Question 1

Indian civilian honours: The ‘‘Ashoka Chakra’’ is awarded for which kind of act?  Identify the nature of gallantry recognized by this decoration. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe Ashoka Chakra is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award for valor, courage, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.Final AnswerGallantry of the highest order in peacetime.

Question 2

Awards & recognition: Which international financial journal confers the ‘‘Finance Minister of the Year’’ award?  Identify the publication known for this annual recognition. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactThe Banker (a Financial Times Group publication) is noted for its annual ‘‘Finance Minister of the Year’’ awards.Final AnswerThe Banker.

Question 3

Doordarshan science programming: UNESCO’s ‘‘Prix Jules Verne’’ prize was awarded to which DD serial?  Identify the nationally popular science/knowledge series recognized internationally. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ContextTurning Point, a popular science magazine show on Doordarshan, received international recognition including UNESCO-associated honors for promoting science awareness.Final AnswerTurning Point.

Question 4

Nobel literature laureates: Who was the first Black American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?  Select the correct laureate and nationality. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactToni Morrison (USA) won the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature, the first Black American recipient.Wole Soyinka (1986) is Nigerian (not American).Final AnswerToni Morrison.

Question 5

Nobel Prize in Literature (1953): Who received the award in 1953?  Choose the correct laureate for that year. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactThe 1953 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Winston Churchill for his mastery of historical and biographical description and brilliant oratory.Eliot (1948), Russell (1950), Hemingway (1954).Final AnswerWinston Churchill.

Question 6

Science popularization: The Kalinga Award was instituted by which organization?  Identify the awarding body behind this international prize. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactThe Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science was established in 1951 by UNESCO (with support from Biju Patnaik/Orissa), and is awarded internationally.Final AnswerUNESCO.

Question 7

Indian music honours: ‘‘Tansen Samman’’ has been instituted by the Government of which state?  Identify the state known for major classical music awards and festivals. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactThe Tansen Samman is a prestigious classical music award instituted by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.Final AnswerMadhya Pradesh.

Question 8

Indian literary awards: Who among the following has not received the Bharatiya Jnanpith Award? Pick the single non-recipient from well-known Indian authors/poets. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactsG. Sankara Kurup was the first Jnanpith awardee (Malayalam).Firaq Gorakhpuri (Urdu) and Girish Karnad (Kannada) are Jnanpith laureates.R. K. Narayan is a celebrated novelist but did not receive the Jnanpith.Final AnswerR. K. Narayan.

Question 9

International understanding: Who was the first recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding?  Identify the inaugural awardee. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactThe first Nehru Award for International Understanding (instituted in the 1960s) was conferred on U Thant, then UN Secretary-General.Final AnswerU Thant.

Question 10

Sports honours (India): The ‘‘Arjuna Award’’ is given for which of the following?  Identify the field recognized by this national award. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe Arjuna Award recognizes outstanding achievement in sports and games by Indian athletes.Final AnswerOutstanding performance in sports and games.

Question 11

Awards & festivals: The ‘‘Cannes Award’’ is given for excellence in which field?  International recognition associated with the Cannes Film Festival in France. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe Cannes Film Festival confers prestigious awards (e.g., Palme d’Or) recognizing excellence in cinema—direction, acting, and filmmaking craft.EliminationArchitecture/Science/Environment have their own domain awards, not the Cannes awards.Final AnswerCinema and filmmaking.

Question 12

Indian awards: ‘‘Manav Seva Award’’ has been instituted in the memory of which leader?  Focus on the Government of India award for child welfare and social service. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactThe Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award commemorates Rajiv Gandhi and honors outstanding service for children and social welfare.Final AnswerRajiv Gandhi.

Question 13

Indian honors: Which journalist refused to accept the Padma Bhushan award? Identify the media veteran known for declining the civilian honor. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Fact & contextVeteran editor Nikhil Chakravartty is noted for refusing the Padma Bhushan on principle.Khushwant Singh returned his Padma Bhushan (different act), not refused at the outset.Final AnswerNikhil Chakravartty.

Question 14

Indian S&T recognition: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards are given for what?  Identify the domain and nature of this premier Indian research award. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe SSB Awards honor outstanding Indian research contributions across scientific disciplines (CSIR).Final AnswerOutstanding research in science and technology.

Question 15

Nobel history: In which year were the Nobel Prizes first awarded?  Recall the inaugural year across categories established by Alfred Nobel's will. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactNobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901; Alfred Nobel's will established them in 1895.Final Answer1901.

Question 16

State honors: ‘‘Mewar Award’’ is given by which Indian state?  Identify the state historically associated with the Mewar region. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactMewar is a historic region of Rajasthan; the state confers related honors and awards.Final AnswerRajasthan.

Question 17

Literary awards: ‘‘Saraswati Samman’’ is given annually for outstanding contribution to which field?  Focus on the award's domain and scope across Indian languages. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ConceptThe Saraswati Samman recognizes outstanding works of Indian literature in any Indian language listed in the schedule.Final AnswerIndian literature.

Question 18

State literary honor: ‘‘Sharad Joshi Samman’’ is awarded for which area?  Sharad Joshi was a noted Hindi satirist and humorist; match the award's focus. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ContextNamed after writer Sharad Joshi, the honor celebrates satire/humor in Hindi literature, typically under a state cultural award framework.Final AnswerHindi satirical and humorous literature.

Question 19

Bharat Ratna and the Presidency: Who among the following received the ‘‘Bharat Ratna’’ before becoming President of India? Pick the single correct name based on award chronology vs. tenure. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

ChronologyA. P. J. Abdul Kalam received the Bharat Ratna in 1997 and became President in 2002.V. V. Giri (1975, after presidency), R. Venkataraman (1997, after tenure), Giani Zail Singh (not a recipient).Final AnswerA. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

Question 20

Ramon Magsaysay Award (Kiran Bedi): In which field was Ms. Kiran Bedi honored?  Match the category under which her policing/prison reforms were recognized. Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

FactKiran Bedi received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the category of Government Service for pioneering police and prison reforms.Final AnswerGovernment service.

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