Who won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize recently?

P.S. Krishnan, former Secretary to Government of India (GoI), has been conferred prestigious K. Veeramani Award for Social Justice 2018 for his works in the field of social justice for SCs, STs, BCs for the last more than six-and-half decades. The Periyar International Inc., a Chicago-based voluntary organisation, gives an annual award for outstanding contributions to Social Justice at a function in New Delhi.

The India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC), IIM Ahmedabad won an award for Outstanding Contribution to Gold Policy Research in 2017-18 at the 15th India International Gold Convention held in Kochi. The award was received by Professor Arvind Sahay, Chairman of IGPC, along with his team. The convention was held at Le Meridien Convention Centre. Around 400 delegates participated.

Country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) is considered to be the most patriotic brand, according to a survey conducted by UK-based online market research and data analytics firm YouGov, followed by Tata Motors, Patanjali, Reliance Jio and BSNL. Around 16% respondents ranked SBI to be the most patriotic brand overall, followed by Tata Motors and Patanjali with 8% each, and Reliance Jio and BSNL with 6% each. The survey, which covered 152 brands across 11 categories, is based on data collected online by YouGov Omnibus among 1,193 respondents in the country using its panel of an online representation of India.

Two initiatives of India won the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award, 2018, at its Annual General Members Meet, in Georgetown, Guyana. The initiative named "Unnayan Banka" - Reinventing Education Using Technology, of Banka District of Bihar was awarded under the Category "Innovation Incubation". Another initiative named "Unified Agriculture Markets" of Co-operation Department of Karnataka was selected under the Category 'Innovation in Public Service Management'. This initiative also won the overall Gold Award for CAPAM Awards, 2018. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is an institutional member of CAPAM.

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015, 16, 17 and 18 at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The award comprises a cash award of one crore rupees, a citation in a scroll, a plaque and a traditional handicraft item. Japan's Yohei Sasakawa was conferred with the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2018 for his contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world. For 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari was given the award for its contribution in Rural Development, Education and Development of natural resources. For 2016: Jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to millions of children across India and Sulabh International for its contribution in improving the condition of sanitation in India and emancipation of manual scavengers. And For 2017: Ekal Abhiyan Trust for its contribution in providing Education for Rural and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, Rural Empowerment, Gender, and Social Equality.

Railway's ticket booking mobile application - IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app and the Chhattisgarh government's 'Khanij online' and 14 other such IT projects have been chosen for National e-Governance Awards 2019. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Rail Connect mobile app, launched in January 2017, has been chosen for the special jury award for excellence in government process re-engineering for digital transformation. Railways collected revenue of over Rs 5,800 crore in 2018-19 (till December) through the App. National e-Governance Awards will be presented by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the New Delhi (India)-based independent research and advocacy think tank, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2018. CSE has been awarded for "its pioneering work over almost four decades in environmental education and protection, for its steadfast advocacy of measures to combat environmental deterioration, for its success in influencing public policies and programmes that have benefitted social and economic development in India, and for keeping the issue of environmental sustainability at the forefront of national attention and public policy.

Three Indian-origin women scientists Onisha Patel, Devika Kamath and Asha Rao are among the 60 Superstars of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) list awarded by Australian government. Under the initiative, due to gender gap in STEM courses, the government there is planning to train these scientists for one year to become influencers for female students.

Richie Benaud will be posthumously honoured as 'Legend' by Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Benaud, a former Australia captain who became one of the most loved voices of cricket after his playing days. He will be the 40th Legend of Australian Sport and the third cricketer to be bestowed the prestigious annual honour. It will be made official at the 34th Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction and awards gala dinner in Melbourne on 11 October.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to Award the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics to Arthur Ashkin, Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland "for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics".