Shubhada Varadkar Conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Exam-focused facts from the 16 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Shubhada Varadkar received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from President Droupadi Murmu.
Shubhada Varadkar is an Odissi dancer and a two-time cancer survivor.
She is the first cousin of former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
She is the grand-niece of Savitri Bai Khanolkar, the designer of the Param Vir Chakra.
Her parents, Manohar and Manik Varadkar, were active participants in the Quit India Movement.
She was trained under the legendary Odissi maestro Kelucharan Mohapatra.
She is currently researching the ancient roots of Odissi through 'Odramagadhi'.