U. Ramamurthy was identified in the engineering category. This international science distinction differs from India’s Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize.

55. Which organisation received the 2014 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2015]

(A) Indian Institute of Science

(B) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

(D) Indian Space Research Organisation

Answer: (D) Indian Space Research Organisation

Explanation: ISRO was honoured for its contributions to science, technology and human welfare through space applications. The Indira Gandhi Prize recognises contributions to peace, development and international understanding beyond narrowly political achievements.

54. Ramon Magsaysay, after whom the Ramon Magsaysay Award is named, was president of which country?

[SSC CGL — 2015]

(A) Philippines

(B) Myanmar

(D) Malaysia

Answer: (A) Philippines

Explanation: Ramon Magsaysay served as President of the Philippines and died in 1957. The award established in his memory honours public service and leadership in Asia and was first presented the following year.

53. The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics was associated with development of which colour of LED?

[WBCS Prelims — 2015]

(A) Yellow

(B) Blue

(D) Red

Answer: (B) Blue

Explanation: Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura shared the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for efficient blue LEDs. Their development enabled bright, energy-saving white lighting by combining light sources or phosphor conversion.

52. Which award is presented for excellence in sports?

[BPSC 56th–59th Combined Prelims — 2015]

(A) Moortidevi Award

(B) Tagore Award

(D) Arjuna Award

Answer: (D) Arjuna Award

Explanation: The Arjuna Award recognises outstanding sports performance and was instituted in 1961. The other listed honours are associated with Gandhian public service, cultural harmony and Indian literature rather than competitive athletic excellence.

51. Which cinema-history pairing is incorrect: the first Oscar-nominated Indian film being Mughal-e-Azam, alongside correctly paired other film milestones?

[RPSC RAS Prelims — 2013]

(A) First Tamil feature — Keechaka Vadham

(B) Early Indian playback film — Dhoop Chhaon

(D) First Indian Oscar nomination — Mughal-e-Azam

Answer: (D) First Indian Oscar nomination — Mughal-e-Azam

Explanation: Mother India, directed by Mehboob Khan, was India’s first film nominated for the Academy Award for foreign-language film, not Mughal-e-Azam. The correct distinction belongs to the 1957 film and should not be confused with Oscar wins.

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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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

(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.

40. Which company received the CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award for 2004, presented in September 2005?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2006]

(A) Midas Communication Technologies

(B) Infosys Technologies

(D) Biocon India

Answer: (A) Midas Communication Technologies

Explanation: Midas Communication Technologies was recognised for indigenous telecommunications technology, notably the corDECT wireless local-loop system. The CSIR award celebrates innovations translated into useful products or processes, rather than basic research alone.

39. Who directed the film selected as India’s official entry for the 2006 Academy Awards?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2006]

(A) Kunal Kohli

(B) Adoor Gopalakrishnan

(D) Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Answer: (C) Amol Palekar

Explanation: Amol Palekar directed Paheli, India’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 78th Academy Awards. An official submission should not be confused with a film making the final Oscar nominations.

38. In which country is the committee selecting the Nobel Peace Prize based?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2006]

(A) Denmark

(B) Finland

(D) Sweden

Answer: (C) Norway

Explanation: The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the award ceremony takes place in Oslo. Other Nobel disciplines are selected by institutions in Sweden, creating an important difference between award categories.

37. Consider:
(1) the Nobel Prize ceremony is held on 10 December,
(2) Literature was added later than the other five prize categories.

Which statement is correct?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2006]

(A) Neither statement

(B) Statement 2 only

(D) Statement 1 only

Answer: (D) Statement 1 only

Explanation: Nobel ceremonies generally occur on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Literature was one of the original five prize fields; the economics memorial prize was created later in 1968. Thus the second statement is false.

36. Who became the first woman recipient of the Vyas Samman?

[Uttarakhand PCS Prelims — 2006]

(A) Chitra Mudgal

(B) Malti Joshi

(D) Mannu Bhandari

Answer: (A) Chitra Mudgal

Explanation: Hindi author Chitra Mudgal received Vyas Samman for her novel Aava. The K. K. Birla Foundation presents the award to notable Hindi writing, and Mudgal’s selection marked a milestone for women novelists.

