Awards are important recognitions given for doing great things in various fields like art, science, sports, and helping others. They don’t just acknowledge someone’s excellent work but also encourage others to aim for similar success. These awards show the highest level of accomplishment in a specific area and encourage healthy competition while celebrating the different talents and contributions of people or groups. There are many famous awards worldwide, each with its history and importance. For example, the Nobel Prizes started in 1895 and honor outstanding work in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace, and economics. Then there are the Oscars, which celebrate achievements in movies, praising actors, directors, writers, and technicians for their great work. And there are also awards like the Pulitzer Prizes for journalism and the arts, and the Grammy Awards for exceptional achievements in music.
A significant portion of the General Awareness portion of competitive exams is devoted to topics like banking, railways, SSC, UPSC, etc. Additionally, the GK section frequently asks questions about honors and awards. As such, every candidate must understand the questions about the award and honors.
List of Awards and Honours
People around the world receive awards and honours in recognition of their accomplishments and significant contributions to the advancement of humanity. Below is a list of national and international awards to help you become familiar with these various recognitions.
- Bharat Ratna – India’s highest civilian award
- Padma Vibhushan – India’s second-highest civilian award
- Padma Bhushan – India’s third-highest civilian award
- Padma Shri – India’s fourth-highest civilian award
- Nobel Prize – International award for outstanding achievements in various fields
- Magsaysay Awards – Awarded for outstanding contributions to public service, leadership, journalism, literature, and creative arts
- Pulitzer Prize – Awarded for achievements in newspaper, magazine, and online journalism, literature, and musical composition
- Academy Awards (Oscars) – Awards for achievements in the film industry
- Booker Prize – Awarded for the best original novel written in English and published in the UK
- Arjuna Award – India’s second-highest sporting award
- Dronacharya Award – India’s highest sporting coaching award
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award – India’s highest sporting award
- Gallantry Awards – Awarded for bravery and valor in the face of adversity.
Important Awards and Honours in Detail
1. Nobel Prize
Each year, the Nobel Prize is awarded to notable individuals who have made groundbreaking contributions to a variety of disciplines, including economics, physics, chemistry, medicine, peace, and literature. Since 1901, all other categories have been awarded, with the exception of Economics. The 1967 Nobel Prize in Economics was first awarded in 1969.
- It is the world’s most sought-after international honour.
- Founded by Alfred Bernard Nobel, the dynamite inventor.
- On December 10, which is also Alfred Bernard Nobel’s death anniversary, the award is given.
2. Magsaysay Awards
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given out each year in memory of the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay. It was founded in 1957 to honour people and institutions in Asia that exemplify the values of honesty, bravery in serving the public, and realistic idealism that defined the late President’s life.
- Established in 1957 and bearing the name of the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.
- This honour is bestowed yearly on August 31.
- An award is given for exceptional work in the fields of journalism, literature and creative arts, international understanding, public service, and community leadership.
- Regarded as Asia’s Nobel Prize.
3. Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding
The Indian government founded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1965. The honour honours the principles and values that Nehru upheld throughout his life, particularly his conviction that international collaboration and respect are essential. Being one of India’s most prestigious awards in the field of international relations, the prize is available to people, institutions, and organisations worldwide.
- Founded by the Indian government in 1965.
- Awarded yearly to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to global goodwill and understanding between people.
4. Oscar Awards
The Oscars, also referred to as the Academy Awards, are a yearly awards ceremony that recognises exceptional achievements in the motion picture industry. Millions of people watch the ceremony, which is one of the most prominent occasions in the entertainment sector.
- Founded in 1929
- held yearly in the United States by the Academy of Motion Pictures.
- Bhanu Athaiya won the first Oscar for the film “Gandhi,” making history.
- In 1992, Satyajit Ray became the first Indian to win an Oscar for lifetime achievement in film.
5. UNESCO Peace Prize
Established in 1989, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) bestows the UNESCO Peace Prize, an international honour. Every year, institutions, groups, or individuals who have significantly aided in the advancement of nonviolence, tolerance, and peace are given the prize. The award consists of money, a medal, and a diploma.
In the international community, the UNESCO Peace Prize is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious international awards and honours for peace.
- Alternatively called the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize
- it is awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in recognition of exceptional contributions made to global peace.
6. Pulitzer Prize
One of the most prominent honours and prizes in the literary arts and journalism fields is the Pulitzer Prize. It is one of the greatest honours in the country and is managed by Columbia University.
Getting a Pulitzer Prize is regarded as a mark of distinction in the field and can greatly advance a person’s professional prospects. Several well-known people have received the prize, including Bob Dylan, Harper Lee, and Ernest Hemingway.
- Founded in 1917 and given its name in honour of US publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
- Given out yearly in the USA in recognition of achievements in music, literature, and journalism.
7. Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize
The Indian government awards the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize each year to people or groups that have made a substantial contribution to furthering nonviolence, peace, and Gandhian principles. The prize package includes a plaque, a citation, and a cash payout of Rs. 1 crore.
One of the biggest and most coveted peace prizes in the world is the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize. Numerous notable individuals and institutions have received the award, such as the Ramakrishna Mission and the late Nelson Mandela.
- Founded by the Indian government in 1995.
- Similar to the Nobel Prize, it is awarded for global peace.
