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Awards, Honours & Appointments

📘 CDS Current Affairs · CFC06

Awards & Appointments chapter in CDS tests civilian honours (Bharat Ratna, Padma), gallantry awards (Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra), Nobel Prizes, and key constitutional/government appointments. Questions combine factual recall with rank-order knowledge (which is higher: PVC or MVC?).

📌 CDS Pattern — Awards & Appointments (2022–2025):
• Gallantry awards: hierarchy + peacetime vs wartime  |  • Bharat Ratna: recent recipients + field
• Nobel Prizes: winner + country + achievement  |  • Constitutional appointments: who holds which position
• International org heads  |  • Padma Vibhushan vs Padma Bhushan distinction

1. India’s Highest Civilian Awards

🏅 Bharat Ratna 2024 (Record 5 in One Year)

  • P V Narasimha Rao: 9th Prime Minister; architect of 1991 Economic Liberalisation (LPG reforms). Posthumous.
  • Chaudhary Charan Singh: 5th Prime Minister; champion of farmers’ rights. Posthumous.
  • MS Swaminathan: Agricultural scientist; “Father of Green Revolution in India.” Championed crop yield improvements. Posthumous.
  • L K Advani: Senior BJP leader; Deputy PM (2002–04); Rath Yatra (1990); role in Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Living recipient.
  • Dr Manmohan Singh: Posthumously (passed away Dec 26, 2024); 13th PM (2004–14); former RBI Governor; architect of 1991 reforms as Finance Minister; recipient pending confirmation for 2025 award.
  • Note: 5 Bharat Ratnas in a single calendar year is unprecedented. Previous max was 3 (1999). Total Bharat Ratna recipients since 1954: 53 (as of 2024).

2. Gallantry Awards — Hierarchy (CDS Most Tested)

🏆 Wartime Gallantry Awards (Highest to Lowest)

  • 1. Param Vir Chakra (PVC): India’s highest wartime gallantry award. Equivalent to Victoria Cross (UK)/Medal of Honor (US). 21 recipients (all but 2 posthumous). Most recent: Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav (1999 Kargil). Instituted 1950.
  • 2. Maha Vir Chakra (MVC): 2nd highest wartime gallantry. For acts of gallantry in presence of enemy.
  • 3. Vir Chakra: 3rd highest wartime gallantry.

🏉 Peacetime Gallantry Awards (Highest to Lowest)

  • 1. Ashoka Chakra: India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. Awarded for acts of bravery NOT in the presence of the enemy. Also for courageous action, self-sacrifice. Announced on Republic Day (26 January). Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal’s wife received it posthumously (Pulwama aftermath).
  • 2. Kirti Chakra: 2nd highest peacetime gallantry.
  • 3. Shaurya Chakra: 3rd highest peacetime gallantry. Most commonly awarded; largest number of recipients.
⚠ CDS Trap: “Which is the highest peacetime gallantry award?” → Ashoka Chakra (NOT Param Vir Chakra; PVC is wartime). “Which is the highest gallantry award overall?” → Param Vir Chakra. The distinction between wartime and peacetime is the most commonly confused point in CDS gallantry questions.

3. Nobel Prizes 2024

📌 Nobel Prizes 2024 — All Winners

Nobel Peace Prize 2024
Nihon Hidankyo (Japan)
Organisation of atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha). Recognised for efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. First Japanese org to win Peace Prize since 1974.
Nobel Physics 2024
John Hopfield & Geoffrey Hinton (USA)
Foundational discoveries enabling machine learning (neural networks). Hinton = “Godfather of AI.” Surprised many: physics prize for AI research.
Nobel Chemistry 2024
Demis Hassabis, John Jumper (Google DeepMind) & David Baker
Protein structure prediction (AlphaFold); computational protein design. Revolutionary for drug discovery, disease understanding.
Nobel Medicine 2024
Victor Ambros & Gary Ruvkun (USA)
Discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation. Fundamental to understanding cell development.
Nobel Literature 2024
Han Kang (South Korea)
First Asian woman to win Nobel Literature. First South Korean to win. Works: “The Vegetarian,” “Human Acts.” Cited for intense poetic prose confronting historical trauma.
Nobel Economics 2024
Acemoglu, Johnson, Robinson (USA/UK)
Work on how institutions shape prosperity. Thesis: extractive institutions → poverty; inclusive institutions → prosperity. Book: “Why Nations Fail.”