35. Which person of Indian origin was the earliest Booker Prize winner among the choices?

[Uttarakhand PCS Prelims — 2006]

(A) Arundhati Roy

(B) Jhumpa Lahiri

(D) Salman Rushdie

Answer: (C) V. S. Naipaul

Explanation: V. S. Naipaul, born in Trinidad to a family of Indian heritage, received the Booker Prize in 1971 for In a Free State. Salman Rushdie won later in 1981, while Arundhati Roy won in 1997.

34. Who was among the first recipients of India’s Bharat Ratna?

[UPPSC Mains — 2006]

(A) Rajendra Prasad

(B) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

(D) Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer: (B) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Explanation: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan received Bharat Ratna in its inaugural year, 1954, alongside C. Rajagopalachari and C. V. Raman. Radhakrishnan later served as President of India and is remembered for his contribution to education.

33. Which Pakistani national received Bharat Ratna in 1987?

[UPPSC Prelims — 2006]

(A) Muhammad Ali Jinnah

(B) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

(D) Muhammad Iqbal

Answer: (B) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

Explanation: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was honoured in 1987 for his long association with nonviolence and social reform. He was popularly known as Frontier Gandhi and led the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.

32. Match
Günter Grass, Trevor Huddleston, Dicky Dolma and Kim Campbell to

Nobel Literature, anti-apartheid activism, youngest female Everest ascent and first female Canadian Prime Minister.

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2005]

(A) Grass–Literature; Huddleston–Canadian PM; Dolma–Anti-apartheid; Campbell–Everest

(B) Grass–Anti-apartheid; Huddleston–Literature; Dolma–Canadian PM; Campbell–Everest

(D) Grass–Literature; Huddleston–Anti-apartheid; Dolma–Everest; Campbell–Canadian PM

Answer: (D) Grass–Literature; Huddleston–Anti-apartheid; Dolma–Everest; Campbell–Canadian PM

Explanation: Günter Grass received the 1999 Literature Nobel; Trevor Huddleston campaigned against apartheid; Dicky Dolma became a young woman Everest climber; Kim Campbell was Canada’s first woman Prime Minister. The question combines one Nobel honour with notable achievements.

31. In the 2005 Man Booker Prize question, which is true:
(1) eligibility covered Commonwealth/Ireland,
(2) a software firm funded it,
(3) the 2004 winner was South Asian?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2005]

(A) All three

(B) Statement 1 only

(D) Statements 1 and 3

Answer: (B) Statement 1 only

Explanation: The historical eligibility rule covered Commonwealth countries and Ireland. Sponsor Man Group was a financial services firm, not a software company. The 2004 Booker winner was British novelist Alan Hollinghurst for The Line of Beauty.

30. Which of these 2005 UPSC awardee pairings were correct:
(1) Champa Devi Shukla–Goldman Environmental Prize,
(2) P. Sri Ramachandrudu–Vachaspati Puraskar,
(3) Ela Bhatt–Lal Bahadur Shastri Award,
(4) Upamanyu Chatterjee–Lalit Kala Ratna?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2005]

(A) 3 and 4 only

(B) 1, 2 and 3

(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (B) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: The first three combinations relate to environment activism, Sanskrit scholarship and public service respectively. Upamanyu Chatterjee is a novelist and was not the Lalit Kala Ratna recipient, so that fourth matching is incorrect.

29. As of the 2005 CGPSC examination, who had NOT yet received Bharat Ratna?

[CGPSC Prelims — 2005]

(A) Atal Bihari Vajpayee

(B) Lata Mangeshkar

(D) Satyajit Ray

Answer: (A) Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Explanation: Atal Bihari Vajpayee received the Bharat Ratna only in 2015; at the time of this 2005 examination he had not received it. The date makes the historical answer different from a present-day general-knowledge question.

