General Awareness

AWARDS AND HONOURS - May 2024

May 2024

May 31, 2026

Shrey Parikh wins 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in California

Shrey Parikh, an Indian-origin student, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in California after a spell-off. He spelled 32 words correctly in 90 seconds, including the winning word bromocriptine, and received a $50,000 prize. Parikh, from Rancho Cucamonga, beat Ishaan Gupta in a dramatic tiebreaker. The victory marks a notable achievement for the Indian‑American community in U.S. spelling competitions. Organisers praised his composure and accuracy under pressure. Support from teachers, family, and mentors featured prominently in coverage, highlighting perseverance and dedication required to excel in national-level contests. The win added to a growing list of accomplishments by Indian-Americans in U.S. academics.

Winner: Shrey Parikh, Scripps National Spelling Bee 2026.
Spelled 32 words in 90 seconds; bromocriptine was winning word.
Prize: $50,000.
Defeated Ishaan Gupta in a spell-off.
Celebrated by Indian-American community and supporters.

May 29, 2026

UN to posthumously honour Indian peacekeepers; Major Abhilasha Barak receives gender award

The United Nations will posthumously honour two Indian peacekeepers on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh (MONUSCO) and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan (UNMISS) will receive the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also present Major Abhilasha Barak of the Indian Army with the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year award for her work promoting women’s empowerment during UNIFIL deployment in Lebanon. India remains one of the largest peacekeeping contributors, with over 4,200 personnel currently serving in missions across several regions. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have died serving under the UN flag.

Dag Hammarskjöld Medal awarded posthumously to two Indian peacekeepers.
Major Abhilasha Barak to receive Military Gender Advocate of the Year (2025).
India: second-largest UN peacekeeping contributor; ~4,200 personnel deployed.
Honours underscore India’s long-running role in global peacekeeping.

May 27, 2026

Padma Awards 2026 conferred on 66 eminent personalities

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Awards to 66 eminent personalities for the year 2026 at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awards include two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and fifty-eight Padma Shri recipients. Notably, noted film actor Dharmendra Singh Deol received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his contribution to art. Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar was honoured with a Padma Shri for sports. Other recipients include Taga Ram Bheel, Ratilal Mohanlal Borisagar, Swami Brahmdev, and Kumar Bose, among others named in the ceremony. The awards recognise diverse fields including arts, science, public affairs, and social service.

Total recipients: 66
Padma Vibhushan: 2; Padma Bhushan: 6; Padma Shri: 58
Dharmendra Singh Deol posthumously Padma Vibhushan
Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar Padma Shri
Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan

May 25, 2026

Violinist N Rajam to receive Padma Vibhushan

N Rajam, renowned Hindustani classical violinist associated with Gayaki Ang, has been named for the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. The Republic Day honours list is announced each year on the eve of Republic Day by the Government of India. Rajam, born in 1938 in Chennai, is celebrated for integrating Carnatic and Hindustani styles and for a long academic tenure at Banaras Hindu University. The Padma awards recognise achievements across arts, science, and public service, underscoring Rajam’s influence on Indian classical music and pedagogy.

Padma Vibhushan recipient: N Rajam
Born 1938, Chennai; known for Gayaki Ang violin style
Long tenure at Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Padma awards announced on eve of Republic Day
Significant contribution to Indian classical music

May 24, 2026

Taiwan Travelogue wins 2026 International Booker Prize; first Mandarin work to win

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King, won the 2026 International Booker Prize, the prize's 10th edition. It is the first Mandarin work to win the award. The author and translator are the first Taiwanese winners. The prize money is £50,000 to be split between author and translator. Judges described the novel as captivating and slyly sophisticated. The book presents a fictional travel memoir set in 1930s Japan-occupied Taiwan, with two main characters touring Taiwan through food. The win continues a recent trend of translated works gaining global recognition, following the title's 2024 National Book Award for translated literature.

Winner: Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King.
First Mandarin Chinese work to win the International Booker Prize.
Prize money: £50,000 to be shared between author and translator.
Story: a fictional travel memoir set in 1930s Japan-occupied Taiwan focusing on a culinary tour.
Previous recognition: 2024 National Book Award for translated literature.

Padma Shri for Kantha embroidery artist Tripti Mukherjee

Kantha embroidery artist Tripti Mukherjee will receive the Padma Shri, India’s high civilian award, on 25 May 2026. She hails from West Bengal and has spent nearly four decades promoting Kantha craftsmanship, creating livelihoods for rural women. Born on 28 April 1966, she drew early inspiration from her mother. The Padma Shri is conferred by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at an official ceremony. Mukherjee’s work has helped preserve traditional handicrafts, supported women artisans through skill development, and kept Kantha embroidery alive in contemporary design markets.

Recipient: Tripti Mukherjee, Kantha embroidery artist.
Award: Padma Shri, 25 May 2026 ceremony.
Origin: West Bengal; decades of promoting Kantha embroidery.
Birthdate: 28 April 1966.
Impact: preservation of traditional crafts; empowerment of rural women artisans.

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