8. UNESCO Human Rights Award
Every two years, the UNESCO Human Rights Award—also called the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights—is given to people, groups, institutions, and other organisations that have significantly aided in the advancement and defence of human rights.
- Since its establishment in 1968, over thirty laureates have received this prestigious award.
- Every year on December 10th, the International Day for Human Rights is observed. This year, the award ceremony falls on that day.
- For services rendered in the area of human rights consciousness.
- Given on a yearly alternate basis.
9. Bharat Ratna
The highest civilian honour in India, the Bharat Ratna, is given for extraordinary contributions to the fields of literature, science, and the arts as well as in honour of the highest calibre of public service.
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Mother Teresa, Rajiv Gandhi, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Pranab Mukherjee are just a few of the well-known recipients of the Bharat Ratna award. A symbol of pride and honour for the country, the award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement and development of the country.
- Highest civilian award of India.
- Presented by the Government of India.
- Presented for exceptional public service and rarest achievements in the field of art, literature and science.
- Instituted in 1954 and is conferred by the President of India.
- First recipient was C. Rajagopalchari
10. Man Booker Prize
One of the most renowned literary prizes in the world is the Man Booker Prize. It was founded in 1969 with the goal of honouring the best English-language fiction published in the United Kingdom. Writers from Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, and the Commonwealth countries are eligible to apply for this award. It was broadened in 2014 to cover any English-language book released in the United Kingdom. The victorious writer is rewarded with money and international recognition.
- Highest literary honour given to Commonwealth, British, and Irish writers
- The award bears the name of the Man Group, the company that initially sponsored it before withdrawing in 2019.
25+ Important Awards GK Questions With Answers
1. Naba Kishore Das, who was shot dead recently, was the Health Minister of which state?- Odisha
2. Which company has retained its spot as the top-selling car-maker in the World for a third straight year?– Toyota
3. Which country awards the prestigious ‘Wolf Prize’?– Israel
4. As per the CSE Annual Green School Award, which state was recognised as the Best Green State?- Himachal Pradesh
5. Which Indian has been nominated by the US President Joe Biden to lead the World Bank?– Ajay Banga
6. Who was Sevalal Maharaj, who was seen in the news?– Spiritual Leader
7. Salhoutuonuo Kruse made history by becoming the first woman Cabinet minister of which state?– Nagaland
8. Who is the first woman in India to receive the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) award?– Jyotirmayee Mohanty
9. Who is the author of Pookkuzhi, whose translation was featured in the longlist for the International Booker Prize 2023?- Perumal Murugan
10. Who is the first female loco pilot to operate the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train?– Surekha Yadav
11. Roger Payne, who passed away recently, was associated with which profession?– Biologist
12. Which personality/ institution was granted the ‘Gandhi Peace Prize 2021’?– Gita Press
13. Who has been appointed as the new Chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)?– Ravi Sinha
14. Who has been chosen for the Professor Kothapalli Jayashankar Award?- Acharya N. Gopi
15. Egypt conferred the ‘Order of the Nile’ honour to which personality?- Narendra Modi
16. Who bagged the 2023 Dada Saheb Phalke Award, honoring lifetime achievement in Indian cinema?- Veteran actress Asha Parekh
17. Which book won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Literature in 2023 (English)- The Book of Mementos” by Amitav Ghosh
18. Who became the first woman Indian Air Force (IAF) officer to receive a gallantry medal?- Wing Commander Deepika Misra received the Vayu Seva Medal for gallantry in January 2024.
19. Who was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2023?-Roberto Ballon, environmental activist
20. Who received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize?- Ales Bialiatski (Belarus), Memorial (Russia), and the Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
21. What is the trophy awarded to the winner of the FIFA World Cup?- FIFA World Cup Trophy
22. Who received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize? Ales Bialiatski (Belarus), Memorial (Russia), and the Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
23. What is the trophy awarded to the winner of the FIFA World Cup?- FIFA World Cup Trophy
24. Which country’s Prime Minister was granted the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Honour’ by Greece in 2023?- China
25. Amrita Sher-Gil, who was seen in the news, was associated with which profession?– Painter
Conclusion
Awards do more than just recognize people. They give winners a voice to speak out about important things and make others aware of critical issues. These honors, whether they’re given in a community or worldwide, add to the story of human success. They inspire young people to aim high, be bold with their ideas, and make valuable contributions to society. Awards aren’t only about praise; they push us forward, motivating people globally to strive for greatness and do their best.
Important Awards GK – FAQs
1. What is an award?
An award is a form of recognition or honor given to individuals or groups to acknowledge their exceptional achievements, contributions, or excellence in a particular field or for a specific accomplishment.
2. Who refused Bharat Ratna?
Bhagat Singh was posthumously offered the Bharat Ratna, but his family declined to accept it. They felt that the government had not recognized his sacrifices and contributions adequately during his lifetime.
3. Who all got Bharat Ratna?
Some notable recipients include Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mother Teresa, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, among others.
4. Who got the first Bharat Ratna?
The first Bharat Ratna was awarded to C. Rajagopalachari, an Indian statesman and independence activist, in 1954. He was a prominent figure in India’s struggle for independence and later served as the country’s last Governor-General.
5. Which is the highest award in the world?
Some of the most prestigious international awards include the Nobel Prize, often regarded as one of the highest honors in fields like peace, literature, science, and economics. Additionally, awards like the Bharat Ratna, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Legion of Honor hold significant importance.
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