Competitive Exams: Current Affairs 2011: World Awards

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World Awards

WEF Crystal Award 2011

  • Internationally renowned music composer A R Rahman was honoured with the Crystal Award of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the opening ceremony of its annual meet being attended by 2,500 global leaders from the fields of business, government, art, culture and religion.
  • Mr. Rahman, received the award, given to outstanding artists who use their talent for social and charitable work.
  • The WEF took note of his work for the welfare of children.
  • Jose Carreras, an opera artist from Barcelona, was also given the Crystal Award for his work for the patients of leukemia.
  • Amitabh Bachchan and Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer Mallika Sarabhai received the crystal award 2009.

Pushkin Gold Medal

  • Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has awarded the prestigious Pushkin Gold Medal to Professor Arun Mohanty of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for his contribution to studies on Russia and promotion of bilateral cultural ties and friendship.
  • The Pushkin Gold Medal is the highest honorary award given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the promotion of the Russian language and culture. More than 10 Indian scholars and public figures have been awarded the medal since its institution in 1977.

Ashok Chakra

  • In a first-of-its-kind, an Army doctor, Major Laishram Jyotin Singh became the first officer from Army

Medical Corps (AMC) to receive the highest peacetime gallantry award-Ashok Chakra-posthumously for fighting militants barehanded during an attack on Indians in Kabul last year.

Padma Awards

  • 128 awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 12 in the category of Foreigners/NRIs/PIOs/Posthumous.
  • These comprise 13 Padma Vibhushan, 31 Padma Bhushan and 84 Padma Shri Awards.
  • There are 31 ladies among the awardees.

National Bravery Award 2010

Total-23 boys and girls including Eight children from North-Eastern states.

Award 2010 for

  1. Bharat Award, since 1987 No award-
  2. Sanjay Chopra Award, since 1978 Priyanshu Joshi of Uttarakhand saved his sister from a leopard
  3. Geeta Chopra Award, since 1978 Jismi P. M. Of Kerala saved two children from drowning
  4. Bapu Gayadhani Award, since 1988 Master Vishnudas K (17 years) . of Kerala, Master Moonis Khan (15 years) of Madhya Pradesh and Master Vishnudas saved two children from drowning and in a fire incident.
  5. National Bravery Award, since 1957 18 boys and girls-

Background

  • The National Bravery Award Scheme is an endeavour by the Indian Council for Child Welfare to give due recognition to the children who show exceptional courage and perform meritorious service to inspire others to emulate their example.
  • The award is given to around 24 children below the age of 16. One of two coveted awards in this category are the Sanjay Chopra Award and Geeta Chopra Award instituted in 1978, in the memory of Chopra children who laid their lives while confronting their kidnappers, and are given to a boy and a girl respectively for acts of bravery. The highest award in the category is the Bharat Award, constituted in 1987, and the Bapu Gayadhani Award was instituted in 1988.
  • Children get a medal, certificate and cash under the scheme and the awardees will be granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling. The Government has reserved some seats for the awardees in medical and engineering colleges and polytechnics.
  • The awards are usually announced on 14 November, Childrens Day or in January following year, and later given by the Prime Minister of India, on the eve of the Republic Day, and prior to this the President hosts a reception in their honour, where the children meet the media. On 26 January, the awardees take part in Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2011

  1. Sir Anand Satyanand from New Zealand (Chief Guest) ,
  2. Prof. Veena Harbhagwan Sahajwalla from Australia
  3. Ms. Lata Pada from Canada
  4. Mr. Harindrapal Singh Banga from Hong Kong
  5. Mr. Mohammad Munir Nazir Hassan Ansari from Israel
  6. Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva from Liberia
  7. Tan Sri Dato Ajit Singh from Malaysia
  8. Mr. Saleh Wahid from Netherlands
  9. Indian Community Benevolent Forum of Qatar
  10. Dr. Mohiaddin Syed Karimuddin from Saudi Arabia
  11. Mr. Mano Selvanathan of Sri Lanka
  12. Mr. Mohan Jashanmal from UAE
  13. Baroness (Dr.) Sandip Verma from UK
  14. Mr. Ashok Kumar Ramsaran from USA
  15. Dr. Rajiv Shah from USA.
  16. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. PBSA is conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions organized annually since 2003 on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin or an organization or institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, who has made significant contribution in any one of the following fields:
    1. Better understanding abroad of India
    2. Support to India՚s causes and concerns in a tangible way
    3. Building closer links between India, the overseas Indian community and their country of residence
    4. Social and humanitarian causes in India or abroad
    5. Welfare of the local Indian community
    6. Philanthropic and charitable work
    7. Eminence in one՚s field or outstanding work, which has enhanced India՚s prestige in the country of residence; or
    8. Eminence in skills which has enhanced India՚s prestige in that country (for non-professional workers) .

