Awards & Honours Current Affairs 20 October 2026

 

Awards & Honours Current Affairs 20 October 2026
Awards & Honours Current Affairs 20 October 2026

Current Affairs Date: 20 October 2026

Recent awards and honours current affairs include the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025, the 72nd National Film Awards, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award presented to Anant Nag, and the 2025–26 Rajbhasha Kirti Award won by the Department of Financial Services. These awards recognise contributions to performing arts, cinema, official-language implementation and other fields. This article covers important award-related facts for competitive examinations.

1. Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 and 2025

The Ministry of Culture announced that the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2024 and 2025 would be conferred on 106 young artists working in music, dance and drama. The ceremony was scheduled for 19 October 2026 at the Meghdoot Complex, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.

The awards are presented by the Sangeet Natak Akademi to recognise promising young artists for their contribution to the performing arts. The General Council of the Akademi selected the 106 artists at its meeting held in New Delhi from 22 to 26 March 2026.

Key facts

  • Award: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
  • Award years covered: 2024 and 2025
  • Number of selected artists: 106
  • Fields: Music, dance and drama
  • Instituted by: Sangeet Natak Akademi
  • Year instituted: 2006
  • Age focus: Young artists up to 40 years
  • Award components: ₹25,000, a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram
  • Scheduled venue: Meghdoot Complex, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi

Exam point: Remember the award's association with the Sangeet Natak Akademi and its focus on young performing artists. The official announcement listed 106 selected artists for the two award years.

Official source: Ministry of Culture announcement through PIB

2. 72nd National Film Awards and Dadasaheb Phalke Award

President of India Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat. During the ceremony, veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.

Anant Nag is known for his work in Kannada cinema and other Indian-language films. His acting career spans more than five decades, and he has appeared in films across several languages. His television work includes the popular series Malgudi Days.

Important facts

  • President who presented the awards: Droupadi Murmu
  • Film awards edition: 72nd National Film Awards
  • Ceremony date: 22 September 2026
  • Venue: Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat
  • Dadasaheb Phalke Award year: 2024
  • Recipient: Anant Nag
  • Field: Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema

The National Film Awards recognise achievements across Indian cinema, including feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. They highlight creative work across languages and regions.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is regarded as the highest honour in Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969 and commemorates Dadasaheb Phalke, a pioneer of Indian filmmaking associated with the 1913 film Raja Harishchandra.

Exam point: Do not confuse the award year with the ceremony year. Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in September 2026.

Official sources:

3. Rajbhasha Kirti Award 2025–26

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the Ministry of Finance, received the first prize under the Rajbhasha Kirti Award for 2025–26. The recognition was given in the category of ministries and departments with fewer than 300 personnel for its implementation and innovative use of Hindi as the official language.

The award was presented during the 6th All India Official Language Conference and Hindi Diwas event held on 14 and 15 September 2026 at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Hari Har Mishra, Additional Secretary, received the award on behalf of the Department of Financial Services from Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah.

Key facts

  • Award: Rajbhasha Kirti
  • Award period: 2025–26
  • First-prize recipient: Department of Financial Services
  • Parent ministry: Ministry of Finance
  • Category: Ministries/departments with fewer than 300 personnel
  • Conference: 6th All India Official Language Conference
  • Venue: CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
  • Recipient on behalf of DFS: Hari Har Mishra

The award recognises efforts to implement Hindi in official work and encourage its effective and creative use in government departments.

Official source: PIB: DFS wins first prize under Rajbhasha Kirti

4. 65th National Exhibition of Art

The 65th National Exhibition of Art, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, was held in New Delhi on 29 September 2026. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat felicitated 20 award-winning artists at the event.

The exhibition received more than 6,000 entries. A total of 270 artists were selected through a two-tier jury process. The event highlighted the range of contemporary Indian visual art and the role of national platforms in recognising artistic talent.

Important points

  • Event: 65th National Exhibition of Art
  • Organiser: Lalit Kala Akademi
  • Date: 29 September 2026
  • Venue: New Delhi
  • Entries received: More than 6,000
  • Artists selected: 270
  • Award-winning artists felicitated: 20
  • Union Minister present: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

The exhibition also featured the “Waste to Wonder” initiative, which uses discarded materials to create artistic works and connects creativity with sustainability. The exhibition at Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi, was announced as extended until 31 October 2026.

Official source: PIB: 65th National Exhibition of Art

5. International Awards Update

Isabel Allende wins Spain’s Planeta Prize 2026

Chilean author Isabel Allende won Spain’s Planeta Prize on 15 October 2026 for her novel La hora antes del alba, translated as The Hour Before Dawn. The prize carries €1 million in award money.

