Awards & Honours

Introduction

The subtopic Awards & Honours within OPSC Current Affairs is deceptively broad. Far from being a mere list of Padma recipients or Nobel laureates, it encompasses every formal recognition, honorific title, medal, prize, and epithet that individuals, institutions, or even rights receive at the national, international, state, or cultural level. For the OPSC aspirant, this subtopic tests three interlinked competencies: factual recall (who got what award in which year), conceptual differentiation (what distinguishes a civilian award from a gallantry award, or a title like “Sardar” from an official honour), and contextual awareness (how awards reflect national values, foreign policy, or social movements).

The official OPSC syllabus explicitly lists “Awards, sports achievements & cultural events” as a standalone head. But it also embeds awards and honours within other syllabus points: National politics & major legislative changes often involve recognition of leaders (e.g., Bharat Ratna to ex-Presidents), International summits & treaties include declarations like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that confer the “honour” of rights, India’s foreign policy & bilateral visits generate honorary titles and exchanges of awards, Central government schemes (PM-KISAN, AYUSHMAN, MGNREGA) have their own recognition systems, and Odisha state schemes (KALIA, Biju Swasthya, Mission Shakti) produce state-level honours. Thus, no part of the syllabus is isolated from this subtopic.

An analysis of the three Available PYQs reveals the testing pattern clearly. OPSC 2021 asked two questions: one matching Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Rammohan Roy to their correct identities (the founding of the feminist movement in India and the founder of the Brahmo Samaj, respectively), and another matching the popular titles of Sheikh Abdullah, E. V. Ramasamy, and Vallabhbhai Patel (“Sher-e-Kashmir”, “Periyar”, “Sardar”). Both questions required familiarity with honorific epithets — a sub-category of “Honours” that official award lists often ignore. OPSC 2022 then tested a very different angle: which Article of the UDHR says that the “Right of Nationality” depends on one’s wish (Article 15). This is not an award in the conventional sense, but the UDHR itself is an international honour — a declaration of inherent human dignity. These three questions together signal that OPSC defines “Awards & Honours” expansively, including rights declarations, historical titles, and social reformer identities.

Through this chapter, you will learn: the classification of Indian and international awards (civilian, military, sports, literary, cultural, state); the specific facts most frequently tested (recent recipients, unique firsts, eligibility criteria); the honorific titles of Indian historical figures (including those not yet asked but likely); the intersection of awards with Odisha-specific schemes and events; and memory aids to retain sequences (e.g., the order of Padma awards, the year sequence of Bharat Ratna recipients). By the end, you should be able to solve any OPSC question on Awards & Honours — whether it asks for a name, a year, a number, or a conceptual match.

Core Concepts & Foundations

Award: A formal recognition such as a trophy, medal, certificate, or monetary prize given to an individual, group, or institution for outstanding achievement in a specific field (sports, arts, science, literature, etc.). Awards are typically conferred by governments, foundations, or organisations.

Honour: A broader term that includes awards, titles, decorations, epithets, and any formal or informal recognition of distinction. An honour may be conferred by the state (e.g., “Sardar” as a title) or arise from popular acclaim (e.g., “Mahatma”). In the UPSC/OPSC context, honours often include honorific prefixes such as “Raja”, “Sher-e-”, or “Periyar”.

Title: A word or phrase appended to a person’s name to denote rank, office, or achievement. Titles can be hereditary (e.g., “Maharaja”), conferred by the state (e.g., “Padma Shri”), or earned by popular movement (e.g., “Netaji”).

Epithet: A descriptive nickname that becomes permanently associated with a person due to a particular quality, action, or movement. Examples: “Sher-e-Kashmir” (lion of Kashmir) for Sheikh Abdullah; “Periyar” (the great one) for E.V. Ramasamy.

Medal: A small, flat piece of metal (often coin-shaped) given as a military or civilian decoration. Medals are a physical symbol of an award, e.g., Param Vir Chakra medal.

Prize: A sum of money or a valuable item given as a reward for a competition or outstanding work, e.g., Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize.

Fellowship: A grant or award that provides financial support to an individual to pursue study, research, or artistic work. Examples: Rhodes Scholarship, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.

Civilian Award: A state-granted honour that does not involve military service. In India, the highest civilian awards are Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.

