Awards and Honours
In the context of competitive exams like the RRB NTPC, understanding awards and honours is crucial. These awards recognize excellence in various fields such as science, literature, arts, sports, social service, and national achievements. Knowing who received these awards, in which year, and for what specific contribution can significantly boost your General Awareness score. This section will cover prominent awards, their significance, and important recent recipients.
National Awards
India has a rich tradition of honouring its citizens for outstanding contributions to the nation. These awards are often conferred by the Government of India.
Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours in India. They are awarded in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a high order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service in any field). These awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
- Padma Vibhushan: The second-highest civilian award in India.
- Padma Bhushan: The third-highest civilian award in India.
- Padma Shri: The fourth-highest civilian award in India.
These awards are not given posthumously. The selection committee is constituted by the Prime Minister, and the President of India confers these awards.
Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. It is awarded annually by the President of India. It is conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. It is awarded for the most outstanding achievement in the field of art, literature, science, and public service.
The award was instituted on January 2, 1954. It is an honour for exceptional service; performance of the highest order. No formal recommendation is needed for Bharat Ratna. The Prime Minister can recommend to the President for the award.
Gallantry Awards
These awards are given to recognise acts of bravery and sacrifice by members of the armed forces, other security forces, and civilians.
- Param Vir Chakra: India's highest military decoration, awarded for valour in the face of the enemy.
- Maha Vir Chakra: The second-highest military decoration.
- Vir Chakra: The third-highest military decoration.
- Ashoka Chakra: Awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice, not in the face of the enemy.
- Kirti Chakra: Second highest peacetime award for bravery.
- Shaurya Chakra: Third highest peacetime award for bravery.
Other Important National Awards
Several other national awards are given for contributions in specific fields.
- Sahitya Akademi Award: Given by the Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters) for outstanding literary works in one of the 24 major Indian languages.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award: Given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for outstanding contribution in the performing arts.
- National Film Awards: Presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, to honour cinematic achievements.
- Dronacharya Award: Awarded to coaches for outstanding performance in sports.
- Arjuna Award: Given to sportspersons for consistently excelling in sports.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: India's highest sporting honour, previously known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
International Awards
These awards are given by international bodies or foreign governments, often recognizing contributions on a global scale.
Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Prizes are among the most prestigious international awards. They are awarded annually in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. The prizes were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor and industrialist. The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901.
Categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, Economic Sciences (Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, established in 1968).
Awarding Institutions: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Economics), Karolinska Institute (Physiology or Medicine), Swedish Academy (Literature), and the Norwegian Nobel Committee (Peace).
It's important to know the recent winners, especially those with Indian connections or who have won for significant global issues. For example, Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 along with Malala Yousafzai. Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019 for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.
Other International Awards
Several other international awards recognize contributions in various fields.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding: Conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the promotion of international understanding, goodwill, and friendship.
- Man Booker International Prize: Awarded for a single book, translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. It recognizes the best novel originally written in any language and translated into English.
- Pulitzer Prize: Awarded annually for achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States.
- Oscar Awards (Academy Awards): Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements.
- Grammy Awards: Presented annually by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize achievements in the music industry.
Awards in Specific Fields
Many awards are specific to certain domains, and knowing them is vital for comprehensive preparation.
Literature Awards
Awards in literature often recognize literary merit and impact.
- Jnanpith Award: The highest literary award in India, presented annually to an author for outstanding contribution to Indian literature. It is awarded for an outstanding literary work in any of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. It was instituted in 1961.
- Sahitya Akademi Award: (As mentioned earlier) Recognizes literary works in 24 Indian languages.
- Booker Prize (formerly Man Booker Prize): For English-language novels.
- Nobel Prize in Literature: (As mentioned earlier)
Science and Technology Awards
These awards encourage innovation and breakthroughs in scientific fields.
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize: Given by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for outstanding contributions in science and technology. It is considered the most coveted award in science in India.
- Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine: (As mentioned earlier)
- Infosys Prize: Awarded annually by the Infosys Science Foundation to honour exceptional contributions in science and research in India.
