Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Introduction

• Honours individuals or organisations for outstanding contributions to international peace, disarmament and development.

Why in news?

• The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025 has been awarded to Mozambican rights activist, Graca Machel.
• Recognised for outstanding contributions to peace, humanitarian action and social development.

Background

• Also known as the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize.
• Awarded annually since 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Significance

• Regarded as one of India’s prestigious international peace awards.

Facts/General knowledge

• Carries a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, a citation and a trophy.
• Awarded across the three core domains of peace, disarmament and development.
• Recognises sustained and exceptional efforts addressing global challenges related to peace, disarmament and development, with a positive humanitarian impact and contributions to the welfare of humanity.

Abu Dhabi ranked world’s safest city for the 10th consecutive year

Introduction

• Global safety rankings place Abu Dhabi at the top for the tenth consecutive year.
• The recognition reflects sustained efforts in public safety, urban planning, and governance, creating a secure and stable living environment.

Why in news?

• Abu Dhabi has been named the world’s safest city for the 10th year in a row in an international safety ranking released by Numbeo.
• This reaffirms the city’s global reputation for security and quality of life.

Background

• The ranking is released by Numbeo, a global database that uses user-contributed data and surveys combined with crime statistics.
• It compares cities based on crime rates, public safety perception, law enforcement efficiency, and overall quality of life.
• Abu Dhabi has topped this index continuously since 2017.
• A decade at the top reflects sustained governance, strong institutions, and effective public safety implementation.

Significance

• Safety drivers: low crime rate, strict enforcement of laws, and proactive policing; advanced surveillance systems, smart city technologies, and rapid emergency response; political stability, strong social cohesion, and high trust in public institutions.
• Outcomes: safe public spaces, efficient transport systems, and reliable public services that elevate quality of life.
• Economic effects: enhanced attractiveness for foreign investment, tourism, and global talent; strengthened position as a major global hub for commerce, diplomacy, and innovation.

Facts/General knowledge

• Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
• The city is considered a global benchmark in urban safety

Trump’s Acceptance of Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize Medal

Introduction

• A rare and controversial moment at the White House prompted debate over whether a Nobel Peace Prize can be transferred from one person to another.

Why in news?

• In January 2026, Donald Trump publicly accepted a Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
• This was the first instance of a Nobel laureate voluntarily handing the medal to another individual.

Background

• During a White House meeting, Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump and left it there as recognition of his support for the freedom of the Venezuelan people.
• Trump posed for photographs with the medal and thanked her, calling it a gesture of mutual respect.
• The moment drew global attention, amplified by Trump’s long-expressed desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Significance

• The gesture, while not altering Nobel status, carries symbolic and political weight.
• It reignited debates on the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize, the politicisation of global awards, and how personal actions by laureates can create diplomatic controversy without changing legal realities.

Facts/General knowledge

• Before Machado’s visit, the Norwegian Nobel Institute reiterated that a Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked.
• Under the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, once awarded, the decision is final and permanent, with no appeal or reassignment.
• The physical medal can be gifted as personal property, but laureate status is non-transferable; Trump does not become a Nobel Peace Prize winner and Machado remains the sole official laureate.
• The Nobel Committees do not comment on how laureates use or display their medals.
• Machado described her act as symbolic political gratitude for Trump’s commitment to Venezuela’s democratic freedom, particularly after the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, not a legal transfer of the award.

Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024

Introduction

• Assesses the export readiness of States and Union Territories.
• Highlights their role in achieving India’s USD 1 trillion merchandise export target by 2030 and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Why in news?

• NITI Aayog has released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024.

Background

• First launched in 2020, the EPI uses an evidence-based framework to assess State and district-level export readiness.
• Highlights the role of States and districts in driving exports, jobs, and global value chain integration.
• Emphasises infrastructure, competitiveness, and cluster-led strategies.
• Links federalism with economic performance and highlights district-led export growth.
• Supports Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, MSMEs, and trade competitiveness.

Significance

• Promotes peer learning, cooperative federalism, and focused reforms through comparative assessment.
• Prioritises cost efficiency, MSMEs, access to finance, and innovation, reflecting the weightage of the Business Ecosystem pillar.
• Encourages targeted improvements across infrastructure, business ecosystem, policy and governance, and performance to strengthen export competitiveness.

Facts/General knowledge

• Framework and coverage: 4 pillars, 13 sub-pillars, and 70 indicators.
• Core pillars: Export Infrastructure; Business Ecosystem; Policy & Governance; Export Performance.
• Weightage: Business Ecosystem carries 40%; the other three pillars carry 20% each.
• Grouping for comparison: Large States, Small States, North-Eastern States, and Union Territories.
• Classification: Leaders (High export preparedness), Challengers (Moderate preparedness with scope for improvement), Aspirers (Early-stage export ecosystems).
• EPI 2024 top performers: Large States: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

• Small States, North-Eastern States, and Union Territories: Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Goa.

