Nobel Peace Prize 2015

The Nobel Peace Prize 2015 was awarded to National Dialogue Quartet "for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011".

Here are the details:

* The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 is to be awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 when the democratization process was in danger of collapsing as a result of political assassinations and widespread social unrest. It established an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war. It was thus instrumental in enabling Tunisia, in the space of a few years, to establish a constitutional system of government guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief.

* The National Dialogue Quartet has comprised four key organizations in Tunisian civil society: the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail), the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA, Union Tunisienne de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Artisanat), the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme), and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers (Ordre National des Avocats de Tunisie).
Also Check Nobel Prize winners of previous year from here.

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Nobel Prize in Physics 2015

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2015 to

Takaaki Kajita

Super-Kamiokande Collaboration

University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan

and

Arthur B. McDonald

Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Collaboration

Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada

“for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass”

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* The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the two researchers had made key contributions to experiments showing that neutrinos change identities.

* Neutrinos are particles that whiz through the universe at nearly the speed of light. They are created in nuclear reactions, such as in the sun and the stars, or in nuclear power plants.

* The winners will split the 8 million Swedish kronor (about $960,000) prize money. Each winner also gets a diploma and a gold medal at the prize ceremony on Dec. 10.

Also Check Nobel Prize winners of previous year from here.

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Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award

the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

with one half jointly to

William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura

for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites

and the other half to

Youyou Tu

for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria.  

Here are the details:

* The Nobel judges in Stockholm awarded the prestigious prize to Irish-born William Campbell, Satoshi Omura and of Japan and Tu Youyou, the first ever Chinese medicine laureate.

* Campbell and Omura were cited for discovering a drug that has helped lower the incidence of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, two diseases caused by parasitic worms.

* Tu discovered a drug that has helped significantly reduce the mortality rates of malaria patients.

* Campbell is a research fellow emeritus at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Omura, 80, is a professor emeritus at Kitasato University in Japan and is from the central prefecture of Yamanashi. Tu is chief professor at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

* The winners will share the 8 million Swedish kronor (about $960,000) prize money with one half going to Campbell and Omura, and the other to Tu. Each winner will also get a diploma and a gold medal at the annual award ceremony on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of prize founder Alfred Nobel.

* Last year's medicine award went to three scientists who discovered the brain's inner navigation system.

Also Check Nobel Prize winners of previous year from here.

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Arjuna Award Winners List 2015 with discipline - PDF Download

Friends..On the eve of the 69th Independenence on 15th August 2015, Union Government has announced the winners of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards 2015. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2015 was awarded to Sania Mirza. Arjuna Award winners and their discipline will be surely an expected questions for all upcoming exams. Here are the details of Arjuna Award 2015.

* Arjuna Awards are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. Instituted in 1961, the award carries a cash prize of Rs.500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll.

* Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years preceding the year of award.   

* A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by the Selection Committee headed by Mr. Justice V.K. Bali, former Chief Justice of Kerla High Court and consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators.

* Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer Arjuna Awards for  2015 upon the following sportspersons:

1. Naib Subedar Sandeep Kumar - Archery

2. Ms. M.R. Poovamma - Athletics

3. Mr. Kidambi Srikanth Nammalwar - Badminton

4. Mr. Mandeep Jangra - Boxing

5. Mr. Rohit Sharma - Cricket

6. Ms. Dipa Karmakar - Gymnastic

7. Mr. Sreejesh P.R. - Hockey

8. Mr. Manjeet Chhillar - Kabaddi

9. Ms. Abhilasha Shashikant Mhatre - Kabaddi

10. Mr. Sawarn Singh - Rowing

11. Mr. Anup Kumar Yama - Roller Skating

12. Mr. Jitu Rai - Shooting

13. Shri S. Sathish Kumar - Weightlifting

14. Mr. Bajrang - Wrestling

15. Ms. Babita Kumari - Wrestling

16. Ms. Yumnam Sanathoi Devi - Wushu

17. Mr. Sharath M. Gayakwad - Para-Swimming

* The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2015.

* Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of Rs.5 lakh each.

