State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 14 Nov 2025

Shafali Verma Honoured by Haryana Government

Why in News? 

Haryana Chief Minister recently felicitated Shafali Verma after her standout performance in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. 

Key Points 

• About the Felicitation: 
  • Shafali Verma was presented with a cheque of ₹1.50 crore and a 'Grade A' sports gradation certificate by the Chief Minister. 
  • Shafali Verma was appointed brand ambassador of the Haryana State Women’s Commission in recognition of her contribution to women’s sport in the state.  
• About Haryana State Women’s Commission: 
  • It is a statutory, quasi-judicial body constituted by the State Government. 
  • Initially constituted in 1999, but achieved statutory status with the enactment of the Haryana State Commission for Women Act, 2012. 
  • Functions: 
    • It functions as an advisory body to the state government on policies, laws, and programmes related to women’s welfare, protection, and empowerment. 
    • The Commission investigates complaints of domestic violence, harassment, dowry issues, trafficking, and denial of women’s constitutional and legal rights. 
    • It has powers of a Civil Court to summon individuals, call for documents, and conduct inquiries. 
    • It monitors the implementation of women-centric schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, women’s safety initiatives, and workplace harassment mechanisms. 
    • The Commission also undertakes suo-motu action in cases of severe rights violations. 

Booker Prize 2025

Why in News? 

Author David Szalay has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his fictional novel Flesh. 

Key Points 

• About the Winner: 
  • David Szalay is a Hungarian-British novelist known for his precise, economical prose and deep exploration of masculinity, identity, and contemporary European life. 
  • With Flesh, he reinforces his reputation as a writer who captures the inner lives of ordinary men with unusual clarity, situating their personal struggles against broader social and economic landscapes. 
• About Booker Prize: 
  • The Booker Prize (formerly the Man Booker Prize) is one of the world’s most prestigious literary awards. It was established in 1969 and is run by the Booker Prize Foundation. 
  • It honours the best original full-length novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland. Writers of any nationality have been eligible to compete since 2014. 
  • The award aims to promote excellence in English-language fiction and encourage wider readership. 
  • Indian winners include Arundhati Roy (1997), Kiran Desai (2006), and Aravind Adiga (2008).

Difference Between Booker Prize & International Booker Prize 

• The Booker Prize was first awarded in 1969 and is for the best single work of fiction originally written in English.  
• The International Booker Prize was established later in 2005 and is for the best single work of fiction translated into English from any other language.   
• It recognizes the achievement of both the author and the translator.