WEF Global Risks Report 2026 — India and Global Outlook

Introduction

• The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 flags cybersecurity as India’s biggest risk in 2026 and identifies geoeconomic confrontation as the most severe global threat.
• Rising inequality, weak public services, and strategic instability are amplifying external shocks for India’s governance and economy.
• The report underscores the need for stronger digital and economic resilience, treating inequality as a macro-risk, countering hybrid threats and disinformation, and embedding climate resilience into long-term development and security.

Why in news?

• The Global Risks Report 2026 places geoeconomic confrontation as the most likely near-term global crisis trigger and ranks cybersecurity as India’s top risk for 2026.

Background

• World Economic Forum (WEF): An international public–private cooperation body headquartered in Geneva, founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, promoting stakeholder capitalism and convening its annual Davos meeting.
• WEF publications: Global Competitiveness Report, Global Gender Gap Report, Energy Transition Index, and Global Risk Report.
• Global risk definition: The possibility of an event or condition that would negatively impact a significant proportion of global GDP, population, or natural resources.
• Geoeconomic confrontation: Strategic use of trade restrictions, sanctions, investment controls, and technology bans to advance geopolitical interests, weakening multilateralism and increasing protectionism.

Significance

• Strengthen economic resilience: Scale up domestic manufacturing under Make in India and PLI schemes.

• Diversify trade through Free Trade Agreements and maintain buffers via foreign exchange reserves and counter-cyclical fiscal policy, in line with IMF recommendations.
• Treat inequality as a macro-risk: Enhance formalisation and income security using PM-JDY and Ayushman Bharat to reduce crisis vulnerability among informal workers.

• Build capacity against hybrid threats: Adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address terrorism, cyber attacks, disinformation, and economic coercion.

• Enable real-time intelligence fusion through a statutory Multi-Agency Centre.
• Strengthen cyber and financial surveillance under the PMLA, 2002 and integrate security responses via a National Security Strategy, especially for urban areas.
• Protect information integrity: Implement the FACT Principle strategy (Election Commission of India), IT Rules 2021, institutionalised fact-checking, and digital literacy initiatives such as PM-DISHA, aligned with OECD and EU approaches.

• Embed climate resilience in development: Mainstream adaptation through the National Action Plan on Climate Change, Mission LiFE, National Disaster Management Plan, climate-resilient infrastructure under Gati Shakti, and urban reforms via Smart Cities.

Facts/General knowledge

• Global risk outlook (immediate term, 2026):
• Geoeconomic confrontation is the biggest global risk.
• State-based armed conflict ranks second.
• Climate-related risks such as extreme weather events and societal polarisation follow.
• Misinformation and disinformation rank 5th worldwide.
• Adverse outcomes of AI have entered the top 10 global risks.
• Cyber insecurity ranks 9th globally.
• Global risk outlook (long term, next ten years): Climate-related risks dominate: extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and critical changes to Earth systems.

• India risk outlook (2026): Cybersecurity is the top risk.

• Income and wealth inequality is the second biggest risk.
• Other key risks: insufficient public services and social protections; economic downturn; state-based armed conflict.
• India’s profile emphasises societal and governance-related risks more than the global geopolitical focus.
• Cybersecurity risk in India:
• 01 million malware detections in 2025 (Data Security Council of India).
• Attack composition: Trojans 43.38%; Infectors 34.23%.
• Mobile threats: malware 42%; adware 26%, reflecting commercialisation of cybercrime.
• Rapid digital adoption in governance (DBT, Aadhaar-linked services), finance (UPI, fintech), and critical infrastructure has outpaced resilience, creating systemic risks to elections, financial systems, power grids, and public trust.
• Data concentration and platform dominance create single-point vulnerabilities, elevating cyber insecurity to a strategic national risk.
• Inequality as a risk multiplier: World Bank Gini Index for India ~25.5 (2022–23).

• Oxfam: top 1% captured 22.6% of national income in 2022, indicating disparities not fully reflected in consumption-based measures.
• Rising inequality heightens risks of social unrest, political polarisation, and institutional distrust, weakening crisis response.
• Public services and social protection: Public health expenditure: 1.9% of GDP, below the 2.5% target for 2025 (National Health Policy, 2017).