28. Who among J. R. D. Tata, Acharya Narendra Dev, Satyajit Ray and C. Subramaniam had NOT received Bharat Ratna?

[Uttarakhand PCS Prelims — 2005]

(A) Acharya Narendra Dev

(B) Satyajit Ray

(D) J. R. D. Tata

Answer: (A) Acharya Narendra Dev

Explanation: J. R. D. Tata and Satyajit Ray received Bharat Ratna in 1992, and C. Subramaniam received it in 1998. Socialist thinker Acharya Narendra Dev was not a Bharat Ratna recipient.

27. Shirin Ebadi, recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, is from which country?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2004]

(A) Libya

(B) Nigeria

(D) Iraq

Answer: (C) Iran

Explanation: Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for work defending democracy and human rights, especially the rights of women and children. She was the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the award.

26. Kalidas Samman is awarded for distinguished contribution to which field?

[MPPSC Special Prelims — 2004]

(A) Games

(B) Peace

(D) Art

Answer: (D) Art

Explanation: Kalidas Samman is instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government to recognise excellence in classical music, dance, theatre and visual arts. It celebrates the cultural heritage associated with Sanskrit poet Kalidasa rather than sports or medicine.

25. Which musician among the choices received Bharat Ratna?

[MPPSC Special Prelims — 2004]

(A) Amjad Ali Khan

(B) Verghese Kurien

(D) Ravi Shankar

Answer: (D) Ravi Shankar

Explanation: Sitar exponent Pandit Ravi Shankar received Bharat Ratna in 1999. His contribution to popularising Indian classical music across the world distinguished him from the other prominent personalities in the question.

24. Which Urdu poet was a recipient of the Jnanpith Award?

[MPPSC Prelims — 2004]

(A) Bhagwat Rawat

(B) Gyan Ranjan

(D) Makhanlal Chaturvedi

Answer: (C) Firaq Gorakhpuri

Explanation: Firaq Gorakhpuri won the Jnanpith Award in 1969 for his contributions to Urdu poetry, particularly his collection Gul-e-Naghma. The Jnanpith honours literary achievement across recognised Indian languages.

23. For which work did Ramon Magsaysay laureate Sandeep Pandey receive recognition?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2003]

(A) Environmental protection

(B) Education and livelihood projects for Dalits

(D) Prevention of child marriage

Answer: (B) Education and livelihood projects for Dalits

Explanation: Sandeep Pandey co-founded the education organisation Asha for Education and worked with disadvantaged rural communities, including Dalits, to expand educational opportunity. He received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2002 for emergent leadership.

22. Who received the national award for excellence in public administration and management sciences from the President of India in 2002?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2003]

(A) N. R. Narayana Murthy

(B) Rahul Bajaj

(D) Ratan Tata

Answer: (A) N. R. Narayana Murthy

Explanation: Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy was recognised for managerial excellence and contributions to Indian information technology. The award highlighted achievements in management and public administration rather than a Nobel or Padma designation.

21. What was the cash component of the Arjuna Award according to the 2003 examination?

[CGPSC Prelims — 2003]

(A) ₹3 lakh

(B) ₹75,000

(D) ₹1.5 lakh

Answer: (A) ₹3 lakh

Explanation: The 2003 examination tested the award’s cash component at that historical time. Sports-award cash prizes have since changed, so the answer should be read as a previous-year historical figure, not the current cash entitlement.

20. The Swarna Kamal award is associated with which field?

[RPSC RAS Prelims — 2003]

(A) Literature

(B) Cinema

(D) Theatre

Answer: (B) Cinema

Explanation: Swarna Kamal, or Golden Lotus, is a distinction in India’s National Film Awards, presented in important cinema categories. It differs from Rajat Kamal, or Silver Lotus, another category of national film recognition.

