Verchol Dalit Literary Award

♦ Retired IAS officer, writer and politician, P. Sivakami received the Verchol Dalit Literary Award and a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh from Neelam Cultural Centre, founded by filmmaker Pa. Ranjith.

♦ The award ceremony, held in Chennai. 

International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)

♦ The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) presented eminent Indian endocrinologist, Dr Ambrish Mithal, with the prestigious 2025 Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) Medal of Achievement.

♦ He got this for his exceptional contributions to osteoporosis research.

♦ The award was presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2025) in Rome, Italy.

♦ Dr Mithal was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2015 in the field of medicine.

♦ CSA Medal of Achievement, honours individuals who have significantly advanced the field of osteoporosis through their original and outstanding scientific contributions, and whose work has helped to increase understanding and awareness of osteoporosis.

♦ Candidates are nominated by members of IOF’s CSA and the winner is selected by the chair of the CSA with the endorsement of the IOF executive committee.

Sudarsan Pattnaik

♦ Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has become the first Indian to receive the prestigious Fred Darrington Sand Master Award for his outstanding contributions to sand art.

♦ The award was presented during the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival in Dorset, England. 

♦ Pattnaik created a 10-foot-high sculpture of Lord Ganesha carrying the message of “World Peace”.

♦ The award holds special significance this year as it commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of legendary British sculptor Fred Darrington.

♦ Sudarshan Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, has participated in over 65 international sand art festivals and championships. 

Akarsh Shroff

♦ Akarsh Shroff of Bengaluru was conferred the prestigious National Youth Award for his ‘commitment to improving quality of early childhood education at anganwadi centres in India’.

♦ The award was conferred during a ceremony at Parliament House in Delhi by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.

♦ A total of 22 awardees were honoured across both the years (2024, 2025).

♦ The National Youth Awardis conferred by the Ministry of Youth Affairs to recognise the excellent efforts of youth working towards national development and social service.

♦ The prize recognises work in health, research, culture, human rights, tourism, education, sports, innovation, community service, by people under the age of 30.

♦ Akarsh founded YuvaSpark as a 17-year-old high school student in 2018.

♦ The organisation has built technology platforms that have digitised learning at over 600 anganwadi centres across rural India.

♦ To enhance quality of education at anganwadis (early childhood education centres in rural India), YuvaSpark’s digital platform is periodically providing teachers with custom-curated interactive vernacular language academic content.