• Social protection spending (excluding health): ~5% of GDP versus global average ~13% (World Social Protection Report 2024–26, ILO).
• Capacity gaps in health, education, urban infrastructure, and social security weaken shock absorption.
• Geoeconomic shocks: Deep global integration exposes India to external volatility.
• Record FPI outflow of USD 18.9 billion in 2025 due to trade tensions, currency volatility, fears of US tariffs, and stretched valuations, increasing equity and rupee volatility.
• Slowdowns in major economies spill over via weaker exports, investment uncertainty, job losses, and fiscal pressures.
• State-based armed conflict and strategic instability:
• Heightened risks reflected in the 2025 Pahalgam attack and a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, alongside continued cross-border terrorism by Pakistan-backed groups.
• Rising urban terrorism, lone-wolf and white-collar terrorism, and persistent internal insurgencies strain border security, defence spending, and investor confidence.
• Prolonged instability increases exposure to hybrid threats including cyber warfare, misinformation, and economic coercion.

Golden Globes 2026 – Winners and Highlights

Introduction

• The 83rd edition of the Golden Globes was held on 12 January 2026.
• The night was dominated by powerful storytelling and standout performances.
• Politics were largely absent, keeping the spotlight on creative achievement.

Why in news?

• One Battle After Another and Adolescence dominated major film and television categories.
• Actors Wagner Moura, Jessie Buckley, and Timothée Chalamet won top acting honours.

Background

• The ceremony honoured the best in film and television from the past year.
• One Battle After Another emerged as the evening’s most successful film.

Significance

• The focus on creative achievement defined the ceremony’s tone.
• Strong recognition across film and television highlighted the impact of One Battle After Another and Adolescence.

Facts/General knowledge

• Best Film – Drama: Hamnet
• Best Film – Musical or Comedy: One Battle After Another
• Best Male Actor – Film Drama: Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
• Best Female Actor – Film Drama: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
• Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy: The Studio
• Best Television Limited Series Anthology/TV Film: Adolescence
• Best Television Series – Drama: The Pitt
• Best Female Actor – Television Series – Drama: Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)
• Best Standup Comedy on Television: Ricky Gervais (Mortality)
• Best Supporting Female Actor – Television: Erin Doherty (Adolescence)
• Best Film – Non-English Language: The Secret Agent
• Best Film – Animated K Pop Demon Hunters
• Best Director – Film: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
• Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: Sinners
• Best Female Actor – TV Limited Series/Anthology/TV Film: Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)
• Best Male Actor – TV Limited Series/Anthology/TV Film: Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
• Best Male Actor – Film Musical or Comedy: Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
• Best Female Actor – Film Musical or Comedy: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
• Best Screenplay – Film: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
• Best Original Score – Film: Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)
• Best Original Song – Film: Golden (K Pop Demon Hunters)
• Best Podcast: Good Hang with Amy Poehler
• Best Male Actor – TV Series Musical or Comedy: Seth Rogen (The Studio)
• Best Supporting Male Actor – Television: Owen Cooper (Adolescence)
• Best Female Actor – TV Series Musical or Comedy: Jean Smart (Hacks)
• Best Male Actor – TV Series – Drama: Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
• Best Male Actor – Supporting Role in a Film: Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
• Best Female Actor – Supporting Role in a Film: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Henley Passport Index 2026 – India’s Improved Rank

Introduction

• The Henley Passport Index is a globally recognised ranking of passports based on visa-free travel access.
• India’s passport has climbed in the 2026 edition, reflecting enhanced global mobility for Indian citizens and strengthened diplomatic relations.

Why in news?

• India’s passport now ranks 75th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index.
• This marks a rise of 10 places from 85th in 2025, indicating improved international travel access.

Background

• The index is published by Henley & Partners.
• It ranks 199 passports across 227 destinations.
• Rankings use International Air Transport Association (IATA) data.
• Scoring is based on ease of entry without prior visa approval.

Significance

• The improved ranking indicates strengthened diplomatic ties.
• It enhances business and tourism opportunities.
• It reflects better international recognition of Indian citizens’ travel freedom.

Facts/General knowledge

• Indian passport holders can enter 56 countries without a prior visa, including visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorisation.
• Top-ranked passports: Singapore is first with 192 visa-free destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea.
• Bottom-ranked passports: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria remain at the bottom due to geopolitical and security challenges.
• Regional comparison: India ranks above Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Maldives ranks substantially higher in the region.

Topic: Padma Awards 2026 Winners

Introduction

• The Padma Awards 2026 recognise 131 individuals for exceptional contributions across fields including art, public affairs, medicine, literature, science, social work, sports, and trade.
• The three civilian honours conferred are Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, with some awards given posthumously.
• Notable recipients include Dharmendra Singh Deol, Mammootty, Alka Yagnik, Rohit Sharma, and Uday Kotak.