19. Maharana Pratap Award is given for excellence in which field?

[RPSC RAS Prelims — 2003]

(A) Social work

(B) Science and technology

(D) Performing arts

Answer: (C) Sports

Explanation: The Maharana Pratap Award is a state-level Rajasthan sporting distinction for exceptional athletes. It is named after the historic Mewar ruler, while the Guru Vashisht Award is associated with coaching achievements in the state.

18. Which of Desmond Tutu, Lech Wałęsa, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat won Nobel Peace Prizes?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2002]

(A) All four

(B) Wałęsa, Peres and Arafat only

(D) Desmond Tutu and Lech Wałęsa only

Answer: (A) All four

Explanation: Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and Lech Wałęsa in 1983. Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat shared the 1994 award with Yitzhak Rabin for Middle East peace efforts.

17. Match

Chinna Pillai, Kaveri Thakur, Mira Nair and Yasoda Ekambaram to

Stree Shakti, Asian swimming, Venice Golden Lion and Neerja Bhanot honours.

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2002]

(A) Chinna Pillai–Stree Shakti; Kaveri–Swimming; Mira–Golden Lion; Yasoda–Neerja Bhanot

(B) Chinna Pillai–Stree Shakti; Kaveri–Swimming; Mira–Neerja Bhanot; Yasoda–Golden Lion

(D) Chinna Pillai–Swimming; Kaveri–Stree Shakti; Mira–Golden Lion; Yasoda–Neerja Bhanot

Answer: (A) Chinna Pillai–Stree Shakti; Kaveri–Swimming; Mira–Golden Lion; Yasoda–Neerja Bhanot

Explanation: Chinna Pillai was honoured for women’s empowerment; Kaveri Thakur achieved prominence in swimming; Mira Nair won Venice’s Golden Lion for Monsoon Wedding; and Yasoda Ekambaram received recognition through the Neerja Bhanot Award.

16. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is associated with achievement in which field?

[UPPSC Lower Subordinate Prelims — 2002]

(A) Sports

(B) Science and Technology

(D) Literature

Answer: (B) Science and Technology

Explanation: The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is a leading Indian recognition for scientific research, administered by CSIR. Named after the organisation’s founding director, it honours important original research contributions in several scientific disciplines.

15. Who was the first Indian to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2002]

(A) T. N. Seshan

(B) Kiran Bedi

(D) Vinoba Bhave

Answer: (D) Vinoba Bhave

Explanation: Vinoba Bhave was recognised in 1958 for community leadership linked to his Bhoodan land-gift movement. The Ramon Magsaysay Award was founded in 1957 in the Philippines and honours outstanding public service in Asia.

14. Which musician had NOT received the Bharat Ratna at the time of this examination?

[UPPSC Lower Subordinate Prelims — 2002]

(A) Ravi Shankar

(B) Pandit Jasraj

(D) Bismillah Khan

Answer: (B) Pandit Jasraj

Explanation: Pandit Jasraj was a distinguished classical vocalist but never received Bharat Ratna. Lata Mangeshkar and Bismillah Khan received it in 2001, and Ravi Shankar in 1999. The question distinguishes celebrated artists from specific national awardees.

13. Which correctly matches

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize,
Jamnalal Bajaj Award,
International Gandhi Peace Prize and
Wolf Prize

with
M. S. Swaminathan,
Desmond Tutu,
Nelson Mandela and
Gurudev Khush?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2001]

(A) Indira–Swaminathan; Jamnalal–Tutu; Gandhi–Mandela; Wolf–Khush

(B) Indira–Swaminathan; Jamnalal–Tutu; Gandhi–Khush; Wolf–Mandela

(D) Indira–Tutu; Jamnalal–Swaminathan; Gandhi–Khush; Wolf–Mandela

Answer: (A) Indira–Swaminathan; Jamnalal–Tutu; Gandhi–Mandela; Wolf–Khush

Explanation: The correct historic pairings were M. S. Swaminathan with Indira Gandhi Prize, Desmond Tutu with Jamnalal Bajaj honour, Nelson Mandela with International Gandhi Peace Prize, and plant scientist Gurudev Khush with the Wolf Prize.

12.

