AWARDS AND HONOUR

Pulitzer Prize

• Context : Indian journalists Ananth R.K. and Suparna Sharma have been announced as winners of the Pulitzer Prize in the illustrated reporting and commentary category.

About the Pulitzer Prize

• The Pulitzer Prize is considered the most prestigious award in the field of journalism in the United States.
• Established in 1917, the awards are administered by Columbia University and the ‘Pulitzer Prize Board.’
• The prize is named in honor of the renowned newspaper publisher, Joseph Pulitzer.
• Each winner receives a certificate and a cash prize of $15,000. Additionally, the winner in the ‘Public Service’ category is awarded a gold medal.
• For the year 2025, Pulitzer Prizes were awarded in a total of 23 categories, including 15 categories in journalism and 8 categories in books, drama, and music.

Current Facts

• India’s 18th railway zone
  • The Ministry of Railways has created South Coast Railway (SCoR) as India’s 18th railway zone. The headquarters is at Visakhapatnam and it will be fully operational from June 1.
  • The zone will include Guntakal, Guntur and Vijayawada divisions along with a new 410-km Visakhapatnam division.
  • The project includes 100% electrification and redevelopment of 74 railway stations.
• UDGAM portal
  • UDGAM Portal (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access InforMation) is a centralised online platform developed by the Reserve Bank of India to help the public trace unclaimed bank deposits. 
  • It enables users to search unclaimed deposits across multiple banks covered under the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEA Fund).
  • As of March 2024, 30 banks are integrated, covering about 90% of unclaimed deposits in the DEA Fund.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India 
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was established in 1988 as a non-statutory body and became a statutory regulator in 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992.
  • It functions as the principal regulator of India’s securities market under the Ministry of Finance, ensuring orderly development of the capital market.
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Regional offices: Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi.
  • SEBI’s Board consists of 9 members, including a Chairperson, representatives from the Union Government and Reserve Bank of India, and other appointed members.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Government of India for up to 5 years or till 65 years, based on recommendations of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
  • SEBI performs three core functions: regulation (framing rules and monitoring markets), development (promoting innovations like demat and electronic trading), and investor protection (preventing fraud and ensuring transparency).
  • It has powers to conduct inspections, investigations, impose penalties, regulate intermediaries, and oversee mutual funds and venture capital funds.
  • Key initiatives include the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) for awareness and the SCORES portal for grievance redressal.
• Thirukkural
  • “To break the greatness and to want the invincibility pride gives effort”.
    • Meaning: One must not become weary or discouraged, thinking, “This undertaking is too arduous to execute.” Rather, diligent effort will generate the very greatness and capability necessary to successfully complete it. Chapter: Possession of Diligence