Why in news?

• The 2026 Padma awardees have been announced, celebrating distinguished service to the nation across diverse fields.

Background

• The awards comprise three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
• They are announced every year on Republic Day to honour distinguished service to the nation.

Significance

• The 2026 list showcases a wide spectrum of excellence, including posthumous honours and recipients from multiple Indian states and several other countries.
• The recognition spans individual and duo contributors, reflecting the breadth of service across domains.

Facts/General knowledge

• Padma Vibhushan (5 awardees):
• Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri K T Thomas – Public Affairs – Kerala
• N. Rajam – Art – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri P. Narayanan – Literature & Education – Kerala
• Shri V. S. Achuthanandhan (Posthumous) – Public Affairs – Kerala
• Padma Bhushan (13 awardees):
• Alka Yagnik – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari – Public Affairs – Uttarakhand
• Shri K. R. Palaniswamy – Medicine – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Mammootty – Art – Kerala
• Nori Dattatreyudu – Medicine – United States of America
• Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri S. K. M. Maeilanandhan – Social Work – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Shatavadhani R. Ganesh – Art – Karnataka
• Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous) – Public Affairs – Jharkhand
• Shri Uday Kotak – Trade & Industry – Maharashtra
• Shri V. K. Malhotra (Posthumous) – Public Affairs – Delhi
• Shri Vellappally Natesan – Public Affairs – Kerala
• Shri Vijay Amritraj – Sports – United States of America
• Padma Shri (113 awardees):
• Shri A E Muthunayagam – Science and Engineering – Kerala
• Shri Anil Kumar Rastogi – Art – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Anke Gowda M. – Social Work – Karnataka
• Armida Fernandez – Medicine – Maharashtra
• Shri Arvind Vaidya – Art – Gujarat
• Shri Ashok Khade – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
• Shri Ashok Kumar Singh – Science and Engineering – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Asok Kumar Haldar – Literature and Education – West Bengal
• Shri Baldev Singh – Sports – Punjab
• Shri Bhagwandas Raikwar – Sports – Madhya Pradesh
• Shri Bharat Singh Bharti – Art – Bihar
• Shri Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri Bishwa Bandhu (Posthumous) – Art – Bihar
• Shri Brij Lal Bhat – Social Work – Jammu and Kashmir
• Shri Buddha Rashmi Mani – Others – Archaeology – Uttar Pradesh
• Budhri Tati – Social Work – Chhattisgarh
• Shri Chandramouli Gaddamanugu – Science and Engineering – Telangana
• Shri Charan Hembram – Literature and Education – Odisha
• Shri Chiranji Lal Yadav – Art – Uttar Pradesh
• Deepika Reddy – Art – Telangana
• Shri Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya – Art – Gujarat
• Shri Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad – Art – Andhra Pradesh
• Shri Gafruddin Mewati Jogi – Art – Rajasthan
• Shri Gambir Singh Yonzone – Literature and Education – West Bengal
• Shri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Posthumous) – Art – Andhra Pradesh
• Gayatri Balasubramanian & Ms. Ranjani Balasubramanian (Duo) – Art – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Gopal Ji Trivedi – Science and Engineering – Bihar
• Shri Guduru Venkat Rao – Medicine – Telangana
• Shri H V Hande – Medicine – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Hally War – Social Work – Meghalaya
• Shri Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (Posthumous) – Art – West Bengal
• Shri Haricharan Saikia – Art – Assam
• Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar – Sports – Punjab
• Shri Inderjit Singh Sidhu – Social Work – Chandigarh
• Shri Janardan Bapurao Bothe – Social Work – Maharashtra
• Shri Jogesh Deuri – Others – Agriculture – Assam
• Shri Juzer Vasi – Science and Engineering – Maharashtra
• Shri Jyotish Debnath – Art – West Bengal
• Shri K Pajanivel – Sports – Puducherry
• Shri K Ramasamy – Science and Engineering – Tamil Nadu
• Shri K Vijay Kumar – Civil Service – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Kabindra Purkayastha (Posthumous) – Public Affairs – Assam
• Shri Kailash Chandra Pant – Literature and Education – Madhya Pradesh
• Kalamandalam Vimala Menon – Art – Kerala
• Shri Kewal Krishan Thakral – Medicine – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Khem Raj Sundriyal – Art – Haryana
• Kollakal Devaki Amma G – Social Work – Kerala
• Shri Krishnamurty Balasubramanian – Science and Engineering – Telangana
• Shri Kumar Bose – Art – West Bengal
• Shri Kumarasamy Thangaraj – Science and Engineering – Telangana
• (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch – Art – Germany
• Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova – Literature and Education – Russia
• Shri Madhavan Ranganathan – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri Maganti Murali Mohan – Art – Andhra Pradesh
• Shri Mahendra Kumar Mishra – Literature and Education – Odisha
• Shri Mahendra Nath Roy – Literature and Education – West Bengal
• Shri Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar – Literature and Education – Delhi
• Mangala Kapoor – Literature and Education – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai – Art – Gujarat
• Shri Mohan Nagar – Social Work – Madhya Pradesh
• Shri Narayan Vyas – Others – Archaeology – Madhya Pradesh
• Shri Naresh Chandra Dev Varma – Literature and Education – Tripura
• Shri Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala – Social Work – Gujarat
• Shri Nuruddin Ahmed – Art – Assam
• Shri Othuvaar Thiruthani Swaminathan – Art – Tamil Nadu
• Padma Gurmet – Medicine – Ladakh
• Shri Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy – Medicine – Telangana
• Pokhila Lekthepi – Art – Assam
• Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore – Literature and Education – Karnataka
• Shri Prateek Sharma – Medicine – USA
• Shri Praveen Kumar – Sports – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Prem Lal Gautam – Science and Engineering – Himachal Pradesh
• Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee – Art – West Bengal
• Punniamurthy Natesan – Medicine – Tamil Nadu
• Shri R Krishnan (Posthumous) – Art – Tamil Nadu
• Shri R V S Mani – Civil Service – Delhi
• Shri Rabilal Tudu – Literature and Education – West Bengal
• Shri Raghupat Singh (Posthumous) – Others – Agriculture – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar – Art – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Rajendra Prasad – Medicine – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Rama Reddy Mamidi (Posthumous) – Others – Animal Husbandry – Telangana
• Shri Ramamurthy Sreedher – Others – Radio Broadcasting – Delhi
• Shri Ramchandra Godbole & Ms. Suneeta Godbole (Duo) – Medicine – Chhattisgarh
• Shri Ratilal Borisagar – Literature and Education – Gujarat
• Shri Rohit Sharma – Sports – Maharashtra
• S G Susheelamma – Social Work – Karnataka
• Shri Sangyusang S Pongener – Art – Nagaland
• Sant Niranjan Dass – Others – Spiritualism – Punjab
• Shri Sarat Kumar Patra – Art – Odisha
• Shri Saroj Mandal – Medicine – West Bengal
• Shri Satish Shah (Posthumous) – Art – Maharashtra
• Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal – Trade and Industry – Maharashtra
• Savita Punia – Sports – Haryana
• Shafi Shauq – Literature and Education – Jammu and Kashmir
• Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati – Literature and Education – Karnataka
• Shri Shrirang Devaba Lad – Others – Agriculture – Maharashtra
• Shubha Venkatesha Iyengar – Science and Engineering – Karnataka
• Shri Shyam Sundar – Medicine – Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Simanchal Patro – Art – Odisha
• Sivasankari – Literature and Education – Tamil Nadu
• Suresh Hanagavadi – Medicine – Karnataka
• Swami Brahmdev Ji Maharaj – Social Work – Rajasthan
• Shri T T Jagannathan (Posthumous) – Trade and Industry – Karnataka
• Shri Taga Ram Bheel – Art – Rajasthan
• Shri Tarun Bhattacharya – Art – West Bengal
• Shri Techi Gubin – Social Work – Arunachal Pradesh
• Shri Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam – Art – Tamil Nadu
• Tripti Mukherjee – Art – West Bengal
• Shri Veezhinathan Kamakoti – Science and Engineering – Tamil Nadu
• Shri Vempaty Kutumba Sastry – Literature and Education – Andhra Pradesh
• Shri Vladimer Mestvirishvili (Posthumous) – Sports – Georgia
• Shri Yumnam Jatra Singh (Posthumous) – Art – Manipur

Vidarbha’s Maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy Triumph (2025–26)

Introduction

• Vidarbha were crowned champions of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 in cricket.

Why in news?

• The title was secured with a 38-run victory in the final held in Bengaluru.

Background

• This victory delivered Vidarbha’s first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Significance

• The win is a historic achievement and an important milestone for Vidarbha in Indian domestic cricket.

Facts/General knowledge

• Final contested between Vidarbha and Saurashtra.
• Runner-up: Saurashtra.
• Player of the Match: Atharva Taide, who scored 128 runs to anchor Vidarbha’s innings.
• Player of the Tournament: Aman Mokhade, from the Vidarbha cricket team.