11. The Chakradhar Fellowship relates to which field?

[MPPSC Prelims — 1999]

(A) Classical music

(B) Folk dance

(D) Classical dance

Answer: (A) Classical music

Explanation: The Chakradhar Fellowship is associated with classical music, commemorating Maharaja Chakradhar Singh of Raigarh. He was a noted patron and practitioner of music, particularly percussion traditions such as tabla and pakhawaj.

10. Who among the choices received the Bharat Ratna in 1997?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 1998]

(A) Homi J. Bhabha

(B) R. Venkataraman

(D) Satyajit Ray

Answer: (C) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Explanation: Scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1997, years before becoming President of India. Satyajit Ray received it in 1992, while the other two personalities in the original options were not 1997 awardees.

9. The 1997 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded for contributions to which area?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 1998]

(A) Public economics

(B) International economics

(D) Financial economics

Answer: (D) Financial economics

Explanation: Robert C. Merton and Myron S. Scholes won the 1997 economics memorial prize for their work on financial derivatives and the valuation of options. Their work was central to modern financial economics rather than development policy.

8. Who was the Indian filmmaker honoured with a Special Academy Award?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 1998]

(A) Mira Nair

(B) Satyajit Ray

(D) O. P. Sippy

Answer: (B) Satyajit Ray

Explanation: Filmmaker Satyajit Ray received an honorary Academy Award in 1992 recognising his exceptional contribution to cinema. The distinction was honorary, unlike the competitive Oscar won by costume designer Bhanu Athaiya in 1983.

7. Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo and José Ramos-Horta won the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for work on which cause?

[UPSC CSE Prelims — 1997]

(A) Guatemala

(B) Burundi

(D) East Timor

Answer: (D) East Timor

Explanation: The two laureates campaigned for a peaceful and just solution to conflict in East Timor, then under Indonesian occupation. Their efforts brought international attention to human rights and the territory’s eventual independence.

6. Who was the first woman to receive the Jnanpith Award?

[MPPSC Prelims — 1997]

(A) Mahadevi Varma

(B) Ashapurna Devi

(D) Mahasweta Devi

Answer: (B) Ashapurna Devi

Explanation: Bengali writer Ashapurna Devi became the first woman Jnanpith recipient for 1976, for Pratham Pratishruti. Her novels frequently explore the condition of women and social changes across Bengali family life.

5. The Dronacharya Award recognises excellence in what activity?

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 1996]

(A) Medical research

(B) NCC cadet training

(D) Sports coaching

Answer: (D) Sports coaching

Explanation: The Dronacharya Award honours outstanding coaches who train athletes to achieve excellence in national and international competitions. It was instituted in 1985 and is distinct from the Arjuna Award for athletes.

4. Which Nobel laureate among the choices was not an Indian citizen when awarded?

[MPPSC Prelims — 1996]

(A) C. V. Raman

(B) Rabindranath Tagore

(D) Mother Teresa

Answer: (C) Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

Explanation: Astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was a naturalised American citizen when he received the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics. C. V. Raman and Rabindranath Tagore received their prizes while associated with India, while Mother Teresa was a naturalised Indian citizen.

3. Which award was conferred on J. R. D. Tata in 1992?

[MPPSC Prelims — 1993]

(A) Bharat Ratna

(B) Padma Bhushan

(D) Padma Vibhushan

Answer: (A) Bharat Ratna

Explanation: Industrialist and aviation pioneer J. R. D. Tata was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1992. He helped found India’s civil aviation sector and led the Tata group across decades. The recognition was separate from the Padma honours.

2. Which agricultural scientist received the Nobel Peace Prize?

[MPPSC Prelims — 1992]

(A) Har Gobind Khorana

(B) Norman Borlaug

(D) Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

Answer: (B) Norman Borlaug

Explanation: Agronomist Norman Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for work on high-yield crop varieties and food security. He is widely associated with the Green Revolution, which helped improve global grain production.