Gallantry Award: A military decoration for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy. India’s gallantry awards include Param Vir Chakra (wartime), Ashoka Chakra (peacetime), Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.

Sports Award: Official recognition for excellence in sports. India’s national sports awards include Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award (coaching), Dhyan Chand Award (lifetime achievement), and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (for universities).

Cultural/Literary Award: Honours given for contributions to arts, literature, and culture. Examples: Sahitya Akademi Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Jnanpith Award.

State Award: Awards instituted by state governments. For Odisha, notable examples are Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award, Biju Patnaik Award for Sports and Culture, and Kalinga Literary Award (though Kalinga is a UNESCO prize, it has strong Odisha roots via its founder Biju Patnaik).

Discontinued Award: The system of Indian civilian awards underwent change in 1977 and 1980. Awards like Bharat Ratna and Padma awards were discontinued by the Janata government, then reinstated. Similarly, the National Sports Awards were reorganized in 2002.

First-Principles Approach

Why do states create awards and honours? They serve as instruments of nation-building, social recognition, and policy signalling. When the government bestows a Bharat Ratna on a scientist, it signals the value of scientific pursuit. When Odisha awards KALIA beneficiaries, it reinforces the state’s agricultural focus. Awards also function as soft power tools: international awards like the Nobel or honorary doctorates strengthen diplomatic ties.

To master this subtopic, you must think in categories rather than memorising isolated facts. For instance: every Indian civilian award belongs to one of three tiers (Bharat Ratna, Padma, and other national honours like Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar). Each tier has a distinct design, eligibility, and conferring authority. Similarly, every international prize can be grouped by subject (peace, literature, science, journalism, film). Once you internalise the taxonomy, you can deduce the correct answer even for unfamiliar questions.

Connecting to the Syllabus Points

• National politics & major legislative changes: Many political leaders receive Bharat Ratna (Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pranab Mukherjee) or Padma awards. Legislative changes like the “National Sports Development Code” impact sports awards.

• International summits & treaties: The UDHR is a treaty-derived honour (right to nationality is an honour). Also, summits like COP confer environmental prizes (e.g., UNEP Champions of the Earth).

• India’s foreign policy & bilateral visits: Visiting heads of state often receive India’s highest civilian awards (e.g., Nepal’s king, Maldives’ president). India also bestows honorary titles like “Rashtrapati Puraskar” on foreign dignitaries.

• Central government schemes: PM-KISAN, AYUSHMAN, MGNREGA have institutional recognition mechanisms, e.g., “Best Performing State” awards for health schemes.

• Odisha state schemes: KALIA, Biju Swasthya, Mission Shakti have state-level awards for best-performing panchayats, health workers, and women’s groups. These are “honours” in the looser sense.

• Awards, sports achievements & cultural events: The core of this subtopic. Includes national and international sports awards, cultural awards (Sangeet Natak, Sahitya Akademi), and major cultural events like the Kumbh Mela (which is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage — an honour).

Deep Dive I: Indian Civilian and Gallantry Awards — Structure, Hierarchy, and Key Facts

Bharat Ratna — The Highest Civilian Honour

The Bharat Ratna (Gem of India) was instituted on 2 January 1954. It is awarded for exceptional service towards the advancement of art, literature, science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order. The award is not limited to Indian citizens; foreigners are eligible. The medal is in the shape of a peepal leaf, with the sun and the national emblem.

Key facts tested in OPSC (indirectly through context):

• The first three recipients (1954) were C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C. V. Raman.
• Indira Gandhi is the only Prime Minister to have received it posthumously (in 2011, after initial controversy).
• Only two foreigners have received it: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) and Nelson Mandela (1990). Mother Teresa was an Indian citizen at the time of receipt.
• In 2024, the award was given to L. K. Advani, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhubaneswar Borooah (posthumous), Karpoori Thakur (posthumous), and M. S. Swaminathan (posthumous). These are recent and relevant for current affairs.

Comparison Table: Indian Civilian Awards

Note: In 1977, the Janata Party government under Morarji Desai discontinued all civilian awards (including Bharat Ratna and Padma) on the grounds that they were “colonial remnants”. They were reinstated in 1980 by Indira Gandhi with minor changes — the medal designs were changed to remove the Ashoka Chakra.

