1- Padma Awards 2015

Padma Awards 2015

President Pranab Mukherjee has announced the names of Recipients of this year’s Padma awards. He approved conferment of 104 Padma Awards.

Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three Categories viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. This years list comprises 9 Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees. Among these awardees 17 are women and equal number are in category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs. While, 4 are posthumous awardees. The Awards are given in various disciplines- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. 2015

Padma Vibhushan Awards

It is the second highest civilian award. It is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.

Padma Bhushan Awards

It is the third highest civilian award. It is awarded for distinguished service of high order.

Padma Shri Awards

It is the fourth highest civilian award. It is awarded for distinguished service in any field.

These Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan around March/ April every year

2- Colombia’s Paulina Vega crowned Miss Universe 2015

Paulina Vega || Miss Universe 2015

Colombia’s Paulina Vega was crowned 63rd Miss Universe after beating out contenders from the United States, Ukraine, Jamaica and Netherlands. Miss USA Nia Sanchez from Las Vegas was named a runner-up, along with Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha.

Paulina Vega-

She is granddaughter of celebrated Colombian singer Gastón Vega. Currently, she is a student of business from the northern Colombia city of Barranquilla.

Miss Universe

It is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. Along with the Miss World and Miss Earth contests, Miss Universe is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world and one of the most anticipated beauty pageants worldwide. It was founded in 1952 by the California clothing company Pacific Mills.

3- Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh awarded Ashok Chakra posthumously

Two army personnel, Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh were awarded the highest peacetime military honour, the Ashok Chakra posthumously by President Pranab Mukherjee. The awards were received by their wives at the 66th Republic Day celebrations. Both the army men had laid down their lives while battling groups of militants in separate operations in Shopian and Kupwara districts of Kashmir. In April 2014, Major Mukund Varadarajan who was an officer in the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army had killed three terrorists in an encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. While in August 2014, Naik Neeraj Singh was leading a search operation in general area Gurdaji of Kupwara district, he died after heavy fire from terrorists.

About Ashok Chakra

It is India’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.

4- Anti-austerity Syriza party wins Greece’s general elections

In Greece, anti-austerity Syriza party has won general election. In this election Syriza party has won about half the seats in Parliament. While the earlier ruling government led by outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of centre-right New Democracy party has been placed second.

Syriza party

It was formed in 2004 as an umbrella group. Syriza- an acronym means the Radical Coalition of the Left. It is led by Alexis Tsipras and first came to prominence following the 2008 Greek riots. In this general election, Syriza Party has promised to end Greece’s painful austerity measures and wants to renegotiate its debt.

5- Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman passes away

RK Laxman

Eminent cartoonist, illustrator and humorist Rasipuram Laxman passed away in Pune. He was 94.

About Rasipuram Laxman

Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman (famously known as RK Laxman) was born on 24 October 1921 in Mysore, Karnataka. Famous novelist R. K. Narayan was his elder brother. His creation: He is best known for creation of iconic character The Common Man, for his daily cartoon strip, You Said It in The Times of India(TOI). It was started in 1951. This character held a mirror to the society and targeted politicians for more than five decades. In 1988, commemorative postage stamp of The Common Man was released by the Indian Postal Service on the 150th anniversary TOI. He also created a popular mascot for the Asian Paints group called Gattu in 1954.

Other Works: His cartoons have appeared in Hindi films such as Mr. & Mrs. in 1955 and a Tamil film Kamaraj. His creations also include the sketches drawn for the television adaptation of Malgudi Days (written by his elder brother R K Narayan and directed by Shankar Nag).

Awards: He is recipient of Padma Bhushan (1971), Padma Vibhushan (2005) and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts (1984). His Autobiography: The Tunnel of Time: An Autobiography.

Books: He had published numerous short stories, essays, and travel articles, some of which were collected in The Distorted Mirror (2003). His novels include The Hotel Riviera, The Messenger and the short story collection Servants of India.

6- For first time all-women contingent marches on 66th Republic Day parade

For the first time in the history of India’s Republic Day, all-women contingent from the three forces Army, Air Force and Navy marched down in the parade. Army contingent was led by Capt Divya Ajith. Navy contingent was led by Lieutenant Commander Priya Jeyakumar. Air Force contingent was led by Squadron Leader Sneha Shekhawat. Each contingent had 148 women personnel. In previous Republic Day parades, women officers were just participating.

Some facts

Capt Divya Ajith who had led Army contingent is a graduate from the prestigious Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. Earlier, in 2010 she had created history by becoming the first woman in the army to receive the coveted Sword of Honour (which is awarded to the best cadet of a course). Currently, Indian army does not have women in combat roles.

Like this post? Comment here !! Or have something to share? Write to us: info@khichdionline.com

Also Read About

Current Affairs day-wise- JANUARY

Current Affairs Day-wise- FEBRUARY

Current Affairs Day-wise – MARCH