Awards and Honours — Study Notes
Overview
Awards and Honours is a frequently tested section in SSC MTS General Awareness, typically contributing 2–4 questions per paper. This topic tests your knowledge of India's civilian awards (Bharat Ratna, Padma awards), international honours (Nobel Prize, Booker Prize), and sports/military awards. The questions are straightforward fact-recall: "Who received the Bharat Ratna in 2019?" or "Which field does the Abel Prize recognize?"
Success here depends on knowing the hierarchy of Indian civilian awards, the year of recent recipients (last 3–5 years for SSC exams), and the fields associated with major international awards. Many students lose easy marks by confusing award categories (Padma Vibhushan vs Padma Bhushan) or misremembering recent recipients. Focus on awards announced between 2019–2024, as SSC heavily tests current affairs integrated with static knowledge.
Master the "who-when-what field" trifecta for each award. This topic rewards systematic revision and is one of the highest-yield areas for quick scoring in General Awareness.
Key Concepts
- **Civilian Awards Hierarchy**: Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour, followed by Padma Vibhushan (exceptional service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service), and Padma Shri (distinguished contribution). All are announced on Republic Day eve.
- **Nobel Prize Categories**: Six categories exist — Physics, Chemistry, Medicine/Physiology, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Indian-origin recipients include Rabindranath Tagore (Literature, 1913), CV Raman (Physics, 1930), and Abhijit Banerjee (Economics, 2019).
- **Sports Awards**: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India's highest sports honour), Arjuna Award (outstanding performance), Dronacharya Award (coaching excellence), and Dhyan Chand Award (lifetime contribution).
- **Military Honours**: Param Vir Chakra (highest wartime gallantry), Ashok Chakra (highest peacetime gallantry), Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. Know that PVC recipients are extremely rare (21 total since 1950).
- **International Literary Awards**: Man Booker Prize (fiction in English), Pulitzer Prize (US journalism and arts), and Jnanpith Award (Indian literature). SSC often asks which Indian author won which prize recently.
- **Field-Specific Awards**: Bharat Ratna has no field restriction but commonly honours arts, science, sports, and public service. Padma awards explicitly recognize work in all disciplines including trade and industry, medicine, social work, and public affairs.
- **Recent Trends**: Government increasingly recognises unsung heroes — folk artists, grassroots workers, tribal activists — alongside celebrities. Questions now test lesser-known recipients, not just film stars and cricketers.