1. Match the Bhatnagar, B. C. Roy, Dadasaheb Phalke and Gandharva awards with their fields.

[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 1992]

(A) Bhatnagar–Science; B. C. Roy–Classical art; Phalke–Medicine; Gandharva–Film

(B) Bhatnagar–Science; B. C. Roy–Medicine; Phalke–Classical art; Gandharva–Film

(D) Bhatnagar–Science; B. C. Roy–Medicine; Phalke–Film; Gandharva–Classical art

Answer: (D) Bhatnagar–Science; B. C. Roy–Medicine; Phalke–Film; Gandharva–Classical art

Explanation: The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize honours scientific research, the B. C. Roy Award recognises achievement in medicine, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award honours cinema, and the Gandharva Award belongs to classical art. Matching by field was tested.Exam years identify the sitting of the examination, not the date an award was conferred. Questions were drawn from exam-tagged previous-year collections and are paraphrased or reformatted where needed. No practice-only or hypothetical question stems have been intentionally included. Cross-check the original paper when exact original wording is required.

200. Which UK-born professor at an American university received a Nobel Prize in 2025?

199. Which statements about the BAFTA-recognised Indian film Boong are correct: (1) it won the Children’s and Family Film category, (2) Lakshmipriya Devi directed it, (3) it was the first Indian film to win this category?

198. Who received the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 for advocating democratic rights in Venezuela?

197. Which Indian education non-profit received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2025?

196. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature winner László Krasznahorkai is associated with which country?

195. Which economist shared the 2025 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with two other economists?

194. Regarding the Jnanpith Award, which is correct: (1) the 58th award honoured Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and (2) the first award was given in 1965?

193. Who among Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi and Sanjay Chauhan were associated with winning the 2025 International Booker Prize?

192. In the 2025 Padma Vibhushan list, which pairing is correct for Osamu Suzuki?

191. Who was among the Indian writers on the jury for the 2026 International Booker Prize?

190. Who won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for James?

189. Which literary award was linked to the honour given to lyricist and poet Gulzar in 2025?

188. The Jnanpith honour presented to Jagadguru Rambhadracharya in May 2025 was which numbered award?

187. Who received the 2025 Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year award?

186. Who received the Freedom to Publish honour at the 2025 British Book Awards?

185. Which biochemist won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research on the structure of insulin?

184. The 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognised Paul Ehrlich for work in which area?

183. In which year did Paul Ehrlich receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?

182. Which Padma Shri 2025 recipient trained women in the traditional Bengali dhak percussion art?

181. Which of the following Padma awardee and field pairs is correct?

180. Which Padma Vibhushan 2025 recipient is correctly paired with Literature and Education and Kerala?

179. Which former United States President won the Nobel Peace Prize for seeking peaceful solutions to international conflicts and promoting democracy and human rights?

178. Which United Nations agency has received the Nobel Peace Prize more than once?

177. Who was NOT conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2024?

176. Which award had hockey goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh NOT received by February 2025?

175. For what purpose are the Shankar Shah and Rani Durgavati awards presented to tribal students in Madhya Pradesh?

174. Who received Madhya Pradesh’s Kishore Kumar Samman for the year 2023?

173. Which state government instituted the Tansen Samman in 1980 for Hindustani classical musicians?

172. Which honour was conferred upon Lata Mangeshkar in 2001?

171. Which state conferred the Banga Vibhushan Award on tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee?

170. For which award was sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar selected in 1999?

169. Which award did tabla player Zakir Hussain receive from the Government of India in 2023?

168. Which honour did Zakir Hussain receive in 2002, becoming a notably young percussionist to receive it?

167. The 21st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award was presented to which sarod maestro?

166. Which Indian classical dancer from Odisha was the first in the state to receive Padma Vibhushan?

165. Which classical dance form led to Ranjana Gauhar receiving the Padma Shri in 2003?

164. Which instrument is associated with Padma Bhushan recipient Ustad Sabri Khan?

163. Who was the Padma Shri-recognised folk singer from Uttar Pradesh among the listed artistes?

162. Which organisation has bestowed the Sangeet Kala Acharya honour since 1993?

161. Which violinist was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021?

160. Which of these awards was conferred on the choir conductor Coomi Nariman Wadia in 2023?

159. In which year was the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna?

158. Who was awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan for the year 2002?

157. The Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer was established by which state?

156. Which state honoured Vani Jairam with the M. S. Subbulakshmi Award for 2019?

155. Norman E. Borlaug received which Nobel Prize in 1970 for his agricultural work?

154. Which sporting honour, unlike the other listed national sports awards, carried no cash component in the cited scheme?