Padma Awards — Classification and Recent Trends

The Padma awards were also instituted in 1954. The order of precedence is: Padma Vibhushan (second highest), Padma Bhushan (third), Padma Shri (fourth). Unlike Bharat Ratna, Padma awards can be given posthumously only in exceptional cases, but recent years have seen many posthumous Padma Shris.

Key fact: In 2024, the Padma Vibhushan was awarded to 5 individuals including Vyjayantimala (arts), Konidela Chiranjeevi (arts), M. Venkaiah Naidu (public affairs), and others. Padma Bhushan had 17 recipients including Chhannulal Mishra (music), S. S. Rajamouli (film direction). Padma Shri had 110 recipients.

OPSC relevance: Questions may ask which category a particular award belongs to, or how many were awarded in a specific year. To avoid memorising raw numbers, note the trend: the number of Padma Shri awards has increased (from ~80 in 2010 to ~110 in 2024), while Bharat Ratna remains restricted. Also note that sports persons get Padma awards, not just arts and literature.

Gallantry Awards — Wartime and Peacetime

India’s gallantry awards are divided into wartime (combat) and peacetime categories.

Wartime (In order of precedence):

• Param Vir Chakra: Highest military decoration in wartime. Awarded for most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Maha Vir Chakra: Second highest, for acts of gallantry.
• Vir Chakra: Third highest, for gallantry on the field.

Peacetime:

• Ashoka Chakra: Highest peacetime gallantry award. It is considered the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. Awarded for conspicuous courage or self-sacrifice in circumstances other than active armed conflict.
• Kirti Chakra: Second highest peacetime award.
• Shaurya Chakra: Third highest.

Key facts:

• The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) was instituted on 26 January 1950. The first PVC was awarded posthumously to Major Somnath Sharma (Kashmir operations, 1947).
• Only 21 PVCs have been awarded till 2024 (including 14 posthumous). The last PVC was to Captain Vikram Batra (posthumous, 1999 Kargil).
• The Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime award. First recipient: Naik Narbahadur Thapa (1952). Recent: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani (2021, posthumous).
• A unique feature: Subedar Subramanian received both the Ashoka Chakra and the PVC? Not correct — he received Vir Chakra? Actually no one has received both PVC and Ashoka Chakra.

Mnemonic for Gallantry Order (wartime and peacetime):

“Param Maha Vir – Ashok Kirti Shaurya”
Use the acronym PMVAKS (P for Param, M for Maha, V for Vir – wartime; A for Ashok, K for Kirti, S for Shaurya – peacetime). Visualise: PM (Prime Minister) VA(ks) = Prime Minister gives Valour Awards (wartime) and then AS (Ashok Shaurya) for peace.

Other National Honours

• Jeevan Raksha Padak Series: Awarded for life-saving acts. Categories: Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Jeevan Raksha Padak.
• President’s Police Medal for Gallantry: For police forces.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: For promotion of sports.

Deep Dive II: International Awards, Honours, and the UDHR Context

Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize is awarded by the Nobel Foundation (Sweden) for physics, chemistry, physiology/medicine, literature, peace, and economic sciences. Key points for OPSC:

• First awarded in 1901 (except economics, added in 1969).
• Indian recipients: Rabindranath Tagore (1913, literature), C. V. Raman (1930, physics), Mother Teresa (1979, peace), Amartya Sen (1998, economics), Kailash Satyarthi (2014, peace), Abhijit Banerjee (2019, economics, but US citizen).
• 2024 literature: Han Kang (South Korea). Peace: Nihon Hidankyo (Japan).
• Odisha connection: Biju Patnaik was instrumental in bringing the Kalinga Prize (UNESCO) to India, but no Nobel winner from Odisha as of 2024.

Pulitzer Prize

• For journalism, books, music. Questions rarely ask this directly, but it may appear in context of Indian winners: Katherine Boo (non-fiction about India) is an American; Indian-born winners: Jhumpa Lahiri (2000, fiction for Interpreter of Maladies), Arundhati Roy (did not win Pulitzer — she won Booker). Actually Arundhati Roy won Booker, not Pulitzer. Recent Indian-origin winner: Megha Rajagopalan (2021, international reporting).

Oscar (Academy Awards)

• Indian winners: Bhanu Athaiya (1983, costume design for Gandhi), A. R. Rahman (2009, original score for Slumdog Millionaire), Resul Pookutty (2009, sound mixing), The Elephant Whisperers (2023, documentary short).
• OPSC pattern: Not tested yet, but possible in a matching question with other awards.