Download Arjuna Awardees List 2015 PDF

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Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2015 awarded to Sania Mirza

* Sania Mirza's name was officially approved for the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, becoming only the second tennis player to be nominated for the highest sporting honour.

* Sania Mirza, who has won three mixed doubles Grand Slams in her career, beat competition from squash player Deepika Pallikal, discus thrower Vikas Gowda, track and field star Tintu Luka, rising shuttler P V Sindhu, and hockey captain Sardar Singh for the coveted honour. 

* “It’s a tremendous honour for me to be conferred the Khel Ratna award and I feel humbled with the love and respect showered on me by my country,” Sania told press.

* “Representing my country in all corners of the world has been my great privilege for so many years and this recognition of my efforts by the government of India is certain to inspire me to earn more laurels for our country. I would like to wish all my fellow Indians a happy independence day,” she said.

* Sania, currently ranked world number one in women’s doubles, scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a women’s doubles Grand Slam title when she and Martina Hingis clinched the Wimbledon trophy earlier this year.

* Sania is only the second tennis player after Leander Paes to be named for the top award.

* Paes had been bestowed the honour way back in 1996 after his bronze  medal in the Atlanta Olympics.

* The awards will be conferred by the President Pranab Mukherjee on August 29, the National Sports Day.

* The Khel Ratna carries a prize money of Rs. 7.5 lakh along with a citation.

* Sania had won the Arjuna award in 2004 and was the favourite for the top award this year. In 2006, she was bestowed the Padma Shri — the country’s fourth highest civilian honour.

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Novak Djokovic won Wimbledon title 2015

* Defending champion Novak Djokovic won a third Wimbledon title and a ninth Grand Slam crown on 12 July 2015.

* World number one Djokovic won 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (10/12), 6-4, 6-3 the title defeating world number two Roger Federer. 

* For 33-year-old Federer, it was a bitterly disappointing end to his bid to become the oldest Wimbledon champion of the Open Era.

* The 17-time major winner has now gone three years since his last Grand Slam triumph.

Also check Serena Williams won Wimbledon Crown 2015

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Serena Williams won Wimbledon Crown 2015

* Serena Williams made Wimbledon history as the world number one became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the final played on 11 July 2015.

* At 33 years and 289 days, Serena surpasses Martina Navratilova as the oldest player to win Wimbledon, and any of the other three Grand Slams, in the Open era.

* Serena's sixth Wimbledon crown brought with it a slew of other remarkable landmarks that underline her credentials as one of the greatest female athletes of all time. 

* The American's 21st Grand Slam crown and 68th tour-level title earned her a cheque for £1.8 million ($2.7 million, 2.5 million euros)

* She now holds all four Grand Slam titles at the same time a rare record she earlier held during 2002-03.

* Serena is the first woman to land the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back since she last won that difficult double in 2002.

* It now leaves Serena needing only to defend the US Open to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to claim a calendar Grand Slam.

* She is just one major title behind Graf on the Open era leaderboard and within three of all-time record holder Margaret Court's tally of 24.

* She is the first player since Graf in 1988 to win Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens in the same year.

* Regardless of her defeat, Muguruza, 21, has emerged as one of the brightest young stars on the Wimbledon 2015 after a bravura display in her first Grand Slam final appearance.  

Check out Study Materials for upcoming Exams
Also check Novak Djokovic won Wimbledon title 2015

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Oscars 2015: Complete List of Winners PDF Download

Friends.. Honoring the best cinematic talent from Hollywood, the 87th Academy Awards or the Oscars have finally wrapped up. Presented in 24 different categories, the winners for the most coveted film awards have been announced, putting an end to the suspense. While The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman faced a tie bagging four awards each, Whiplash managed to pick three trophies. Eddie Redmayne for The Theory of Everything and Julianne Moore for Still Alice have been named Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role. Here are the complete list of winners. You can download this as PDF from below link. 

