Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2020
(2) Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is awarded to creative childrens (5-18) under various categories including innovation, scholastic, sports, art and culture, social service and bravery.
The correct statement/s is/are:
(a) Only (1)
(b) Only (2)
(c) Both (1) and (2)
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
- On January 22, 2020, the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2020.
- Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is awarded to creative childrens (5-18) under various categories including innovation, scholastic, sports, art and culture, social service and bravery.
- Total 49 children in the age group of 5-18 years were awarded at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
- The 49 awardees also included 12-year-old Darsh Malani, who has performed over 50 magic shows worldwide and 11-year-old Manoj Kumar Lohar has been awarded for his mastery in “tabla vadan”.
- Gauri Mishra, who has the “Youngest pianist of India” record in her name and Korok Biswas, an exceptional dancer despite being diagnosed with down syndrome and 50 percent intellectual disability are also among the awardees in the Art and Culture category.
- Fifteen-year-old Ishaan Sharma who saved a Russian female tourist from two robbers and helped police catch them, 10-year-old Lalkansung who saved the lives of three girls from drowning in a large fish pond in Manipur and Pema who saved lives of two girls when the boundary wall of her school collapsed due to rainfall and landslide, were also among those awarded in the Bravery category.
- The Bal Shakti Puraskar is given to children in the fields of innovation, social service, scholastic, sports, art and culture, and bravery and carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a certificate and a citation.
- The awardees of Bal Shakti Puraskar will also participate in the Republic Day Parade.
- The award has been renamed as the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ from the old name i.e. ‘National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement’ in beginning 2018 and achievements of children in the field of bravery is also acknowledged.
- The child’s achievement/excellence should be recognized/sponsored by an independent agency/authority in the concerned field and the achievement should not be one-off, but carried out over a period of time.
- The corresponding application should be recommended by State/U.T Deptts., any Deptt. of Govt. of India/District Authority, Local Self Government, Experts in the field, Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assemblies/Legislative Councils and reputed Voluntary Organizations.
- A National Selection Committee constituted by the Government of India will make the selection out of the cases recommended by various bodies.
Links:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1600182
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/president-kovind-presented-pradhan-mantri-rashtriya-bal-puraskar-to-49-children-1639318-2020-01-23