Current Affairs July 2020 - Awards

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1 - UN honours Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja

United Nations has honoured Health Minister of Kerala, KK Shailaja, for her efforts to fight coronavirus in her state. She was also invited by the UN to participate in a panel discussion on World Public Service Day 2020.

The United Nations observes the world public service day every year on June 23 to pay respect to public servants across the world. The UN gives the UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA) for the excellent work done by public servants.

2 - Beyonce felicitated with Humantarian Award at ''BET Awards 2020''

Popstar Beyonce was honoured with the Humanitarian Award at the 20^th edition of the ''BET Awards'' for her longstanding philanthropic work, including her recent COVID-19 relief efforts. The BET Awards also paid tribute to basketball legend ate Kobe Bryant and music icon Little Richard.

Additionally, Nicolas Johnson, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, and D-Nice were recognised as 2020 Shine A Light honourees. French anti-racist activist Assa Traore has been named BET International's Global Good Recipient. The award aims to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports and other fields of entertainment.

3 - The first 'Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics' conferred on Dr. C. Rangarajan

The first Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics for lifetime achievement was conferred on Dr. C. Rangarajan, former Chairman, National Statistical Commission and former RBI Governor. He was recognised for his outstanding contribution in laying the foundation for holistic reforms in national statistical system.

Known as father of Indian Statistics, Mahalanobis is the founder of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). Mahalanobis also shaped the Planning Commission and pioneered methodologies for large-scale surveys.

4 - India's AI enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk won two global awards

India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk has bagged two awards at the Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI and Emerging Technology, CogX 2020. It won the two awards under categories of Best Innovation for Covid-19 - Society and People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner.

MyGov is the world’s largest citizen engagement platform, which facilitates two-ways communication between the Government and Citizen and facilitates participatory governance in India. CogX 2020 is a prestigious Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI and Emerging Technology held annually in London.

5 - India’s Freya Thakral bagged “The Diana Award 2020”

A 13-year-old student of the British School New Delhi, Freya Thakral was honored with the 2020 Diana Award for her "Recycler App". The App has helped the ragpickers of Delhi, by building a connection between users and waste-handlers.

Freya Thakral's Recycler App provides users a door-to-door pick up service for recyclable waste. It has simple options that guide one to recycling its waste. The Diana Award is a registered charity that honors some of the most inspirational young people from around the world.

6 - IOC received EU Green Building Leadership Award 2020

The International Olympic Committee’s new headquarters in Lausanne has been awarded the European 2020 US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership Award. Olympic House, which also holds the rigorous LEED Platinum certification, is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world.

Olympic House is powered by renewable energy, part of which is produced on site. Ninety-five per cent of Olympic House construction waste was recycled, and more than 95 per cent of the former IOC building was recycled or reused. Carbon emissions from the building’s construction and operations have been compensated through the IOC-Dow carbon partnership.

7 - NTPC Limited won prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019

National Thermal Power Corporation, NTPC Limited, a Central PSU under Ministry of Power has won the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019, under Outstanding Accomplishment in Corporate Excellence Category. The company has also received Commendation for Significant Achievement in the category of CSR.

CII-ITC Sustainability Awards recognise and reward excellence in sustainability practices. It is considered to be the most credible platform for sustainability recognition in the country.

8 - Kezang D Thongdok won 2020 Dada Saheb Phalke Award

Kezang D Thongdok of Arunachal pradesh has won the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2020 for a short documentary “Chi Lupo”. The documentary is based on honey hunting. It portrays the customs and practices of honey hunting practiced in the Shertukpen community.

The Chi in the title of the documentary refers to honey and Lupo refers to hunter. The documentary is aimed to create awareness about the negative effects of modernisation on the practice of honey hunting and to educate the future generation about honey hunting.

9 - Gurbux Singh, Palash Nandi to be honoured with Mohun Bagan Ratna

Hockey stalwart Gurbux Singh and former Bengal cricketer and coach Palash Nandi will be honoured with city football club Mohun Bagan on the occasion of its foundation day. Other awardees include Lifetime Achievement: Ashok Kumar (Hockey), Pranab Ganguly (Football), Monoranjan Porel (Athletics); Best Footballer: Joseba Beitia (Senior); Best Youth Player: Sajal Bag (U18 team).

Mohun Bagan Day is celebrated every year on July 29 to celebrate their IFA Shield victory in 1911, when they had won the tournament defeating East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1, thus becoming the first Indian club to end the British stranglehold.

10 - ISRO Chief K Sivan named for Von Karman Award 2020

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief, Dr. Kailasavadivoo Sivan was nominated for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). The award receiving ceremony will be organized in March 2021 at Paris France. Dr. Kailasavadivoo Sivan has been honored with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award in 2019.

Von Karman Award recognises outstanding lifetime achievements in any branch of science. The award honors the memory of the Academy’s founder and first President. Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao was the first Indian to receive the von Karman award.

11 - Chhattisgarh awarded “Elites Excellence Awards 2020”

Chhattisgarh state received “Elites Excellence Awards -2020” at National Award Elite India Transformation Summit for its outstanding Darpan website and mobile app. The app was prepared for monitoring Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship schemes. Both the website and the mobile application have been developed by Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS).