The novel follows Alba, a character connected to Allende’s 1982 debut novel The House of the Spirits. The story focuses on Alba rebuilding her life after imprisonment and torture during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

  • Winner: Isabel Allende
  • Award: Planeta Prize 2026
  • Country associated with the award: Spain
  • Winning novel: La hora antes del alba (The Hour Before Dawn)
  • Prize money: €1 million
  • Nationality of the author: Chilean

Source: Reuters report on the Planeta Prize 2026

WIPO names its first City of Innovation award winners

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced Charleroi, Liverpool and Shanghai as the first winners of its City of Innovation award on 12 October 2026. The announcement introduced a new recognition programme focused on cities and innovation.

  • Organisation: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • Award: City of Innovation
  • First winners: Charleroi, Liverpool and Shanghai
  • Announcement date: 12 October 2026

Source: WIPO official announcement

6. Important Awards and Honours: Quick Revision

Award or event Winner / key fact Field or purpose
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 and 2025 106 young artists selected Music, dance and drama
Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 Anant Nag Contribution to Indian cinema
72nd National Film Awards Presented by President Droupadi Murmu Indian cinema
Rajbhasha Kirti Award 2025–26, first prize Department of Financial Services Implementation of official-language Hindi
65th National Exhibition of Art 20 award-winning artists felicitated Visual arts
Planeta Prize 2026 Isabel Allende Literature
WIPO City of Innovation Charleroi, Liverpool and Shanghai City-level innovation recognition

7. Awards & Honours Current Affairs MCQs

Q1. Who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024?

(A) Mithun Chakraborty
(B) Anant Nag
(C) Rajinikanth
(D) Amitabh Bachchan

Answer: (B) Anant Nag

Q2. Who presented the 72nd National Film Awards in September 2026?

(A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
(B) President Droupadi Murmu
(C) Union Minister Amit Shah
(D) Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Answer: (B) President Droupadi Murmu

Q3. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar recognises young artists in which fields?

(A) Science and technology
(B) Banking and finance
(C) Music, dance and drama
(D) Agriculture and industry

Answer: (C) Music, dance and drama

Q4. Which organisation instituted the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar?

(A) Sahitya Akademi
(B) Sangeet Natak Akademi
(C) Lalit Kala Akademi
(D) National School of Drama

Answer: (B) Sangeet Natak Akademi

Q5. Which department won the first prize under Rajbhasha Kirti for 2025–26 in the category for departments with fewer than 300 personnel?

(A) Department of Financial Services
(B) Department of Telecommunications
(C) Department of Revenue
(D) Department of Expenditure

Answer: (A) Department of Financial Services

Q6. Who won Spain’s Planeta Prize 2026?

(A) Margaret Atwood
(B) Isabel Allende
(C) Annie Ernaux
(D) Arundhati Roy

Answer: (B) Isabel Allende

Q7. What is the prize money of the Planeta Prize 2026?

(A) €100,000
(B) €250,000
(C) €500,000
(D) €1 million

Answer: (D) €1 million

Q8. Which organisation announced the first City of Innovation award winners in October 2026?

(A) UNESCO
(B) World Intellectual Property Organization
(C) World Bank
(D) International Labour Organization

Answer: (B) World Intellectual Property Organization

Q9. Which three cities were named as the first WIPO City of Innovation award winners?

(A) Paris, Rome and Madrid
(B) Charleroi, Liverpool and Shanghai
(C) Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore
(D) Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru

Answer: (B) Charleroi, Liverpool and Shanghai

Q10. How many artists were selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025?

(A) 56
(B) 76
(C) 106
(D) 206

Answer: (C) 106

8. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024?

Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on 22 September 2026.

2. Who won the Rajbhasha Kirti Award first prize for 2025–26?

The Department of Financial Services received the first prize in the category for ministries and departments with fewer than 300 personnel.

3. What is the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar?

It is an award instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006 to recognise young artists up to 40 years of age for their contribution to music, dance and drama.

4. Who won the Planeta Prize 2026?

Chilean author Isabel Allende won the prize for her novel La hora antes del alba, also known as The Hour Before Dawn.

5. Which cities were the first winners of WIPO’s City of Innovation award?

Charleroi, Liverpool and Shanghai were named the first winners in the announcement published on 12 October 2026.

6. How many artists were selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025?

A total of 106 young artists were selected for the two award years.

Official and Reference Sources

Last Updated: 20 October 2026 | Reviewed by Vijay Sah

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