State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 18 Mar 2026

60th Jnanpith Award for 2025

Why in News? 

Vairamuthu has been selected for the 60th Jnanpith Award (for 2025), becoming the third Tamil writer to receive the prize and the first to be recognised for Tamil poetry. 

Key Points: 

• About: The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary honour in India, instituted in 1961 and awarded annually for outstanding contributions to literature in Indian languages.  
• Recognition: Vairamuthu is the third Tamil writer to win the Jnanpith Award after Akilan (1975) and Jayakanthan (2002).  
  • Apart from literature, he is a renowned lyricist in Tamil cinema, having written over 7,000–8,000 songs and won multiple National Awards. 
  • His novel Kallikkaattu Ithihasam, depicting displacement due to the Vaigai dam, received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003. 
• Dedication: He dedicated the award to Tamil people and society, highlighting the cultural importance of the honour. 
• Major Awards: 
  • National Film Award (Best Lyrics) – 7 times 
  • Padma Shri (2003) 
  • Padma Bhushan (2014) 
  • Sahitya Akademi Award (2003) 
• Award Components: The award carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze statuette of Goddess Saraswati (Vagdevi), and a citation. 
• Previous Winners: 
  • 58th (2023): Jagadguru Rambhadracharya & Gulzar 
  • 59th (2024): Vinod Kumar Shukla 
• First Winner: The first Jnanpith Award (1965) was given to G. Sankara Kurup. 
• First Woman Winner: The first woman to receive the Jnanpith Award was Ashapurna Devi in 1976 for her novel Pratham Pratisruti. 
• Significance: The award reinforces India’s linguistic diversity and highlights the contribution of regional literature to the national cultural landscape. 

Read More: 60th Jnanpith Award for 2025 

98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026)

Why in News? 

The 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) were held on 15 March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner.  

Key Points: 

• About Oscars: 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.  
• Venue & Host: The ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, and was hosted by Conan O’Brien. 
• Best Picture: One Battle After Another won Best Picture and dominated the awards with a total of six Oscars. 
• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for One Battle After Another.  
• Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners, marking his first Oscar win. 
• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet.  
• Supporting Roles: 
  • Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons) 
  • Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) 
• Screenplay Awards: 
  • Best Original Screenplay: Sinners (Ryan Coogler) 
  • Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another 
• International & Animation: 
  • Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value (Norway) 
  • Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters 
• Documentary Awards: 
  • Best Documentary Feature: Mr Nobody Against Putin 
  • Best Documentary Short: All the Empty Rooms 
• Technical Awards Highlights: 
  • 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: A new award for Best Casting was introduced, won by Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another. 
• Special Highlight: A rare tie occurred in Best Live Action Short Film between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva. 
• Overall Tally: 
  • One Battle After Another – 6 awards 
  • Sinners – 4 awards 
  • Frankenstein – 3 awards 
• Best Original Song: You might want to add that "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, making it the first K-Pop song to win an Oscar. 
• Significance: The Oscars 2026 highlighted global diversity, introduction of new categories, and dominance of select films, reflecting evolving trends in world cinema. 

Read More: Oscars Awards 2025 

Sahitya Akademi Award 2025

Why in News? 

The Sahitya Akademi Award is a prestigious literary honour conferred annually by the Sahitya Akademi for outstanding books in 24 recognised Indian languages. 

Key Points: 

• Statutory Status: The Sahitya Akademi is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, established in 1954. 
• Languages Covered: Awards are given in 24 languages including English and Rajasthani (though not in the Eighth Schedule), along with 22 scheduled languages of the Constitution. 
• Categories Covered: Awards were given across genres including poetry (8), novels (4), short stories (6), essays (2), literary criticism (1), autobiography (1), and memoirs (2). 
• Eligibility Criteria: The award is given to the most outstanding book of literary merit published in the previous five years in any of the recognised languages. 
• Major Awardees: Language – Title & Genre – Author: 
  • 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 
• Young & Children Categories: The Akademi also confers Yuva Puraskar and Bal Sahitya Puraskar to recognise young writers and children’s literature respectively. 
• Award Components: The award consists of an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. 
• Award Ceremony: The awards will be presented on 31 March 2026 in New Delhi. 
• Significance: The awards promote literary excellence and reflect India’s rich linguistic diversity, strengthening national integration through literature. 