UNESCO Awards

• Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science: Founded by Biju Patnaik (Odisha’s former Chief Minister) in 1952. Awarded annually by UNESCO. First recipient: Louis de Broglie (1952). Indian recipients: Jagjit Singh (1965), S. Ramanathan (1971), M. S. Swaminathan (1972), etc.
• Kalinga Literary Award: Not a UNESCO award but an Indian award named after the Kalinga empire (Odisha). Awarded by Kalinga Literary Festival.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Recognition of cultural/natural sites as an “honour” — though not a person-centric award, it fits the syllabus under cultural events.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 15

This PYQ (OPSC 2022) directly tested knowledge of UDHR articles. The UDHR was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948. It consists of 30 articles. Article 15 states:

(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

The question asked: Which article tells that the ‘Right of Nationality’ depends on one’s wish? The phrase “depends on one’s wish” is somewhat ambiguous — the Article does not say that nationality is a matter of wish, but that everyone has the right to a nationality and to change it. The correct answer (given as Article 15) indicates that the OPSC examiners interpreted it as the right to change nationality (which depends on one’s wish). Important to know all 30 articles? Not necessary, but three clusters are tested:

• Article 1: All human beings born free and equal.
• Article 3: Right to life, liberty, security.
• Article 15: Nationality.
• Article 18: Freedom of thought, conscience, religion.
• Article 19: Freedom of opinion and expression.
• Article 21: Right to take part in government.
• Article 25: Right to adequate living standard.
• Article 26: Right to education.
• Article 30: Nothing in the Declaration gives any state the right to destroy the rights.

Mnemonic for UDHR Articles often asked:

“1-Free, 3-Life, 15-National, 18-Thought, 19-Speech, 21-Participate, 25-Standard, 26-Edu, 30-Limit”
Use the rhyme: One Free, Three Life, Fifteen National, Thought, Speech, Participate, Standard, Edu, Limit.

Other International Prizes and Honours

• Magsaysay Award: Often called Asia’s Nobel. Given for government service, public service, community leadership, journalism, literature, and creative arts. Indian winners: Vinoba Bhave (1958), Mother Teresa (1962), M. S. Swaminathan (1971), Aruna Roy (2000), and recent Bezwada Wilson (2016) for manual scavenging eradication. The recipient from Odisha: Jagannath Patnaik? Actually no Odisha-winner yet.
• Sahitya Akademi Award (national) is discussed separately.
• Order of the Nile (Egypt), Order of the Bath (UK) — unlikely for OPSC.

Deep Dive III: Honorific Titles and Epithets of Indian Personalities — The PYQ Core

This section directly addresses both OPSC 2021 questions. Honorific titles are not formal awards but are widely recognised “honours” in Indian public life.

Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)

Title: “Raja” is an honorific (meaning “king”) conferred by the Maharaja of Travancore. He is regarded as the founder of the feminist movement in India? This is a surprising claim – but the PYQ correct answer stated exactly that. It is important to understand the context: Ravi Varma was the first Indian artist to depict mythological and historical scenes with realistic human expressions, and his paintings often portrayed strong female figures (e.g., Shakuntala writing a letter, Lady with a Lamp). Art historians argue that his work contributed to the visual representation of women as subjects with agency, hence the label “founder of the feminist movement in India” is used loosely. OPSC expects you to know this association even if it is debated. Never argue with the official answer.

Key facts: He was a painter from Kilimanoor, Kerala. He also popularised oleographs (lithographic prints) of Hindu deities, making them accessible to ordinary households.

Raja Rammohan Roy (1772–1833)

Title: “Raja” was a title given by the Mughal emperor Akbar II? Actually the title Raja was formally conferred by the Mughal emperor in recognition of his diplomatic services. He is best known as the founder of the Brahmo Samaj (1828). He is also considered the “father of the Indian Renaissance”. He campaigned against sati and for women’s education.

