MCQs on Awards & Honours jan 2026

Explanation: K. Pajanivel of Puducherry has been conferred with the Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution to traditional martial arts, especially Silambam.

Explanation: Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, former University Grants Commission Chairman, was recognised for shaping higher-education policy.

Explanation: V Kamakoti, Director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras, was honoured for computer science research and academic leadership.

Explanation: Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) from Maharashtra was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Art.

Explanation: K T Thomas from Kerala was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Public Affairs.

Explanation: P. Narayanan from Kerala was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in Literature & Education.

Explanation: Mammootty from Kerala was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the field of Art.

Explanation: Alka Yagnik from Maharashtra received the Padma Bhushan for her contributions to Art.

Explanation: Uday Kotak from Maharashtra was awarded the Padma Bhushan for Trade & Industry.

Explanation: Vijay Amritraj was recognised for his pioneering role in putting Indian tennis on the global map.

Explanation: Bakul Limbasiya was credited with producing India’s first lab-grown diamond and building a globally competitive LGD ecosystem.

Explanation: The award is administered in India by the National Productivity Council (NPC) under the DPIIT.

Explanation: Namita Gokhale was recognised for her sustained contribution to writing, publishing, and cultural dialogue.

Explanation: Shinie Antony won the Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction for her book ‘Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith’.

Explanation: Abhay K won the Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry for ‘The Hanuman Chalisa’.

Explanation: Peggy Mohan won the award for ‘Father Tongue, Motherland’.

Explanation: Arunava Sinha won for translating ‘Limited / Unlimited’.

Explanation: Mamta Kalia won the Premchand Award for Fiction for ‘Durasth Dampatya’.

Explanation: Udayan Vajpeyi won the Kabir Award for Poetry for ‘Pagal Ganitagya ki Kavitayein’.

Explanation: J. Sushil won the Rahul Sankrityayan Award for Non-Fiction for ‘Dukh ki Duniya Bheetar Hai’.

Explanation: Mahadev Toppo was honoured with the Kalidas Award for Indian Languages.

Explanation: Parag Pawan received the Vivekanand Award for Youth, a new category introduced to encourage emerging writers.

Explanation: Renu Sood Karnad received the Lifetime Achievement honour at the Gomati Devi Eminence Awards 2026.

Explanation: Chandrakant Lahariya, India’s leading public health physician, won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025.

Explanation: Chandrakant Lahariya is a former staff member of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Explanation: ‘Hamnet’, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, won Best Picture (Drama).

Explanation: ‘The Pitt’, a medical drama series starring Noah Wyle, won Best Drama Series.

Explanation: Jessie Buckley won her first Golden Globe for Best Female Actor (Film) for ‘Hamnet’.

Explanation: Shrinivas Dempo, Chairperson of the Dempo Group, was awarded the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia.

Explanation: Major Swathi Shantha Kumar won the UN Secretary-General’s Award 2025 for her project ‘Equal Partners, Lasting Peace’.

Explanation: Uttarakhand Police secured 1st position nationally with a score of 93.46.

Explanation: R. K. Shriramkumar, an authority on the keertanas of Muthuswami Dikshitar, received the award.

Explanation: Urmila Satyanarayanan was conferred the Nritya Kalanidhi Award at the 19th Dance Festival.

Explanation: Maitreyī Pushpa received the IFFCO Sahitya Samman for her deep engagement with rural society.

Explanation: Ankita Jain won the award for her book ‘Oh Re! Kisan’.

Explanation: Legendary music composer Ilaiyaraaja received the Padmapani Award for his 50+ years of musical legacy.

Explanation: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) received the award for its disaster & emergency alert platform.

Explanation: Karnataka Bank won the award for its digital capabilities and technology-driven initiatives.

Explanation: Graca Machel, a human rights activist and humanitarian, won the award.

Explanation: He was honoured for leading India to two ICC titles: T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025.

Explanation: Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded for leading India’s first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup–winning team in 2025.

Explanation: Savita Punia is the acclaimed goalkeeper of the Indian women’s hockey team.

Explanation: Praveen Kumar is a Paralympic gold medalist in High Jump.

Explanation: Vladimir Mestvirishvili was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions as a wrestling coach.

Explanation: Bhagwandas Raikwar is a Bundeli war art trainer.

Explanation: Baldev Singh, a veteran hockey coach, was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

Explanation: Aaryan Varshney became the 92nd Indian to earn the title of chess Grandmaster.

Explanation: Vidarbha won their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title, defeating Saurashtra.

Explanation: Saina Nehwal was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in badminton.

Explanation: Novak Djokovic became the first player in history to record 400 singles wins in Grand Slams.