General Awareness

AWARDS AND HONOURS - January 2026

Jan 2026

Jan 27, 2026

Padma Awards 2026 honour nine sportspersons, led by Vijay Amritraj

India announced the Padma Awards for 2026, honouring nine sportspersons among others. Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj receives the Padma Bhushan, while Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur are named Padma Shri recipients. Other sportspersons include Praveen Kumar and Savita Punia, among others. The awards celebrate achievements across cricket, hockey, wrestling, and para-sport, reflecting India’s diverse sporting excellence. An official list details the 131 civilian honours across all Padma categories. The government emphasised lifetime contribution to sport and national pride in this prestigious civilian award round.

Padma Awards 2026 announced; nine sportspersons honoured
Vijay Amritraj – Padma Bhushan; Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur – Padma Shri
Praveen Kumar and Savita Punia among Padma Shri recipients
Total: 131 civilian honours; diverse disciplines represented

Jan 26, 2026

Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026 announced; Namita Gokhale honoured

The Banaras Literature Festival announced the 2026 winners of its Book Awards. Namita Gokhale received the Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award for her long-standing contribution to Indian literature and literary institutions. In English, Shinie Antony won the Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction for Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith. Abhay K won the Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry for The Hanuman Chalisa. Peggy Mohan received the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award for Non-Fiction for Father Tongue, Motherland. Arunava Sinha earned the Rabindranath Tagore Translation Award for his English translation of Sankar’s Limited / Unlimited.

Lifetime Achievement: Namita Gokhale
Fiction: Shinie Antony (Ruskin Bond Award)
Poetry: Abhay K (Sarojini Naidu Award)
Non-Fiction: Peggy Mohan (Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award)
Translation: Arunava Sinha (Tagore Translation Award)

Jan 25, 2026

Bakul Limbasiya receives APO National Award for lab-grown diamond work

On 23 January 2026, Mr. Bakul Limbasiya, founder of Bhathwari Technologies, was honoured with the APO National Award for contributions to the lab-grown diamond sector. The award recognises productivity, innovation, and leadership in India’s manufacturing and technology landscape. The ceremony highlighted advancements in synthetic diamond production and its impact on global supply chains. Industry experts noted the award as a milestone for Indian startups driving high-value, technology-enabled manufacturing, potentially encouraging further private investment and collaborative research across academia and industry.

Award announced for Bakul Limbasiya on 23 January 2026.
Honours contributions to lab-grown diamond sector.
Significant recognition for Indian tech manufacturing.
Potential boost for private investment and R&D.

Jan 23, 2026

Indian Doctor Wins Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025

Chandrakant Lahariya, a public health physician and former WHO staffer, has won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025, becoming the first Indian recipient of this international award. The prize recognizes researchers whose work is inclusive, innovative and impactful. Lahariya’s work includes vaccination strategies, conditional cash transfers for maternal health, and immunization program improvements that helped introduce several vaccines in national programs. The award highlights India’s growing footprint in global health research and policy translation, reflecting ongoing efforts to link evidence with practical health outcomes.

Chandrakant Lahariya wins Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025.
First Indian recipient of the International Wiley Prize.
Research areas: vaccination, cash transfers, neonatal care.
Awards emphasize policy impact and inclusivity.

Jan 22, 2026

SIMATS wins international prize at AEEDC Dubai

Dubai, 22 January 2026 — Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) received the Al Shammery and Al Madani Global Prize for Exemplary Educational Institution in Dentistry at AEEDC Dubai. The prize carries a cash award of AED 20,000. The annual conference drew over 50,000 delegates from around the world, highlighting SIMATS’ contributions to dental education and research. Officials noted the award as recognition of the institution’s commitment to excellence in dental pedagogy, clinical training and international collaboration. The prize underscores India’s growing presence in global dental education networks.

Award: Al Shammery and Al Madani Global Prize for Education in Dentistry
Organization: SIMATS (Saveetha Institute) at AEEDC Dubai
Prize value: AED 20,000
Event scale: 50,000+ delegates worldwide
Significance: International recognition of SIMATS in dental education

Taylor Swift named to Songwriters Hall of Fame; second-youngest inductee

New York, 12 June 2026 — Taylor Swift, aged 36, will become the second-youngest songwriter inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, joining a distinguished list that includes Stevie Wonder. The organization announced the honor, alongside fellow inductees Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, and Kiss members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The ceremony is scheduled for June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Swift, a multiple Grammy winner, is celebrated for her prolific songwriting and musical versatility. The induction highlights her influence on contemporary pop and country genres and her broad cultural impact.

Induction: Taylor Swift named to Songwriters Hall of Fame
Age ranking: Second-youngest inductee
Ceremony: June 11, New York City
Peers: Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons
Significance: Recognition of songwriting impact across genres

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