Explanation:

• The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been awarded with the ‘WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award’ for his accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
• Dr Vardhan was awarded on May 31, 2021, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day.
• His leadership was instrumental in the 2019 national legislation to ban E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
• Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards.

WHO Director-General Special award

• Tobacco Control Research Group, University of Bath, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Republic of India.