Test: National/Padma Awards - UPSC MCQ

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:

• In September 2020, sir David Attenborough awarded the prestigious Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2019.
•  He is an English broadcaster and natural historian.
• The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:
  • It is awarded for peace, disarmament, and development.
  • Named after the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
  • It was started in 1986 by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
  • The award consisted of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakhs.
  • It recognizes efforts and works of organizations and individuals who are working to create international economic order, ensure that scientific discoveries are used to enlarge the scope of freedom.

Bharat Ratna " is India's highest civilian award.

• The award is given "in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order" and is treated without distinction as to race, profession, place, sex, and nationality.
• This award was initially limited to the arts, literature, research, and public services, but in December 2011, the government extended the requirements to include "any field of human endeavour"
• Recipients receive a certificate named Sanad, signed by the President, and a Peepal leaf-shaped medallion made of gold with a circular diameter of 35 mm, with a bursting sun pattern in the middle of the medallion's obverse side.
• Also, in the bottom of the sun design written in Devanagiri script, the words Bharat Ratna are engraved in silver tilt; this was an old design; the new design is also of Peepal leaf made of gold about 59 mm in length, 49 mm in width, and 3.9 mm thickness rimmed with Platinum.
• The inscription on the front side was the same but made of platinum; the reverse side of the medallion has an Indian emblem etched in a bronze tilt and the Indian motto "Satyameva Jayate" is inscribed under the Indian emblem.
• All the configurations of the medallion remained the same except that it has a 59 mm wide ribbon attached to it so that it can be worn around the neck with a few improvements discussed above.
• Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Sir C.V. Raman, and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari were the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna Award in 1954.

Bharat Ratna:

A total of 119 Padma awards is conferred, including 7Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 102 Padma Shri.

• About Padma Awards:
  • The Padma Awards are announced annually on Republic Day (26th January).
  • Instituted in 1954, it is one of the highest civilian honors of India.
• Objective:
  • The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• Categories:
  • The Awards are given in three categories:
    • Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service)
    • Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) 
    • Padma Shri (distinguished service)
• Padma Vibhushan is highest in the hierarchy of Padma Awards followed by Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

On Republic day in January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs awarded Padma Awards in Art, Literature, Education, Public Affairs, Social work etc.

• Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, and the highest Padma award, was awarded to Sri Balkrishna Doshi (Posthumus), and Sri Dilip Mahalobis (Posthumus).
  • It was also awarded to Mulayam Singh Yadav (Posthumus) from Uttar Pradesh, Sri Zakir Hussain, Sri S M Krishna and Sri Srinivas Vardhan.
• S M Krishna, awarded Padma Vibhushan in Public Affairs,  was the Chief Minister of Karnataka state from 1999 to 2004. Hence option 3 is correct.
• He served as the 19th Governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008 and also served as the Minister of External Affairs of India from 2009 to 2012.

According to a UNFPA press release, HelpAge India has been awarded the UN Population Award for 2020 (institutional category) (United Nations Population Fund).

• The United Nations Population Award, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, honours contributions in the domains of population and reproductive health.
• The selection committee for the United Nations Population Award is chaired by Ion Jinga, Romania's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and is made up of members from nine other UN Member States.

Amrita Devi Bishnoi Award is given to the people for their courage and dedication to protecting wildlife.

• In 1731, the king of Jodhpur in Rajasthan asked one of his ministers to arrange wood for constructing a new palace.
• The minister and workers went to a forest near a village, inhabited by Bishnois, to cut down trees.
• The Bishnoi community is known for its peaceful co-existence with nature.
• The effort to cut down trees by the kings was thwarted by the Bishnois.
• A Bishnoi woman Amrita Devi showed exemplary courage by hugging a tree and daring the king’s men to cut her first before cutting the tree.
• The tree mattered much more to her than her own life.

Indira Gandhi -

• She was the first female Prime Minister of India and was conferred with the Bharat Ratna in 1971.
• She was elected as the president of the Congress party in 1959.
• In 1966, she was elected as the Prime Minister of India.​

The eligibility criteria for the award are:

• 'Individual(s) and community based organisation(s), from rural areas, including Gram Sabha, showing exemplary courage or valour for protection of wildlife will be eligible.
• There is no age limit for individuals.
• None of the Government official/individual is eligible for the award.'
• Private companies are not eligible neither are ministries or departments. So, options 2 and 3 are NOT correct.

The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna honoured in 1954 were:

• The last Governor-General of the Dominion of India – C. Rajagopalachari.
• Second President and the First Vice President of India – Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• Nobel Prize Laureate, Physicist C. V. Raman.

President Droupadi Murmu presented the 11th Biennial National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards of the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) on April 10, 2023. She also inaugurated the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) 2023.

• FINE is a unique effort which promotes science, technology and innovation and encourages the citizens to undertake entrepreneurship and make their mark in India and abroad.
•  Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) –2023 inaugurated  at the Sports Ground near Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC).