K.V. Subramanian – Chicago Alumni Award 2026

Introduction

  • Indian economist K.V. Subramanian has been recognised for professional achievement by the University of Chicago.

Why in news?

  • Awarded the University of Chicago Alumni Award for Professional Achievement (2026).
  • First Indian economist to receive this honour in the award’s 85-year history.
  • The recognition cites his global impact on economic policy.

Background

  • Served as Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the Government of India, authoring three landmark Economic Surveys (2018–2021).
  • Currently the Executive Director for India at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  • Holds distinguished alumnus honours from all three of his alma maters: IIT Kanpur, IIM Calcutta, and the University of Chicago.

Significance

  • Highlights his role as CEA, during which he authored three landmark Economic Surveys (2018–2021).
  • Recognises his global impact on economic policy.

Facts/General knowledge

  • Chief Economic Adviser (CEA): A post in the Government of India, equivalent to the rank of Secretary, responsible for providing objective economic analysis and producing the annual Economic Survey.
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF): An international organisation of 190 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation and secure financial stability.
  • Economic Survey of India: The flagship annual document of the Ministry of Finance that reviews developments in the Indian economy over the previous financial year.
  • University of Chicago: Renowned for its Chicago School of Economics, which has produced numerous Nobel laureates in economic sciences.

Mangaluru International Airport – 2025 ASQ Best Airport at Arrivals (Global)

Introduction

  • Mangaluru International Airport won the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Airport at Arrivals – Globally.
  • The award was presented by Airports Council International (ACI) World.
  • This marks the second consecutive year the airport has received this honour (2024 and 2025).
  • The accolade highlights excellence in arrivals experience, including immigration, baggage handling, cleanliness and overall comfort.

Why in news?

  • The airport has once again earned global recognition with the 2025 ASQ Best Airport at Arrivals – Globally award.
  • Only six airports worldwide were selected in this category in 2025.

Background

  • The ASQ Awards are organised annually by Airports Council International (ACI) World, representing airports across the globe.
  • The programme measures passenger satisfaction across key service parameters and is based entirely on real time passenger feedback, with surveys independently administered by ACI.
  • The arrivals category assesses immigration, baggage delivery, cleanliness, ambience, signage and comfort.
  • Mangaluru International Airport is managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), India’s largest private airport operator

Significance

  • Winning the 2025 ASQ Best Airport at Arrivals – Globally reflects consistent excellence in service delivery.
  • The achievement strengthens Mangaluru International Airport’s global standing in passenger service quality.
  • Investments in digital initiatives and process optimisation improved operational efficiency.
  • A focus on passenger centric infrastructure enhanced overall comfort, with close coordination with government agencies ensuring smoother arrivals.
  • The award adds to AAHL’s growing portfolio of globally benchmarked airports in India.

Facts/General knowledge

  • The ASQ Awards are considered the aviation industry’s most credible benchmark for customer satisfaction.
  • In 2025, 100 airports globally were recognised across various categories.
  • In 2026, the awards will be formally presented at the Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, scheduled from 31 August to 4 September 2026, with the ceremony on 2 September 2026.
  • This year, a total of 195 awards will be presented worldwide, reflecting global excellence in airport operations.

98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026)

Introduction

  • Held on 15 March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
  • One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner.

Why in news?

  • The 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place, marking a key event in global cinema.
  • Introduction of a new category: Best Casting.
  • A rare tie occurred in Best Live Action Short Film.
  • “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, the first K-Pop song to win an Oscar.

Background

  • The Academy Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to honour excellence in global cinema across various categories.

Significance

  • The Oscars 2026 highlighted global diversity, introduction of new categories, and dominance of select films, reflecting evolving trends in world cinema.

Facts/General knowledge

  • Venue and host: Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles; hosted by Conan O’Brien.
  • Best Picture: One Battle After Another (total of six Oscars).
  • Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another).
  • Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), his first Oscar win.
  • Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet).
  • Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons).
  • Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another).
  • Best Original Screenplay: Sinners (Ryan Coogler).
  • Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another.
  • Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value (Norway).
  • Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters.
  • Best Documentary Feature: Mr Nobody Against Putin.
  • Best Documentary Short: All the Empty Rooms.
  • Best Cinematography: Sinners.
  • Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another.
  • Best Sound: F1.
  • Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash.
  • Best Production Design, Costume & Makeup: Frankenstein.
  • New category winner (Best Casting): Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another).
  • Best Live Action Short Film: Tie between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva.
  • Best Original Song: Golden (KPop Demon Hunters), the first K-Pop song to win an Oscar.
  • Overall tally: One Battle After Another – 6; Sinners – 4; Frankenstein – 3.

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025

Introduction

  • The Sahitya Akademi announced the 2025 awards across 24 languages.
  • Honours include 8 poetry collections, 4 novels, 6 short story books, 2 essays, 1 literary criticism, 1 autobiography, and 2 memoirs.

Why in news?

  • Notable winners include former diplomat Navtej Sarna for his English novel Crimson Spring, Hindi writer Mamta Kalia for her memoir Jeete Jee Allahabad, and Tamil author Sa. Tamilselvan for Thamiz Sirukathaiyin Thadangal in literary criticism.

Background

  • The Sahitya Akademi Award, established in 1954, is the second highest literary honour in India after the Jnanpith Award.
  • It is conferred annually by the Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture.
  • The award is presented in 24 languages, which include the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, plus English and Rajasthani.
  • The award announcement follows a July 2025 MoU between the Ministry of Culture and its four autonomous institutions—the National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, and Sahitya Akademi—mandating a restructuring of awards in consultation with the Ministry.