Read More:  Yuva Puraskar and Bal Sahitya Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 

India Tops World Para Athletics Grand Prix with Record 208 Medals

Why in News? 

India delivered a historic performance at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, finishing at the top of the medal tally with a record 208 medals. The achievement highlights India’s growing strength in para-sports and its commitment to inclusivity in athletics. 

Key Points: 

• Host: The Grand Prix was hosted in New Delhi, India. 
• Participation: Athletes from multiple countries participated under the aegis of World Para Athletics, a body governed by the International Paralympic Committee. 
• Final Medal Tally: India finished with 75 Gold, 69 Silver, and 64 Bronze medals. 
• Global Standings: Russia finished second with 35 medals (15 Gold, 14 Silver, 6 Bronze), while Bosnia and Herzegovina took third place. 
• Largest Contingent: India fielded its largest-ever squad of 219 athletes. 
• Podium Sweeps: Indian athletes dominated several events, winning all three medals in categories such as the Men's Shot Put F57 (Shubham Juyal leading with gold) and the Men's 800m T53–T54. 
• Star Performers: 
  • Preeti Pal: The double Paris 2024 Paralympic medallist was the standout athlete, securing a Double Gold in the Women’s 100m and 200m (T35–T37). 
  • Sumit Antil: The reigning Paralympic champion lived up to his reputation, winning Gold in Men's Javelin Throw (F43/F44/F64) with a massive throw of 69.25 metres. 
  • Praveen Kumar: The Paralympic high jump star also secured Gold in his category. 
  • Manojkumar Sabapathi: Led a clean sweep in the Men's 800m T53–T54. 
• Growth of Parasports: The record haul highlights the success of government initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India Para Games in identifying and nurturing talent. 

Sangita Kalanidhi Award 2026

Why in News? 

Renowned veena exponent Jayanthi Kumaresh has been selected for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award, which will be presented during the 100th Annual Conference and Concerts of the The Music Academy, Madras. 

Key Points: 

• Award Recognition: Sangita Kalanidhi is considered the highest honour in Carnatic music. 
• Centenary Milestone: Founded in 1928 (following the 1927 INC session in Madras), the Music Academy celebrates its 100th year of existence in 2026-27. 
• The "Sangita Kalanidhi" Title: Considered the "Nobel Prize" of Carnatic music, it is awarded annually to an individual who has made a lifetime contribution to the field of music. 
• Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh: A sixth-generation musician, she is the niece of the legendary violin maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman and a disciple of Padmavathy Ananthagopalan. 
• Contribution to Veena: She is credited with globalising the Saraswati Veena. Her playing style, known for its "Gayaki" (vocal) quality, bridges the gap between traditional Carnatic music and contemporary global collaborations. 
• Innovation: She is the founder of "Indian National Orchestra" and has pioneered the "CUPPA" (Carnatic Music Understanding for Popular Public Appreciation) series to make classical music accessible to the masses. 
• Awards: She is already a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and has performed at prestigious venues like the United Nations and the Theatre de la Ville, Paris.  
• Other Major Awards Announced: The Music Academy also announced several other key recognitions for 2026: 
  • Sangita Kala Acharya: Awarded to veteran musicians G.S. Mani and R. Vedavalli (vocalists) for their role in teaching and preserving traditional "Pathantara." 
  • TTK Awards: Conferred upon Neyveli Skanda Subramanian (Mridangam) and S. Kasim & S. Babu (Nagaswaram exponents). 
  • Musicologist Award: Awarded to Dr. Meenakshi S.S. for her research into ancient musical treatises. 
  • Nritya Kalanidhi (Dance): The title for the 100th Dance Festival will be awarded to veteran Bharatanatyam exponent Malavika Sarukkai. 
• Significance:The award highlights the importance of preserving and promoting Carnatic music traditions. 
• Revival of Veena Tradition:The recognition of a veena artiste underscores efforts to revive interest in traditional instruments, which face declining popularity.