General Awareness

AWARDS AND HONOURS - September 2024

Sep 2024

Jun 06, 2026

J&K Bank wins Finacle Gold Award for data analytics platform

J&K Bank won the Gold Award at the Finacle Innovation Awards 2026 in Mumbai, in the category ‘Modern Technologies-led Innovation – Data Insights & Analytics Platform’. The award recognised the bank’s cloud-based enterprise data and analytics ecosystem, which supports data-driven banking and digital transformation through real-time analytics and customer insights. The recognition highlights J&K Bank’s growing focus on technology-led innovation in a competitive Indian banking sector. The Finacle Awards showcase innovations across fintech and banking technology, reinforcing India’s growing fintech landscape.

Gold Award at Finacle Innovation Awards 2026.
Category: Modern Technologies-led Innovation – Data Insights & Analytics Platform.
Recognises cloud-based data and analytics ecosystem.
Supports data-driven banking and digital transformation.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards honour 51 artistes in Lucknow

In June 2026, 51 artistes were honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards in Lucknow at Lok Bhawan. The ceremony recognised contributions in music, dance, theatre and folk arts and covered award years 2021–2024. The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India’s national academy for performing arts. The recipients reflected the diversity of India's cultural fields and included artists from classical and folk traditions. The awards emphasize ongoing government support for performing arts and celebrate achievements that strengthen India's cultural landscape on a national stage.

51 artistes honoured at Lok Bhawan, Lucknow (June 2026).
Awards cover 2021–2024 cycles.
Recognises music, dance, theatre and folk arts.
Sangeet Natak Akademi is India’s national academy for performing arts.

Jun 05, 2026

Lionel Messi Receives Princess of Asturias Award for Sports

Lionel Messi was honored with the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, recognizing his outstanding football career, global influence and contributions beyond the field. The award, one of Spain’s most prestigious recognitions, highlights Messi’s achievements at club and international level, along with his influence in promoting sport and social causes. The laureate is celebrated for excellence, leadership and a sustained track record of performance. The ceremony drew attention from sports fans worldwide and reinforced Messi’s status as a global sports icon. The award adds to Messi’s list of career milestones and philanthropic work.

Messi awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.
Recognition cites exceptional football career and global influence.
Award is among Spain’s top international honors.
Ceremony underscores contributions beyond on-field play.
Bolsters Messi’s status as a global sports icon.

Jun 01, 2026

'India's First Olympic Gold' Book Released

Olympian P. T. Usha released a new book titled India's First Olympic Gold, written by hockey historian K. Arumugam. The work recounts India's historic field hockey gold at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, led by captain Dhyan Chand and the story of Indian players overcoming limited resources and fierce competition. The author highlights the training, team coordination, and strategic choices that helped India secure the country’s first Olympic gold in modern times. The book also reflects on the broader impact of the achievement on Indian sport, national pride, and inspiring future generations of athletes. Usha described the book as a tribute to pioneers who shaped Indian hockey.

Book released by Olympian P. T. Usha
Authored by hockey historian K. Arumugam
Recounts 1928 Olympic hockey gold in Amsterdam
Highlights Dhyan Chand-led team and challenges
Discusses impact on sport and national pride

Shrey Parikh wins 2026 Scripps Spelling Bee in spell-off

Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee after a tense spell-off that featured 32 correctly spelled words in 90 seconds. The winning word was bromocriptine, a polypeptide alkaloid related to ergot and dopamine. The victory nets Parikh a $50,000 prize and places him among the competition's most successful young champions. Judges noted his consistent performance across online and in-person rounds, while coaches highlighted disciplined study routines and a strategic approach to tough vocabulary. Parikh's win marks a landmark moment for Indian-origin students on the global spelling-stage. The Bee's organizers praised the diverse field and competitive finals.

Winner of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Spelled 32 words correctly in a 90-second spell-off.
Winning word: bromocriptine; prize: $50,000.
14-year-old speller from Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Celebrates Indian-origin success on the global spelling stage.

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.

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