Seventeen Members of Parliament (MPs) were honoured with the Sansad Ratna Awards for their exceptional contributions in the 18th Lok Sabha. Instituted to encourage parliamentary excellence, these awards recognise MPs who demonstrate consistency, commitment, and quality participation in debates, discussions, and committee work.
The Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted in 2010, inspired by the vision of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who advocated recognition for outstanding parliamentarians. They are awarded annually based on objective performance parameters such as debates, private members' bills, questions raised, and committee participation. Over time, the awards have become a benchmark for evaluating legislative productivity and accountability.
Geetanjali Shree Wins PEN Translates Award for 'Once Elephants Lived Here'
Renowned Hindi author Geetanjali Shree, celebrated for her International Booker Prize-winning novel Tomb of Sand, once again captured global literary attention. Her latest work, 'Once Elephants Lived Here', translated into English by Daisy Rockwell, was awarded the PEN Translates Award 2025 by English PEN, a UK-based human rights and literary organisation. This achievement is not only a personal milestone for the author but also a proud moment for Indian literature, especially for works in regional languages.
The PEN Translates Award, instituted by English PEN, aims to support the translation of outstanding works of literature into English, making global voices more accessible. The award promotes diversity by supporting translations from a wide range of languages and regions. For the 2025 edition, 14 books in 13 languages from 11 regions were selected.
Jul 24, 2025
Suhani Shah First Indian to Win 'Oscar for Magicians' at FISM 2025
In a landmark achievement for India's performing arts, mentalist Suhani Shah from Rajasthan became the first Indian to win the 'Best Magic Creator 2025' award at the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM)—popularly known as the Oscars for Magicians. The award was presented at the prestigious FISM World Championship held in Torino, Italy, recognising her excellence in the online category of magic.
The FISM World Championship of Magic is an international competition organized every three years by the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques. Founded in 1948, FISM is considered the highest global platform for magicians, showcasing the best talents across multiple categories such as stage magic, close-up magic, and online magic.
Jul 23, 2025
Astro Parduman Honoured with National Creator Award 2025 for Excellence in Astrology, Numerology ...
In a landmark achievement for India's performing arts, mentalist Suhani Shah from Rajasthan became the first Indian to win the 'Best Magic Creator 2025' award at the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM)—popularly known as the Oscars for Magicians. The award was presented at the prestigious FISM World Championship held in Torino, Italy, recognising her excellence in the online category of magic.
The FISM World Championship of Magic is an international competition organized every three years by the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques. Founded in 1948, FISM is considered the highest global platform for magicians, showcasing the best talents across multiple categories such as stage magic, close-up magic, and online magic.
Meri Panchayat App Wins WSIS Champion Award 2025 for Digital Governance
India's Meri Panchayat mobile application earned global recognition by winning the WSIS Prizes 2025 Champion Award under the category Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content. Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the app is a vital step in strengthening grassroots governance and digital participation in rural India. The award was conferred at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a global platform launched to promote inclusive and people-centered information societies. The 2025 event marked 20 years since WSIS's inception and aimed to review digital progress. The Meri Panchayat App was chosen as a Champion Project among global digital innovations that support inclusivity and local empowerment.
Astro Parduman Honoured with National Creator Award 2025 for Excellence in Astrology, Numerology ...
Renowned Indian astrologer and spiritual mentor Astro Parduman was conferred the National Creator Award 2025 at the prestigious Creators Lens Summit, held in Chandigarh. The award recognises his outstanding contributions in the fields of Astrology, Numerology, and Occult Sciences, as well as his deep impact on global audiences through spiritual content creation.
The award was presented in a special ceremony graced by former Union Sports Minister and MP Anurag Thakur, Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora.
Jul 22, 2025
DBS Conferred Three Global Awards, Including the Most Prestigious 'World's Best Bank' Accolade, b...
DBS scored a hat-trick of global wins at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. This included receiving the 'World's Best Bank' accolade, marking the third time that the bank has clinched Euromoney's top accolade since 2019. The recognition is a testament to DBS' solid financial performance, unwavering commitment to customer excellence, relentless focus on innovation and strong sense of purpose. DBS was also named the inaugural winner in the 'World's Best Bank for Customer Experience' category and 'World's Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility' for the second time. In another maiden win from Euromoney, DBS was recognised as the 'Best Digital Bank for SMEs' in India, underlining the value that its digital-first offering has delivered for customers domestically as well.
Jul 21, 2025
Nepal, Bhutan and USA Receive Top Honours in ICC Development Awards Ceremony
South Asian neighbours Nepal and Bhutan were among eight nations to win global honours in the 2024 edition of ICC Development Awards, cricket's parent body said.
USA Cricket received the ICC Associate Member Men's Team Performance of the Year award for its success in the last calendar year, with performances that included qualifying for the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup hosted by the USA and the West Indies.
Apart from USA, Bhutan and Nepal, other five nations to receive the awards were Indonesia, Namibia, Scotland, Tanzania, and Vanuatu.
Cricket Namibia won the ICC Development Initiative of the Year award for its Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme, the country's flagship grassroots development initiative.
For the first time, the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award was shared by two Members—Bhutan Cricket Council Board and Vanuatu Cricket Association.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) received the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year award.