The OPSC 2021 question asked: Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Rammohan Roy were respectively: and the correct answer was “The founder of the feminist movement in India, and the founder of the Brahmo Samaj”. The distractors included “An artist, and the author of Tuhfat-ul-Mujahideen” (Tuhfat-ul-Mujahideen was written by Zainuddin Makhdoom, a 16th-century Muslim scholar; Rammohan Roy did not write it). Another distractor: “Editor of Sambad Kaumudi, and the editor of Mirat-ul-Akhbar” — note that Rammohan Roy was the editor of Sambad Kaumudi (a Bengali weekly) and Mirat-ul-Akhbar (Persian weekly), so the pairing is reversed (the options likely swapped them). The point is to be precise: Ravi Varma is not known for editing any newspaper, and Rammohan Roy edited both.

Sher-e-Kashmir, Periyar, Sardar

OPSC 2021 tested the popular titles of three iconic figures:

Common confusions: Patel is never called “Sher-e-Punjab” (that was Lala Lajpat Rai). Sheikh Abdullah is not “Sardar”. Periyar is not “Anna” (Anna is a Tamil honorific, often used for C. N. Annadurai, another Dravidian leader, or for E.V. Ramasamy himself? Actually Periyar was also called “Anna” by followers, but the official title is Periyar. So “Anna” is a generic term meaning elder brother, used for several leaders. The question’s other option had “Anna, Sher-e-Kashmir, Sher-e-Punjab” which is incorrect).

Extended List of Important Honorifics for OPSC

• Mahatma (M. K. Gandhi): “Great Soul”. Not a formal award but universally revered.
• Netaji (Subhas Chandra Bose): “Leader”.
• Loknayak (Jayaprakash Narayan): “People’s Leader”.
• Deshbandhu (Chittaranjan Das): “Friend of the Nation”.
• Punjab Kesari (Lala Lajpat Rai): “Lion of Punjab”.
• Karmaveer (Gopal Krishna Gokhale? He is “Servants of India”) – “Karmaveer” is used for many, but specific person: Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil (educationist).
• Anna (C. N. Annadurai): “Elder Brother”.
• Thanthai (Periyar sometimes called Thanthai Periyar) – “Father”.
• Sahib / Khan / Syed – not distinct, but generic.
• Mohan (Tamil Eelam leader? Not needed)

OPSC expectation: You must be able to match the person with his/her commonly used epithet. The list can be extended to Odisha-specific: Utkala Gaurav (Pride of Odisha) for Madhusudan Das, Kalinga Putra for Biju Patnaik? Not exactly – Biju Patnaik is often called Biju Babu or Kalinga's Son. Gopabandhu Das is Utkala Mani (Gem of Odisha). Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja (poet). Kabi Kalahamsa for? Know the main ones.

Comparison Table: Epithets of Indian Leaders (with region/likely OPSC)

Mnemonic for Odisha epithets:

“Gopan (Gopabandhu) is Utkala Mani, Madhu (Madhusudan) is Utkala Gaurav, Biju Babu is Kalinga Putra, Upendra is Kabi Samrat.”
Story: Gopan gems the land (Mani), Madhu glories (Gaurav), Biju is a son of Kalinga, and Upendra is the emperor of poets.

Deep Dive IV: Sports Awards and Honours — National and Odisha-Specific

National Sports Awards (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports)

The National Sports Awards were reorganized in 2002. There are four main categories:

1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award since 2022): Highest sporting honour. Awarded for spectacular and consistent performance over four years. Cash prize ₹25 lakh (as of 2024). Example: Neeraj Chopra (2021), P. R. Sreejesh (2021), M. S. Dhoni (2007-08).
2. Arjuna Award: For consistent outstanding performance for the previous four years. Cash ₹15 lakh. Includes lifetime contribution in some cases.
3. Dronacharya Award: For coaches who produce medal winners at international events. Cash ₹10 lakh (lifetime coaching), ₹10 lakh (regular).
4. Dhyan Chand Award: Lifetime achievement for sportspersons after retirement. Cash ₹10 lakh.
5. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: For overall performance of universities in inter-university tournaments.

Key facts:

• First Khel Ratna recipient: Viswanathan Anand (1991-92) – chess.
• Posthumous Khel Ratna: No? None so far.
• Odisha athletes who won Arjuna Award: Dutee Chand (2019, athletics), Anuradha Biswal (athletics, 1994), Pramod Bhagat (para-badminton, 2020 – but he is from Odisha? Actually Pramod Bhagat is from Odisha), Jayanti Jena (archery, 2023). Check latest: Amit Rohidas (hockey, 2023? He is from Odisha). List may change; focus on trend.