National E-Governance Awards 2011

  • The national e-governance awards instituted by department of administrative reforms and public grievances have been announced.
  • The awards are given to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-governance initiatives.
  • This year the awards have been announced in seven categories namely, excellence in government process re-engineering, exemplary re-use of ICT based solutions, outstanding performance in citizencentric service deliver, innovative use of technology in e-governance, innovative use of ICT by PSUs for customer՚s benefits, best government portal and special award for e-governance in agriculture sector.
  • The award were presented at Aurangabad on Feb 10,2011 by the union government.

Various Award Winners

Category 1-Excellence in Government Process Re-Engineering
  • GOLD Processing of Income Tax Returns at Centralized Processing Center, Directorate of Income Tax (System) , Income Tax Department, New Delhi.
  • SILVER e-Stamping for MCA Services, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, New Delhi.
  • BRONZE Aasthi (GIS based Property Tax Information System) , Directorate of Municipal Administration

Urban Development Department, Government of Karnataka.

Category 2-Exemplary Re-Use of ICT Based Solutions
  • GOLD Panch Tantra Gram Panchayatha Online System, Rural Development and Panchayatha Raj Department, Government of Karnataka and NIC
  • SILVER Geoinformatics in implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 in Maharashtra, Tribal Research and Training Institute, Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra.
  • BRONZE e-grantz, Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) , Scheduled Caste/

Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Government of Kerala.

Category 3-Outstanding Performance in Citizen-Centric Service Delivery
  • GOLD SWAGAT State-Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology, Chief Minister s Office, Gujarat.
  • SILVER Aarogyam, District Health Society, Bagpat & J. P. Nagar, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
  • BRONZE Tele Samadhan Call Centre for Citizen facilitation and grievances redressal, Madhya

Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation, Department of IT, Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Category 4-Innovative Use of Technology in E-Governance
  • GOLD BTRAC 2010, Bangalore Traffic Police.
  • SILVER Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) , Gujarat State Watershed Management Agency, Department of Rural Development, Government of Gujarat.
  • BRONZE e-Disaster Management Cell, Collector Office, Gadchiroli.
  • BRONZE e-Governance, Computer Department, Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
Category 5-Innovative Use of ICT by PSUs for Customer՚s Benefits
  • GOLD Financial Inclusion, Punjab National Bank, New Delhi.
  • SILVER Enhanced National Train Enquiry System (ENTES) , Centre for Railway Information Systems, Indian Railways.
  • BRONZE Electronic Fund Transferring System, Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Limited

Housing Department, Government of Karnataka.

Category 6-Best Government Portal
  • GOLD Indian Customs EDI Gateway Project (ICEGATE) , Directorate General of Systems & Data Management, Central Board of Excise and Customs.
  • SILVER Net-Portal Project of Geological Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata.
  • BRONZE National Data Warehouse of Official Statistics, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, New Delhi.
Category 7-Specific Sectoral Award-Focus Sector Agriculture
  • GOLD Agrisnet Agriculture Information Service Network, Agriculture Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
  • SILVER e-Krishi, Kerala State IT Mission, Department of IT, Government of Kerala.
  • BRONZE e-Auction, Tea Board of India, Kolkata.

ILOs Decent Work Research Prize

  • The International Labour Organisations Decent Work Research Prize has been awarded to economist Jayati Ghosh and Professor Eve Landau.
  • Dr. Ghosh, who teaches at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, is honoured for her major contributions to the analysis of socio-economic relationships and policy instruments for the advancement of decent work.
  • The prize carries a cash reward of $ 5,000.
  • Dr. Ghosh has also been invited to make a presentation at a special ceremony to be held during the

ILOs Governing Board session scheduled in Geneva for November.

