• United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has appointed popular singer Nahid Afrin (17) of Assam as the first ‘Youth Advocate’ of the northeastern region to fight for child rights.

• UNICEF engages ‘Youth Advocates’ to harness their voice as agents of change in society. Nahid had made her playback debut in 2016 Bollywood film ‘Akira’ starring Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. She received best female playback singer award at the Assam state Film Award 2018.

• United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is special program of UN devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children. It was created in 1946 to provide relief to children in countries devastated by World War II. It is headquartered in New York.

 

 

 

 

• Delhi-based artist Anupam Roy, whose "large-scale drawings and paintings speak about systemic violence and injustice", has bagged the Emerging Artist Award 2018 granted by the non-profit Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA).

• Given annually in collaboration with Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council), the award seeks to promote young artists who are studying or practising in India, and demonstrate extraordinary skill and promise in the visual arts.

• As part of the award, he would receive a 90-day residency in Switzerland in 2019, supported by Pro Helvetia -- something the jury felt would help develop his practice and in forging further artistic collaborations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Renowned flautist Pandit Keshav Ginde shall be conferred this year`s prestigious Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Lifetime Achievement Award for Classical Music, Maharashtra`s Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde announced .

• The annual award, instituted by Maharashtra, honours maestros in classical music and singing, and carries a cash award of Rs 500,000, a memento and a citation.