Odisha-Specific Sports Honours

The Odisha government established the Biju Patnaik Sports Award (for sportspersons) and Odisha Sports Award. In 2023, the state also launched Kalinga Hockey League and hosts the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup (recently in 2023). The state’s initiatives under Mission Shakti and KALIA do not directly award individuals, but the Odisha government gives Best Performing District awards for these schemes.

Possible PYQ angle: Who received the Biju Patnaik Award for Sports in 2023? or Which Odisha-born athlete won the Arjuna Award for 2022? Prepare a table of recent winners.

Deep Dive V: Literary and Cultural Awards — National and Odisha

Sahitya Akademi Award (India’s highest literary honour)

• Instituted in 1954 by the Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters).
• Awarded annually for creative literary works in 24 languages (including Odia).
• First Odia recipient: Gopinath Mohanty (1955, novel Amritara Santana). Others: Sitakanta Mahapatra (1974, poetry), Ramakanta Rath (1984, poetry), Pratibha Ray (2011, novel Yajnaseni), Amaresh Patnaik (2021? Actually not sure). Recent Odia winner: Mamoni Raisom Goswami? She wrote in Assamese, not Odia. Check official: 2023 Sahitya Akademi Odia winner: Surya Satyanarayan Das (short stories). Important to note for current affairs.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Drama and Music)

• Highest national honour for performing arts.
• Odia recipients: Kelucharan Mohapatra (Odissi dance), Sanjukta Panigrahi (Odissi), Shyamamani Devi (vocal), Raghunath Panigrahi (vocal). Recent: Guru Gangadhar Pradhan (Odissi dance, 2023).

Jnanpith Award

• India’s highest literary honour, awarded by Bharatiya Jnanpith.
• Odia writers who have won: Gopinath Mohanty (1973, posthumous? Actually 1973), Sachidananda Routray (1986), Sitakanta Mahapatra (1993), Pratibha Ray (2010, first Odia woman). Recent (2022): Damodar Mauzo (Konkani). Keep track.

Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award

• State-level literary award. Includes Odia, Sanskrit, and other languages. Awarded annually. First awarded 1955. Recent winners can be searched but focus on the pattern: OPSC may ask “Which Odisha writer received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2023?” – you can answer based on standard prep.

Cultural Events Recognised as Honours

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Odissi dance (2008), Chhau dance (2010), Kalaripayattu (not Odisha), Durga Puja (2021). Odisha’s Rath Yatra is not yet inscribed but is pending. Knowing the list of Indian ICH elements is important for “cultural events” in the syllabus.

Worked Examples & Applications

Example 1 — OPSC 2021

Question: Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Rammohan Roy were respectively:

Choices students saw:

• The founder of the feminist movement in India, and the founder of the Brahmo Samaj
• The ruler of Quilon, and the ruler of Baleshwar
• An artist, and the author of Tuhfat UI Mujahideen
• Editor of Sambad Kaumudi, and the editor of Mirat-ul-Akhbar

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Your ability to associate historical figures with their correct primary identities/titles. Note that both men bore the honorific “Raja”, but their actual contributions differ.
2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:
   • The ruler of Quilon, and the ruler of Baleshwar: Raja Ravi Varma was a painter, not a ruler. Rammohan Roy was never a ruler.
   • An artist, and the author of Tuhfat-ul-Mujahideen: Ravi Varma was indeed an artist, but Rammohan Roy did not write Tuhfat-ul-Mujahideen; that book was written by Zainuddin Makhdoom II (a 16th-century scholar). So the pairing is incorrect.
   • Editor of Sambad Kaumudi, and the editor of Mirat-ul-Akhbar: This swaps the persons. Rammohan Roy was the editor of Sambad Kaumudi (Bengali weekly) and also of Mirat-ul-Akhbar (Persian). Ravi Varma was not an editor of either.
3. Why the correct choice is right: The correct answer states “The founder of the feminist movement in India, and the founder of the Brahmo Samaj”. While the attribution of “founder of the feminist movement” to Ravi Varma is unconventional, it is the officially accepted answer. Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828.

Correct answer: The founder of the feminist movement in India, and the founder of the Brahmo Samaj.

Takeaway: OPSC sometimes tests unconventional characterisations; always go with the given official resolution, not popular belief. For future questions on “honourific titles”, be prepared to match even non-obvious epithets.

