Who among the following was awarded Padma Vibhushan – 2023 in the field of Science and Engineering?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, Shri Srinivasa Varadhan. S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan, the India-born mathematician based at New York University's Courant Institute (celebrated for his work on the theory of large deviations in probability, for which he won the 2007 Abel Prize), was awarded the Padma Vibhushan 2023 in the field of Science and Engineering.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) A former Karnataka Chief Minister and Union External Affairs Minister; he too received the Padma Vibhushan 2023, but in the field of Public Affairs, not Science and Engineering.  (b) The physician who pioneered the mass use of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) against cholera; he received the Padma Vibhushan 2023 (posthumously), but in the field of Medicine, not Science and Engineering.  (d) Known as the 'father of fibre optics', he was awarded a Padma Vibhushan in Science and Engineering, but in 2021 (posthumously), not 2023.

Concept: The Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian award, given for exceptional and distinguished service in a specified field. Each year's list groups recipients under a labelled field (Public Affairs, Medicine, Science & Engineering, Art, etc.) — exam-setters exploit this by naming real recipients from the SAME year but a DIFFERENT field as distractors.

State PCS 2023 Q34 — Current Affairs & Sports PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q34 — Current Affairs & Sports PYQ with Answer