Important National and International Awards Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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PDF Notes: Important National and International Awards Notes for SSC Exams
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Awards and honours are a regular part of SSC General Awareness. The questions ask for the field of an award, the first winner or the country that gives the award. These important national and international awards notes for SSC give the national civilian, gallantry, literary and film awards, and the main international awards, in simple tables with practice questions. The list of the latest winners changes every year, so check it separately from the current affairs.
National Civilian Awards
| Award | Field | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna | Highest civilian award | Started in 1954; for exceptional service in any field |
| Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri | Civilian awards in three ranks | Announced on the eve of Republic Day |
| Jnanpith Award | Literature | Started in 1965; first winner G. Sankara Kurup (Malayalam); given by Bharatiya Jnanpith |
| Sahitya Akademi Award | Literature in 24 languages | Given by the Sahitya Akademi, started in 1954 |
| Saraswati Samman | Literature | Given by the K. K. Birla Foundation; started in 1991 |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Cinema (lifetime contribution) | Started in 1969; first winner Devika Rani |
| National Film Awards | Cinema | Given for the best films and artists of the year |
| Gandhi Peace Prize | Peace, non-violence and social change | Started in 1995 |
| Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development | Peace and development | Started in 1986 |
Gallantry Awards
| Award | For | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra | Highest gallantry in war | First winner Major Somnath Sharma |
| Maha Vir Chakra | Second highest gallantry in war | |
| Vir Chakra | Third highest gallantry in war | |
| Ashoka Chakra | Highest gallantry in peacetime | Can be given to civilians also |
| Kirti Chakra | Second highest peacetime gallantry | |
| Shaurya Chakra | Third highest peacetime gallantry |
Awards for Science and Social Service
| Award | Field |
|---|---|
| Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize | Science and technology |
| Kalinga Prize (UNESCO) | Popularisation of science |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Award | Social service and constructive work |
| Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony | Cultural harmony |
Important International Awards
| Award | Field | Country or body |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize | Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics | Sweden and Norway (Peace) |
| Booker Prize | Fiction in English | United Kingdom |
| Pulitzer Prize | Journalism, literature and music | United States |
| Magsaysay Award | Public service in Asia | Philippines |
| Oscar (Academy Awards) | Cinema | United States |
| Grammy Award | Music | United States |
| Fields Medal | Mathematics (for those under 40, every four years) | International Mathematical Union |
| Abel Prize | Mathematics | Norway |
| Turing Award | Computer science | Association for Computing Machinery |
| Pritzker Prize | Architecture | United States |
| Right Livelihood Award | Work for a better world; called the Alternative Nobel | Sweden |
Some Interesting Facts
- The Nobel Peace Prize is given in Oslo (Norway), and the other Nobel prizes are given in Stockholm (Sweden).
- The Magsaysay Award is called the "Nobel Prize of Asia".
- The Fields Medal is called the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics".
- Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize (Literature, 1913).
- Satyajit Ray received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1992 and the Bharat Ratna.
How to Learn Awards
- Group the awards by field: literature, cinema, gallantry, science and peace.
- Learn the first winner of each major award.
- Learn the country or body that gives each international award.
- Read the latest list of winners from current affairs separately, since the winners change every year.
Quick Tips
- Learn each award with its field in one table.
- Remember the order of gallantry awards for war and for peacetime.
- Learn the nicknames: Magsaysay (Asian Nobel) and Fields Medal (Maths Nobel).
- Check the winners of the last one year from the monthly current affairs.
Quick Revision Points
- Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India.
- Param Vir Chakra is the highest war-time gallantry award.
- Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award.
- The Jnanpith Award is given for literature.
- The Magsaysay Award is given in the Philippines for Asian public service.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Which is the highest gallantry award in war?
Answer: Param Vir Chakra - Which is the highest gallantry award in peacetime?
Answer: Ashoka Chakra - Who was the first winner of the Param Vir Chakra?
Answer: Major Somnath Sharma - Which award is given for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema?
Answer: Dadasaheb Phalke Award - Who was the first winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
Answer: Devika Rani - Which award is given for literature by the Bharatiya Jnanpith?
Answer: Jnanpith Award - Which award is called the Nobel Prize of Asia?
Answer: Magsaysay Award - Which award is given for the best fiction in English in the United Kingdom?
Answer: Booker Prize - Which award is given for journalism in the United States?
Answer: Pulitzer Prize - Which prize is given for mathematics to those under 40?
Answer: Fields Medal
How to Practise This Chapter
Learn five awards a day with the field and the first winner, and then read the latest winners from the monthly current affairs. Solve questions from our practice papers, the free SSC quizzes and the previous year papers page. Read the notes on the Padma Awards 2026 and Bharat Ratna and the Nobel Prize 2025 Winners, and the next chapter, Sports Awards, Trophies and Cups. See all topics on the Current Affairs notes page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest civilian award of India?
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India. It started in 1954.
What is the highest gallantry award of India?
The Param Vir Chakra is the highest gallantry award in war, and the Ashoka Chakra is the highest in peacetime.
Who was the first winner of the Param Vir Chakra?
Major Somnath Sharma was the first winner of the Param Vir Chakra.
What is the Jnanpith Award?
The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary award of India, given by the Bharatiya Jnanpith since 1965.
What is the Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
It is the highest award of Indian cinema for lifetime contribution, started in 1969. Devika Rani was the first winner.
What is the Magsaysay Award?
It is an award for public service in Asia, given in the Philippines, and is called the Nobel Prize of Asia.
What is the Booker Prize?
The Booker Prize is a literary award for the best fiction in English, given in the United Kingdom.
What is the Pulitzer Prize?
The Pulitzer Prize is an American award for journalism, literature and music.
What is the Fields Medal?
The Fields Medal is the highest award in mathematics, given every four years to mathematicians under 40.
How can I remember awards easily?
Learn them in groups by field, with the first winner and the country, and revise them with a quiz every week.
Are the latest winners asked in SSC exams?
Yes. The winners of the last one year are asked, so read the monthly current affairs for the latest list.
How many questions come from awards in SSC exams?
Usually one or two questions come from awards and honours in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.
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Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.