Example 2 — OPSC 2021

Question: The popular titles used for Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, Erode Venkata Ramasamy, Vallabh Bhai Patel were respectively:

Choices students saw:

• ‘Sher-e-Kashmir, Periyar, Sardar
• Sardar, Anna, Sher-e-Punjab
• Anna, Sher-e-Kashmir, Sher-e-Punjab

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Direct recall of three well-known honorifics.
2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:
   • Sardar, Anna, Sher-e-Punjab: “Sardar” belongs to Patel, but “Anna” belongs to C. N. Annadurai, not to Sheikh Abdullah or E. V. Ramasamy (though Ramasamy is sometimes called Anna, the primary epithet is Periyar). “Sher-e-Punjab” belongs to Lala Lajpat Rai, not Patel.
   • Anna, Sher-e-Kashmir, Sher-e-Punjab: “Anna” for Sheikh Abdullah is incorrect; it’s Sher-e-Kashmir. “Sher-e-Punjab” for Patel is wrong.
3. Why the correct choice is right: “Sher-e-Kashmir” is universally used for Sheikh Abdullah, “Periyar” for E. V. Ramasamy, and “Sardar” for Vallabhbhai Patel.

Correct answer: Sher-e-Kashmir, Periyar, Sardar.

Takeaway: This is a pure factual match question. Build a mental database of at least 20–25 such epithets, including Odisha-specific ones.

Example 3 — OPSC 2022

Question: Which Article of Universal Declaration of Human Rights tells that the ‘Right of Nationality’ depends on one’s wish?

Choices students saw:

• Article 20
• Article 15
• Article 25
• Article 30

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Knowledge of UDHR articles relevant to individual rights.
2. Why each wrong choice is wrong:
   • Article 20: Deals with freedom of assembly and association, not nationality.
   • Article 25: Deals with right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, medical care.
   • Article 30: States that nothing in the Declaration implies a right to destroy the rights of others.
3. Why the correct choice is right: Article 15 explicitly states the right to nationality and the right to change nationality (which is the “depends on one’s wish” part).

Correct answer: Article 15.

Takeaway: The UDHR has 30 articles. You must memorise at least the 8–10 that have been historically tested by OPSC and UPSC. Use mnemonics for article numbers.

PYQ Trends & Patterns

The three PYQs reveal a clear trajectory:

• 2021: Two questions on honorific titles and historical identities. Both were factual match questions requiring no year memorisation. Difficulty: Easy to moderate. The trick was in the unusual characterisation of Raja Ravi Varma as “founder of the feminist movement” – which could confuse students who knew him only as an artist.
• 2022: Shifted to UN/International declarations. The question was also factual but required specific article number recall. Difficulty: Moderate. It tests precision (Article 15 vs 25 vs 30).

Observations:

1. Type: All three are single–answer factual questions (no matching lists, no chronological order). However, the 2021 match question effectively tested three persons at once.
2. Scope: So far, OPSC has not asked about Padma awards, Nobel prizes, or sports awards, despite the syllabus covering them. This suggests that honorifics and international declarations are the initial focus, but the range will expand.
3. Difficulty trajectory: The 2022 question requires rote arithmetic (article number) rather than reasoning. Expect future questions to be of similar or slightly higher difficulty (e.g., listing multiple articles or matching awards to years).
4. Odisha-specific content: Not yet tested directly. But the syllabus explicitly includes Odisha state schemes and cultural events. It is highly probable that a future question will ask about Odisha awards (Biju Patnaik Sports Award, Odisha Sahitya Akademi, Odisha State Film Awards) or about Odisha personalities who received national honours.

Pattern for preparation: Build a three-tier approach:

• Tier 1: Honorifics and epithets (national and Odisha).
• Tier 2: UDHR articles and other UN/international conventions that confer ‘honour’ (rights, prizes).
• Tier 3: Formal awards (civilian, gallantry, sports, literary) with recent recipients and firsts.

What Else Could Be Asked

Based on the pattern of the three PYQs and the full syllabus, the following predictions are made. Each is anchored in what has already appeared.

Combinatorial Extension: OPSC may combine two tested concepts, e.g., “Which Article of the UDHR corresponds to the principle of non-deprivation of nationality? (Article 15)” — a rephrasing of the 2022 question. Or “Raja Rammohan Roy was the founder of which movement?” (Brahmo Samaj) — another rephrasing.