Significance

  • Recognises exceptional literary merit and promotes the country’s rich multilingual heritage.
  • Reflects linguistic diversity and genre breadth, spanning poetry, novels, short stories, essays, literary criticism, autobiography, and memoirs.

Facts/General knowledge

  • 2025 winners (language-wise):
  • Assamese – Karhi Khelar Sadhu (Novel) – Devabrat Das
  • Bengali – Shrestha Kabita (Poetry) – Prasun Bandyopadhyay
  • Bodo – Dwngnwi Lama Mwnse Gathwn (Novel) – Sahaisuli Brahma
  • Dogri – Thakur Satsayie (Poetry, Couplets) – Khajur Singh Thakur
  • English – Crimson Spring (Novel) – Navtej Sarna
  • Gujarati – Bhattkhadaki (Poetry) – Yogesh Vaidya
  • Hindi – Jeete Jee Allahabad (Memoir) – Mamta Kalia
  • Kannada – Dada Seerisu Tande (Short Stories) – Amaresh Nugadoni
  • Kashmiri – Najdavanek’y Pot Aalav (Poetry) – Ali Shaida
  • Konkani – Konkani Kavyem: Rupani Ani Rupakam (Essays) – Henry Mendonca (H.M. Pernal)
  • Maithili – Dhatri Paat San Gaam (Memoir) – Mahendra
  • Malayalam – Maayaamanushyar (Novel) – N. Prabhakaran
  • Manipuri – Kanglamdriba Eephut (Short Stories) – Haobam Nalini
  • Marathi – Kalyanilya Resha (Autobiography) – Raju Baviskar
  • Nepali – Nepali Paramparik Sanskriti Ra Sabhyata Ko Dukuti (Essays) – Prakash Bhattarai
  • Odia – Padapurana (Poetry) – Girijakumar Baliyar Singh
  • Punjabi – Safety Kit (Stories) – Jinder
  • Rajasthani – Bharkhama (Stories) – Jitender Kumar Soni
  • Sanskrit – Prasthanacatustaye Brahmaghosah (Poetry) – Mahamahopadhyaya Sadhu Bhadreshdas
  • Santali – Mid Birna Chenne Saon Inag Sagai (Short Stories) – Sumitra Soren
  • Sindhi – Waghoo (Stories) – Bhagwan Atlani
  • Tamil – Thamiz Sirukathaiyin Thadangal (Literary Criticism) – Sa. Tamilselvan
  • Telugu – Animesha (Poetry) – Nandini Sidha Reddy
  • Urdu – Safar Jaari Hai (Poetry) – Pritpal Singh Betab

Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards 2026

Introduction

  • The 2026 edition recognised 24 journalists across 19 categories for excellence in Indian journalism.

Why in news?

  • The awards were presented in New Delhi by Honourable Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan.

Background

  • These prestigious awards celebrate outstanding contributions to Indian journalism.

Significance

  • The awards covered diverse categories, showcasing excellence across multiple formats and languages.

Facts/General knowledge

  • Print (Hindi) — Winner: Avadhesh Akodia — Organisation/Publication: Dainik Bhaskar
  • Broadcast/Digital (Hindi) — Winner: Sarvapriya Sangwan — Organisation/Publication: BBC News Hindi
  • Print/Digital (Regional Languages) — Winners: Muhammad Sabith & Akhil Sivanand — Organisation/Publication: Mathrubhumi
  • Broadcast/Digital (Regional Languages) — Winner: Fousiya Musthafa News — Organisation/Publication: Malayalam 24*7
  • Environment, Science & Technology Reporting — Winners: Jayashree Nandi & Tannu Jain — Organisation/Publication: Hindustan Times
  • Environment, Science & Technology Reporting (Broadcast/Digital) — Winners: Rohini Krishnamurthy & Dhruval Parekh — Organisation/Publication: Down to Earth
  • Uncovering India Invisible — Winner: Vijay Pal Dudi — Organisation/Publication: Dainik Bhaskar
  • Uncovering India Invisible (Broadcast/Digital) — Winner: Basant Kumar — Organisation/Publication: NewsLaundry
  • Business & Economic Journalism — Winners: Praveen Paramasivam, Munsif Vengattil & Aditya Kalra — Organisation/Publication: Thomson Reuters
  • Reporting on Politics and Government — Winner: Deeptiman Tiwary — Organisation/Publication: The Indian Express
  • Reporting on Politics and Government (Broadcast/Digital) — Winner: Rishika Kashyap — Organisation/Publication: Deccan Herald
  • Sports Journalism — Winner: Srikkanth Dhasarathy — Organisation/Publication: DT Next
  • Investigative Reporting (Print/Digital) — Winner: Mridulika Jha — Organisation/Publication: Aaj Tak
  • Investigative Reporting (Broadcast) — Winner: Sreya Chatterjee — Organisation/Publication: India Today
  • Feature Writing — Winner: Vidheesha Kuntamalla — Organisation/Publication: The Indian Express
  • Civic Journalism — Winner: Sandip Dighe — Organisation/Publication: The Times of India
  • Civic Journalism — Winners: Sreya Chatterjee & Arvind Ojha — Organisation/Publication: India Today
  • Photojournalism — Winner: Praveen Jain — Organisation/Publication: The Print
  • Books (Non-Fiction) — Winner: Aparajith Ramnath — Organisation/Publication: Penguin Random House