4. Key Constitutional & Government Appointments

👥 Current Key Officials (as of early 2025)

  • Chief Justice of India (CJI): Justice Sanjiv Khanna (51st CJI; appointed Nov 11, 2024). Known for Electoral Bonds bench, NJAC verdict. Retired in May 2025.
  • Chief Election Commissioner: Rajiv Kumar. Appointed Mar 2022. Under new Chief Election Commissioner Act 2023, appointed by PM + Leader of Opposition + Cabinet Minister panel.
  • CAG (Comptroller & Auditor General): Girish Chandra Murmu. 14th CAG. Appointed Aug 2020. Ex-Lt Governor of J&K. CAG = Constitutional position under Article 148; 6-year term or till 65 years.
  • Attorney General of India: R. Venkataramani. Appointed Oct 2022. India’s highest law officer; argues on behalf of Union of India in Supreme Court.
  • National Security Advisor (NSA): Ajit Doval. Re-appointed for 3rd term (Jun 2024). First police officer to serve as NSA. IPS (Kerala cadre, 1968 batch). Former head of IB.
  • Foreign Secretary: Vikram Misri. Appointed Jul 2024. Ex-Ambassador to China; managed India-China border diplomacy. Succeeded Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
  • RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra. Appointed Dec 2024 (for 3 years). Succeeded Shaktikanta Das (who served 2018–2024). Ex-Revenue Secretary, Finance Ministry. IAS (Rajasthan cadre).

🌎 International Organisation Heads

  • UN Secretary-General: Antonio Guterres (Portugal). 9th UNSG. Since Jan 2017; reappointed for 2nd term till Dec 2026. Former PM of Portugal & UNHCR chief.
  • IMF Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria). Since 2019; 2nd term.
  • World Bank President: Ajay Banga (USA, Indian-origin). Since June 2023. Ex-CEO of Mastercard. First World Bank President of Indian descent.
  • WHO Director-General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia). Since 2017; reappointed 2022. First African DG of WHO.
  • WTO Director-General: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria). Since Mar 2021. First woman and first African to head WTO.
  • INTERPOL Secretary-General: Valdecy Urquiza (Brazil). Since Nov 2024.
  • FIDE President (Chess): Arkady Dvorkovich (Russia). Viswanathan Anand is FIDE Vice-President.
📝 TOPIC-WISE PYQ
Awards & Appointments — CDS Pattern Questions
Q1. Which is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award? (CDS I 2024 direct)
(a) Param Vir Chakra   (b) Vir Chakra   (c) Ashoka Chakra   (d) Kirti Chakra
Answer: (c) Ashoka Chakra
Gallantry awards split into wartime (facing enemy) and peacetime. Wartime hierarchy: PVC > MVC > Vir Chakra. Peacetime hierarchy: Ashoka Chakra > Kirti Chakra > Shaurya Chakra. Ashoka Chakra = highest peacetime; PVC = highest wartime (and highest overall gallantry). CDS trick: “highest peacetime” = Ashoka Chakra. Announced on Republic Day (26 Jan). Often awarded posthumously to soldiers killed in anti-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations.
Q2. How many Bharat Ratnas were awarded in 2024, and what was historically notable about this? (CDS I 2025)
(a) 3 — first time all posthumous   (b) 5 — largest number in a single year   (c) 4 — all living recipients   (d) 2 — for the first time to scientists
Answer: (b) 5 — largest number in a single year in Bharat Ratna’s history
5 Bharat Ratnas in 2024: P V Narasimha Rao (posthumous), Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumous), MS Swaminathan (posthumous), L K Advani (living), and later Manmohan Singh (posthumous, Dec 2024). Previous record was 3 in one year. Total BR recipients since 1954: ~53. Bharat Ratna = India’s highest civilian honour; given for “exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature, Science, or in recognition of Public Service of the highest order.” CDS linked this to 2024 being an election year — political context matters.
Q3. Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 was awarded for which breakthrough that has direct applications for medicine? (CDS analytical)
(a) Discovery of CRISPR gene editing   (b) Protein structure prediction using AlphaFold (AI-based)   (c) Synthesis of mRNA vaccines   (d) Development of new antibiotics
Answer: (b) Protein structure prediction using AlphaFold (AI-based)
Nobel Chemistry 2024: Demis Hassabis + John Jumper (Google DeepMind) for AlphaFold (AI system that predicts protein 3D structure from amino acid sequence) + David Baker for computational protein design. Significance: proteins = building blocks of life; knowing their structure = understanding diseases, designing drugs. AlphaFold database = 200+ million protein structures mapped. CRISPR = Chemistry 2020 (Jennifer Doudna + Emmanuelle Charpentier). mRNA vaccines = Medicine/Physiology 2023 (Karikó + Weissman). CDS: Nobel + field + achievement = exact combination tested.
Q4. Ajay Banga is historically significant as the President of the World Bank because: (CDS II 2024)
(a) First economist to head the World Bank   (b) First person of Indian descent to head the World Bank   (c) First Asian head of the World Bank   (d) First World Bank President elected by developing nations
Answer: (b) First person of Indian descent to head the World Bank
Ajay Banga (born in Pune; naturalized US citizen) was nominated by President Biden and elected as World Bank Group President in June 2023 for 5 years. Former CEO of Mastercard. By convention, the World Bank President is always a US citizen (nominated by USA). IMF MD is traditionally European. Ajay Banga is significant as first person of Indian descent to hold this position. His priorities: climate finance, private sector mobilisation, development in Africa.