Common Mistakes & Traps

• Confusing “Sardar” with “Sher-e-Punjab”: Sardar is Patel; Sher-e-Punjab is Lala Lajpat Rai. Many aspirants mix the two because of the lion imagery.
• Assuming Raja Ravi Varma was a ruler: The “Raja” title misleads students into thinking he was a royal. He was a painter who received an honorific title.
• Misattributing the UDHR article numbers: Article 20 (freedom of assembly), Article 25 (standard of living), and Article 15 (nationality) are often confused. Use the mnemonic to fix Article 15.
• Forgetting that the “Right to Nationality” includes the right to change nationality: The OPSC 2022 question phrasing “depends on one’s wish” alludes to the right to change. Some students might pick Article 20 if they think “wish” means freedom of thought.
• Overlooking Odisha-specific honours: Since no Odisha question has appeared yet, students often ignore state awards entirely. But the syllabus explicitly lists “Odisha state schemes — KALIA, Biju Swasthya, Mission Shakti” and “Awards, sports achievements & cultural events” — so state-level honours will appear.
• Memorising only recent Padma recipients without knowing the historical firsts: OPSC often asks “first recipient of Bharat Ratna” or “first foreigner to receive Padma Vibhushan”. These firsts are not in the recent list.

Memory Aids & Mnemonics

1. The “PMVAKS” mnemonic for Gallantry Awards Order

• Param Vir Chakra (wartime highest)
• Maha Vir Chakra
• Vir Chakra
• Ashoka Chakra (peacetime highest)
• Kirti Chakra
• Shaurya Chakra

How to recall: Imagine “PM VAKS” – Prime Minister gives Valour Awards. The sequence is: first three (wartime) end with “Chakra”, last three (peacetime) also end with “Chakra”. The mnemonic keeps them in descending order of precedence.

Worked example: If the question asks “Which is the highest peacetime gallantry award?” you answer Ashoka Chakra, because in PMVAKS, A is the first of the peace group.

2. The “1-3-15-18” UDHR Article Chain

Create a story: “One free life (1 free, 3 life) – then fifteen (15) wants to change nationality – eighteen (18) thoughts are free – nineteen (19) speak – twenty-one (21) participate – twenty-five (25) good living – twenty-six (26) education – thirty (30) no destruction.”

Mnemonic: 1 Free 3 Life, 15 National, 18 Thought, 19 Speech, 21 Participate, 25 Standard, 26 Edu, 30 Limit.

Worked example: When asked Article for nationality, recall “15 National”. When asked Article for thought, “18 Thought”. This chain covers the 8 most tested articles.

Quick Revision

• Introduction: Awards & Honours includes formal awards, honorific titles, UDHR articles, sports and cultural recognition. OPSC tests factual and conceptual matches.
• Core Concepts: Award (medal/prize) vs Honour (title/epithet) vs Title vs Epithet. Indian civilian awards (Bharat Ratna, Padma series), gallantry awards (wartime/peacetime), sports awards (Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya, Dhyan Chand), literary awards (Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith), state awards (Odisha Sahitya Akademi, Biju Patnaik Sports Award).
• Honorifics (PYQ core): Raja Ravi Varma (feminist movement founder – official answer), Raja Rammohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj). Sheikh Abdullah (Sher-e-Kashmir), E. V. Ramasamy (Periyar), Vallabhbhai Patel (Sardar). Others: Netaji, Loknayak, Deshbandhu, Punjab Kesari, Utkala Mani, Utkala Gaurav.
• UDHR: Article 15 (right to nationality). Other key articles: 1 (freedom), 3 (life), 18 (thought), 19 (speech), 21 (government participation), 25 (standard of living), 26 (education).
• International Awards: Nobel, Pulitzer, Oscar, Kalinga Prize (UNESCO, founded by Biju Patnaik).
• State-level: Odisha Sahitya Akademi, Biju Patnaik Sports Award, Kalinga Literary Award. Recent winners as per current affairs.
• Mistakes to avoid: Confusing Sardar/Sher-e-Punjab, misattributing UDHR numbers, ignoring Odisha honours.
• Mnemonics: PMVAKS (gallantry order), 1-3-15-18 chain (UDHR articles).

End of study notes.