153. Which Indian award honours lifetime contribution by sportspersons, including service after retirement?

152. Which politician received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2023 for public affairs?

151. Match Devendra Jhajharia, Sumit Antil, Neeraj Chopra and Shikhar Dhawan with their cited sports or Padma awards. Which sequence is correct?

150. Who received the Rohini Nayyar Prize in 2023?

149. Which statement about the Padma Awards is correct?

148. What is the correct descending order of the three Padma Awards?

147. Which statements about Padma Subrahmanyam are true: (1) Bharatanatyam dancer, (2) Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, (3) Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee?

146. Shovana Narayan, a Padma Shri recipient, is a leading exponent of which classical dance?

145. Mukund Nayak received Padma Shri in 2017 for promoting which folk performance tradition?

144. Usha Barle, honoured with Padma Shri in 2023, is associated with which Chhattisgarh folk narrative tradition?

143. Who wrote the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning Hindi novel Zindaginama?

142. Who received the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021?

141. For which contribution did Padma Shri awardee Narthaki Nataraj receive recognition in 2019?

140. Which percussionist and music director received the Padma Shri in 2019?

139. Which state’s Baiga dance tradition was represented by Padma Shri 2022 recipient Arjun Singh Dhurve?

138. Which dance form was represented by Padma Shri awardee V. Satyanarayana Sarma?

137. Who received a 2023 Padma award for reviving the eco-friendly craft of Etikoppaka toys?

136. Aditi Mangal Das received the Mahari Award in 2022 for which classical dance?

135. Padma Shri 2020 recipient Vajira Chitrasena, from Sri Lanka, was recognised for work promoting what?

134. Joravarsinh Jadav received the Padma Shri in 2019 for preserving which regional performance tradition?

133. Who was honoured with the Padma award in 2023 for reviving traditional Naga folk music using innovation?

132. Who composed the Golden Globe-winning song Naatu Naatu from RRR?

131. Who received BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star recognition for 2022?

130. Which organisation was selected for the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021?

129. Which statements about the 2022 Padma Vibhushan are correct: (i) four people were selected, (ii) two were posthumous, (iii) Prabha Atre was selected?

128. Padma Shri recipient Sanathoiba Sharma was recognised in 2023 for preserving which Manipuri martial art?

127. Which Indian musician won an Academy Award for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire?

126. Which former Indian women’s hockey captain received the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award?

125. Gurcharan Singh received Padma Shri in 2023 for contributions to which sport?

124. For which folk dance form was Rani Machaiah given Padma Shri in 2023?

123. Which pair of musicians were both Bharat Ratna awardees as of May 2023?

122. In what year did the Government of India institute the Arjuna Award?

121. Which honour was awarded to Chhattisgarh folk performer Domar Singh Kunvar in 2023?

199. Which statements about the BAFTA-recognised Indian film Boong are correct:
(1) it won the Children’s and Family Film category,
(2) Lakshmipriya Devi directed it,
(3) it was the first Indian film to win this category?

194. Regarding the Jnanpith Award, which is correct:
(1) the 58th award honoured Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and
(2) the first award was given in 1965?

129. Which statements about the 2022 Padma Vibhushan are correct:
(i) four people were selected,
(ii) two were posthumous,
(iii) Prabha Atre was selected?

93. About the Laureus World Sports Award:
-Tiger Woods the inaugural male winner
–Roger Federer the most frequent winner,
–Formula One drivers predominated?