Elites Excellence Awards is given by prestigious IT institution Elites Technomedia under the 'Digital India initiative'.

12 - Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister K Palaniswami honored with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition

Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami received Paul Harris Fellow recognition by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Chicago. He received honor for his efficient services in providing drinking water, sanitation, prevention of diseases, environment, world peace etc. to the people of Tamil Nadu state.

Edappadi K Palaniswami has been serving to the government of Tamil Nadu since 2011. Paul Harris Fellow recognition is in the honor of Rotary founder, Paul Harris who contributed to The Rotary Foundation.

13 - Environmental activist Greta Thunberg won first Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg was awarded the first Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. She is the founder of School Strike for Climate and was described as "one of the most remarkable figures of our days" by the judges.

Ms Thunberg will donate the entire amount of prize money to project and organisations “fighting for a sustainable world”. She has earlier been awarded Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2019 and has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize.

14 - Ved Parkash Dudeja won the ‘Infra Business Leader of the Year’ award

Ved Parkash Dudeja has won the coveted ‘Infra Business Leader of the Year’ award for 2020 by the Rail Infra and Mobility Business Digital Awards (RIMBDA). He is the Vice chairman, Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).

RLDA is a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways, responsible for development of vacant railway land for commercial use to generate revenue. Dudeja has been conferred "Vishishtha Seva Praman Patra” by Minister of Railways in 2015-16 for his extraordinary contribution to railways.

15 - Tata’s N Chandrasekaran and Lockheed Martin’s Jim Taiclet to receive USIBC Global Leadership Award 2020

Tata group Chairman N Chandrasekaran and Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet will receive the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Global Leadership Award 2020. The award is conferred upon executives in recognition of outstanding leadership and for promoting Indo-US trade and business.

The USIBC Global Leadership Award has been presented annually since 2007. The earlier receivers of this award include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Google CEO Adena Friedman, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and Sun Pharmaceuticals Founder and Managing Director Dilip Shanghvi.

16 - CPJ announced 2020 International Press Freedom awardees

The Committee to Protect Journalists announced the winners of 2020 International Press Freedom awards.

CPJ’s 2020 awardees are:

• Shahidul Alam (Bangladesh)
• Mohammad Mosaed (Iran)
• Dapo Olorunyomi (Nigeria)
• Svetlana Prokopyeva (Russia)

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney will also be honoured by the Ney York-based watchdog with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. The Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award is given annually by CPJ’s board of directors to recognise extraordinary and sustained commitment to press freedom.

17 - Marianna Vardinoyannis & Morissana Kouyaté win 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize

The 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize will go this year to Marianna Vardinoyannis, of Greece and Doctor Morissana Kouyaté, of Guinea. The award is given every five years and recognises those, who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity.

Vardinoyannis is a Greek philanthropist known for fighting childhood cancer and for a world without borders in health for about 30 years. Kouyate is another Human rights activist known for her contribution towards iolence against women and girls in Africa.

18 - Arnab Chaudhuri to receive Toonz Media Award posthumously

The ‘Legend of Animation’ award as part of the Animation Masters Summit (AMS) 2020 - Digital Edition will be posthumously conferred to the legendary animation director Arnab Chaudhuri, for his invaluable contribution to the animation and entertainment industry of India. Arnab's animation movie ‘Arjun: The Warrior Prince’ is the only animation from India to date to be long listed for Oscar awards.

The ‘Legend of Animation’ award is given away every year to honour a genius from the field of animation in India. The award is instituted by the Toonz Media Group (TMG).

19 - Kala Narayanasamy honored with President’s Award in Singapore

An Indian-origin nurse in Singapore, Kala Narayanasamy was honored with the President’s Award for Nurses for serving on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was awarded a trophy, a certificate with the signature of President Halimah Yacob and SGD 10,000 (USD 7,228). She was one among 5 awardees.

The Deputy Director of Nursing at Woodlands Health Campus, Kala Narayanasamy was pioneer in utilising the infection control practices that she had learned during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, in the current pandemic.

20 - India’s first solar-powered ferry Aditya won Gustave Trouve Award

India’s first solar-powered ferry, Aditya, has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating. The ferry was adjudged the world’s best electric boat in the category of ferries designed for paid passenger service.

The ferry belongs to the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) and runs on the Vaikkom-Thavanakkadavu route in Alappuzha district, since January 2017. The award was instituted this year in honour of Frenchman Gustave Trouve for his groundbreaking work on electric transport.

21 - Sunil ydv SS honoured with “Karamveer Chakra Award"

Sunil ydv SS, Founder of SS Motivation, has been honoured with “Karamveer Chakra Award" by Global Fellowship Award instituted by United Nations and International Confederation of NGO (iCONGO) at the ReX ConcLIVE hosted in IIT Delhi. He received the award for his relentless contribution to society through his Telegram channel “SS Motivation.”

Sunil addresses social issues and motivates people every day through his channel. He is a world record holder, digital social activist, and entrepreneur.

22 - MoES National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science announced

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) announced the National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science.