Ernst & Young Announces 2010 Year Awards

Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is named as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year 2010.

Category Person and Company

Entrepreneur Of The Year Lifetime Achievement

Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Hero Honda Motors

Entrepreneur of the Year 2010

Dilip Shanghvi, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries

Business Transformation Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto Life Sciences & Consumer Products

Shyam S. Bhartia, Chairman and Managing Director of Jubilant Life Sciences, and Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Services Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of InterGlobe Enterprises Start-up N K Chaudhary, Managing Director of Jaipur Rugs Company Pvt. Ltd Energy & Infrastructure Naveen Jindal, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Steel & Power

Manager R. Sridhar, Managing Director of Shriram Transport Finance Company Manufacturing Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman of Tractors and Farm Equipment

83rd Academy Awards

  • The Kings Speech won four top awards in the categories like Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth) , Best Director (Tom Hooper) and Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler) .
  • Leonardo DiCaprios movie Inception has also got four awards in the Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects categories.
  • Other multiple winners included The Social Network with three awards and Alice in Wonderland, The Fighter, and Toy Story 3, with two awards each. Best Picture: The Kings Speech Best Actor: Colin Firth, The Kings Speech Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter Best Directing: Tom Hooper, The Kings Speech Best Foreign Language Film: In a Better World, Denmark Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The Kings Speech Best Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 3
  • The Academy Award, also known as the Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers.
  • The first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929.
  • MGMs art director Cedric Gibbons, one of the original Academy members, supervised the design of the award trophy.
  • Peepli Live, the Hindi film produced by actor Aamir Khan, was Indias official entry to this years Academy Awards (Oscar) in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Golden Globes awards 2011
  • The Social Network, a film about Harvard-graduate Mark Zuckerberg՚s ultra-popular Facebook website, swept up four awards
  • It beat British historical tale The Kings Speech, which had entered the awards ceremony with the most nominations but collected just one award
  • A R Rahman, missed a second win at the forum.
  • Mr. Rahman, who was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the Original Score for If I Rise, from director Danny Boyles 127 Hours, lost the Award to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Important winners:

  1. Best Motion Picture-Drama: The Social Network
  2. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
  3. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama: Colin Firth, The Kings Speech
  4. Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical: The Kids Are All Right
    • The Golden Globe Awards are sponsored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to recognise excellence in film, television both domestic and foreign.
    • Ceremony held in Beverly Hills, California

Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards for 2009 Presented

The Best of All Award was given to Tata Motors Limited, Lucknow. The other category award winners include Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare Limited, Sonepat, Haryana (Large Scale Manufacturing Industry) ; Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Banglaore (Large Scale Service Industry) ; Elin

Appliances Private Limited, Solan, Himachal Pradesh (Small Scale Manufacturing Industry) ; and Quality

Evaluation and Systems Team Private Limited, Bangalore (Small Scale Service Industry) .

  • The award, given annually, was instituted by the Bureau of Indian Standards in the year 1991 with a view to encouraging Indian Manufacturing and Service Organizations to strive for excellence and giving special recognition to those, who are considered to be the leaders of quality movement in India.
  • Bureau of Indian Standards is under Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Food &

Consumer Affairs.

Sitaram Jindal Announces Huge Prize for the Noble in India

  • Saying that he was ashamed to belong to a business community that did not do enough to help the rest of society, Sitaram Jindal said that companies should earmark at least 25 per cent of their profit for CSR programmes and pledged to spend more than a million dollars of his own every year to encourage those working for the welfare of the underprivileged in India.
  • Announcing the institution of five annual prizes of ₹ 1 crore each on behalf of the Sitaram Jindal Foundation, the aluminium magnate said these would be given away to people working in the categories of rural development and poverty alleviation, health including drugless therapy, education with an emphasis on moral fortification, science, technology and environment, and peace, social harmony and development.

MacArthur Foundation Award

Eleven organisations based in six countries, including one in India (Action Research & Training for Health, based in Rajasthan) , will receive the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced in Chicago. These constitute grants of $ 350,000 to $ 1 million each.

Courtesy: The Hindu and Times of India