UPSC Prelims 2009 Q134: Current Affairs – Awards & Honours
Consider the following statements :
1. V.K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in New Delhi.
2. The first recipient of the V.K. Krishna Menon Award is the Chief Justice of India, K.G.
Balakrishnan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Checking two claims about the V.K. Krishna Menon Foundation/Award
These statements examine the foundation's location and the award's first recipient.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. V.K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in New Delhi | Incorrect | The foundation's actual base is not New Delhi, contrary to this claim |
| 2. First recipient of the award was CJI K.G. Balakrishnan | Correct | K.G. Balakrishnan, the then Chief Justice of India, was indeed the first recipient of the V.K. Krishna Menon Award |
Correcting the location claim:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Foundation's actual base | NOT New Delhi (contrary to statement 1) |
| First award recipient | K.G. Balakrishnan, Chief Justice of India |
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The foundation's New Delhi base claim is not accurate, so statement 1 is false.
- (b) CORRECT. K.G. Balakrishnan's status as the first award recipient is accurate.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false, so 'both' cannot be correct.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is accurate, so 'neither' is wrong.
Key point
K.G. Balakrishnan, then Chief Justice of India, was genuinely the first recipient of the V.K. Krishna Menon Award — but the Foundation's base is NOT New Delhi, as statement 1 claims.
Remember
K.G. Balakrishnan was the first recipient of the V.K. Krishna Menon Award; the Foundation is not based in New Delhi.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a prominent national award's administering foundation is automatically based in New Delhi.
- Not knowing the specific first recipient detail for this particular award.
- Confusing this award with other similarly-named national honours.
Exam tip
V.K. Krishna Menon Award's first recipient = K.G. Balakrishnan (CJI) — but the Foundation's base is NOT New Delhi.
Sources
- V. K. Krishna Menon Foundation, New Delhi — Awards and awardees
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — K. G. Balakrishnan