Scindia Confers Bhupen Hazarika Awards Celebrating Northeast Icons

Current Context: On 4 November 2025, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia conferred the Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Awards in Guwahati, Assam.

• The awards, instituted by Sarhad Pune in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), honoured six eminent personalities from the Northeast.
• Awardees included Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi (writer, Arunachal Pradesh), Laishram Mema (scholar, Manipur), Rajni Basumatary (filmmaker, Assam), L. R. Sailo (journalist, Mizoram), and Dr. Surjya Kanta Hazarika (author, Assam), among others.
• The ceremony coincided with the centenary celebrations of Bhupen Hazarika (1926–2011), legendary musician and cultural icon.
• Scindia highlighted the role of youth and women in shaping the nation, echoing Bhupen Hazarika’s vision of inclusivity.
• The awards celebrate literature, music, cinema, and cultural preservation, strengthening the identity of the Northeast.

Question:

Q.1 The Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Awards honour contributions in which field?
a) Science and Technology
b) Sports and Infrastructure
c) Literature, music, cinema, and cultural preservation
d) Agriculture and Rural Development

Answer: c) The awards celebrate literature, music, cinema, and cultural preservation, strengthening the identity of the Northeast.