Peace Awards
Awards for peace recognize efforts towards promoting harmony and conflict resolution.
- Nobel Peace Prize: (As mentioned earlier)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding: (As mentioned earlier)
- Gandhi Peace Prize: An annual award instituted by the Government of India in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. It is awarded to individuals and institutions for their contribution to international peace and understanding.
Film Awards
Recognizing excellence in cinema.
- National Film Awards: India's most prestigious film awards.
- Filmfare Awards: Popular film awards in India.
- Oscar Awards (Academy Awards): The most prestigious awards in Hollywood.
- Cannes Film Festival Awards: Prestigious awards given at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Sports Awards
Honouring athletes and coaches for their achievements.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: India's highest sporting honour.
- Arjuna Award: For outstanding performance in sports.
- Dronacharya Award: For coaches in sports.
- Laureus World Sports Awards: Often called the "Oscars of Sports."
Recent Awardees and Key Information (Illustrative Examples)
It is vital to stay updated with the latest award winners. Here are some examples of significant awards and their recent recipients. Remember to check for the most current information closer to your exam.
Recent Padma Awardees (Illustrative - Check Latest)
The Padma Awards are announced on Republic Day eve (January 26th) each year. For example, in 2023, Padma Awards were conferred on 106 people, including 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan, and 91 Padma Shri awardees. Some prominent names might include artists, scientists, public figures, and social workers.
Recent Nobel Prize Winners (Illustrative - Check Latest)
Physics: For 2023, Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L'Huillier were awarded for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
Chemistry: For 2023, Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov were awarded for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.
Physiology or Medicine: For 2023, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were awarded for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Literature: For 2023, Jon Fosse was awarded for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.
Peace: For 2023, Narges Mohammadi was awarded for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.
Economic Sciences: For 2023, Claudia Goldin was awarded for having advanced our understanding of women's labour market outcomes.
Recent Jnanpith Awardees (Illustrative - Check Latest)
The 57th Jnanpith Award (2022) was presented to Damodar Mauzo (Konkani). The 56th Jnanpith Award (2021) was conferred upon Nilmani Phookan Jr. (Assamese).
Recent Major Sports Awards (Illustrative - Check Latest)
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: For 2023, Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai are the awardees.
Arjuna Award: For 2023, 26 sportspersons were awarded, including Mohammed Shami (Cricket), Sheetal Devi (Para Archery), and Ayhika Mukherjee (Table Tennis).
Dronacharya Award: For 2023, 5 coaches received the award, including Lalit Kumar (Wrestling) and R.B. Ramesh (Chess).
Awards Conferred by International Organizations
Various international organizations also present awards to recognize significant contributions.
- United Nations Peace Medal: Awarded to UN peacekeepers.
- UNESCO Peace Prize: Recognizes efforts in peace-building.
- International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN): Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
Awards for Specific Achievements in India
Beyond the national awards, several other prestigious awards are given within India.
- Gyanpeeth Award: For literary excellence in Indian languages.
- Saraswati Samman: An annual award for outstanding literary work in Indian languages, instituted by the KK Birla Foundation.
- Vyas Samman: Also instituted by the KK Birla Foundation, for outstanding literary work in Hindi.
- B.C. Roy Award: The highest award in the medical field in India, named after Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.
- Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration: Awarded for outstanding contribution in public administration.
Important Years to Remember
Knowing the year of establishment for key awards can sometimes be asked.
| Award | Year of Establishment |
|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna | 1954 |
| Padma Awards (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri) | 1954 |
| Param Vir Chakra | 1950 |
| Jnanpith Award | 1961 |
| Nobel Prizes | 1901 |
| Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences | 1968 |
| Arjuna Award | 1961 |
| Dronacharya Award | 1985 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award) | 1991-92 |
| Sahitya Akademi Award | 1954 |
| National Film Awards | 1954 |
| Gandhi Peace Prize | 1995 |
By systematically studying these awards, their categories, awarding bodies, and recent recipients, you can effectively prepare for the questions related to Awards and Honours in your RRB NTPC exam. Remember to always cross-reference with the latest available information as award lists are updated annually.