📝 Rapid Revision Sheet — CFC06 Awards & Appointments

🏆 Gallantry Hierarchy
  • WARTIME: PVC > MVC > Vir Chakra
  • PEACETIME: Ashoka Chakra > Kirti > Shaurya
  • PVC = highest overall (21 recipients; mostly posthumous)
  • Ashoka Chakra = highest peacetime (Republic Day)
  • Shaurya Chakra = most commonly awarded peacetime
🏅 Bharat Ratna 2024
  • PV Narasimha Rao: 9th PM; 1991 LPG reforms
  • Chaudhary Charan Singh: 5th PM; farmers’ champion
  • MS Swaminathan: Father of Green Revolution
  • LK Advani: BJP founder; Deputy PM
  • 5 in one year = unprecedented record
📌 Nobel 2024
  • Peace: Nihon Hidankyo (Japan; nuclear abolition)
  • Physics: Hopfield + Hinton (AI/neural networks)
  • Chemistry: AlphaFold (protein prediction)
  • Literature: Han Kang (S Korea; first Asian woman)
  • Economics: Acemoglu-Johnson-Robinson (institutions)
👥 Key Officials
  • CJI: Justice Sanjiv Khanna (51st; Nov 2024)
  • NSA: Ajit Doval (3rd term; Jun 2024)
  • RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra (Dec 2024)
  • World Bank: Ajay Banga (1st Indian-origin)
  • WTO DG: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (1st woman, 1st African)

⚡ Quick Booster — CFC06 Awards & Appointments

🏆 Gallantry Quick
  • PVC = wartime highest (21 recipients)
  • Ashoka Chakra = peacetime highest
  • PVC announced: Independence Day
  • Ashoka Chakra: Republic Day
  • Shaurya Chakra: most common peacetime
📌 Nobel Quick
  • Peace: Nihon Hidankyo (Japan)
  • Physics: Hopfield + Hinton (AI)
  • Chemistry: AlphaFold (DeepMind)
  • Literature: Han Kang (S Korea; 1st Asian woman)
  • Economics: “Why Nations Fail” theory
🔸 CDS Traps
  • Ashoka Chakra ≠ Bharat Ratna
  • PVC = wartime; Ashoka = peacetime
  • World Bank: Ajay Banga (NOT IMF)
  • IMF: Kristalina Georgieva (NOT World Bank)
  • WTO DG: Okonjo-Iweala (1st woman AND 1st African)
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