Download as PDF: Click Here

Best Picture: Birdman

Actress in a Leading Role: Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Actor in a Leading Role: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Directing: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman

Actress in a Supporting Role: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Actor in a Supporting Role: JK Simmons, Whiplash

Foreign Language Film: Ida

Writing - Adapted Screenplay: Graham Moore, The Imitation Game

Writing - Original Screenplay: Alejandro G Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr & Armando Bo, Birdman

Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman

Music - Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Makeup and Hairstyling: Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Costume Design: Milena Canonero, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Music - Original Song: John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for 'Glory' from Selma

Visual Effects: Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher, Interstellar

Documentary Short Subject: Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry, Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Documentary Feature: Citizen Four

Film Editing: Tom Cross, Whiplash

Sound Editing: Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman, American Sniper

Sound Mixing: Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley, Whiplash

Production Design: Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration), The Grand Budapest Hotel

Short Film - Live Action: The Phone Call

Short Film - Animated: Feast

Animated Feature Film: Big Hero 6l. 

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Serena Williams won Australian Open 2015

* Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova to win her sixth Australian Open title on January 31,2015.

* Williams, 33, moves past Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert with a 19th major singles title.

* Williams's sixth title at Melbourne Park moved her into a tie with fellow American Helen Wills Moody in third on the all-time list after she joined Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert on 18 at last year's U.S. Open.

* Only Australia's Margaret Court (24) and Germany's Steffi Graf (22), who holds the record for the Open era, have more grand slam singles titles than the 33-year-old American.

* Williams had not lost to Sharapova since the 2004 WTA Finals, a run of 15 successive victories and was not about to let the Russian end that streak in this final.

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Paulina Vega is Miss Universe 2014

* Colombia’s Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe on 26 January 2015, beating out contenders from the United States, Ukraine, Jamaica and The Netherlands at the world’s top beauty pageant in Florida.

* The 22-year-old model and business student triumphed over 87 other women from around the world, and is only the second beauty queen from Colombia to take home the prize.

* Miss USA Nia Sanchez and Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha were the runners-up

* The last time Colombia won the crown was in 1956 when Luz Marina Zuluaga took home the title.

* The 63rd edition of the Miss Universe pageant was held at Florida International University in the city of Doral, USA.

* The event is actually the 2014 Miss Universe pageant. The competition was pushed back until now to try to get a bigger television audience.

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Complete List of Padma Award 2015 Winners - PDF Download

Central Government on 25 January 2015 on the occasion of 66th Republic Day has announced the Padma Awardees for 2015. 

Complete List of Padma Award Winners 2016 - PDFDownload

* Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

* These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards to 104 persons as per the list below. The list comprises of 9 Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees.  17 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 17 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and 4 Posthumous awardees.

Here is the list of Padma Vibhushan Award Winners 2015. The complete list of Padma Awards 2015 (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri) can be viewed/downloaded from the PDF link below.

Download as PDF- Click Here or Link 2

Padma Vibhushan
S. No.	Name of the Awardee	Discipline	State/Domicile
1.	Shri L. K. Advani	Public Affairs	Gujarat
2.	Shri Amitabh Bachchan	Art	Maharashtra
3.	Shri Prakash Singh Badal	Public Affairs	Punjab
4.	Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade	Social Work	Karnataka
5.	Shri Mohammad Yusuf Khan alias Dilip Kumar	Art	Maharashtra
6.	Shri Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya	Others	Uttar Pradesh
7.	Prof. Malur Ramaswamy Srinivasan	Science and Engineering	Tamil Nadu
8.	Shri Kottayan K. Venugopal	Public Affairs	Delhi
9.	Shri Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan (Foreigner)	Trade and Industry	France/UK

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Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya

* Union government on 24 December 2014 announced the prestigious Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously).

* The announcement was made on the eve of Mr. Vajpayee's 90th birthday and the 153rd birth anniversary of Pandit Malviya.

* The BJP has been demanding Bharat Ratna for Mr. Vajpayee for a long time; and BJP patriarch L.K. Advani has been at the forefront of seeking the highest civilian honour for the former Prime Minister.

* A Bharat Ratna for Madan Mohan Malaviya, freedom fighter and educationist popularly known as 'Mahamana', was one of the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaigns.

* 43 people have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna since its inception, including scientist CV Raman, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, singer Lata Mangeshkar and politicians C Rajagopalachari.

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