Awards Honours and Prizes

Awards Honours and Prizes

Nobel Prize :

• It is the most coveted international award of the world.


• It was instituted by the inventor of dynamite, Alfred Bernard Nobel (1833-96).


• The award is giver on December 10, which is the death anniversary of its founder.


• Nobel made a trust from the money that he earned through the patent of his invention whose interest is used to give the money for the Nobel Prizes.


• Nobel Prize is given every year to those eminent persons who have made pioneering achievements in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Peace, Literature and Economics.

• Apart from Economics, all other categories have been given since 1901. Economics Nobel Prize was instituted in 1967 and was first given in 1969.

Twice Recepients of Nobel Prize :

The international Committee of the Red Cross has been awarded the Nobel Prize for peace three times: In 1917, 1944 and 1963.

Adjudicators :

Indian Nobel Prize Winners :

Other Awards and Prizes

Pulitzer Prize :

• It was instituted in 1970 and named after the US Publisher Joseph Pulitzer.


• It is conferred annually in the USA for accomplishments in journalism, literature and music.

Magsaysay Awards :

• They were instituted in 1957 and named after Ramon Magsaysay, the late President of Philippines, who died in an air crash.


• This award is given annually on August 31, for outstanding contributions to public service, community leadership, journalism, literature and creative arts and international understanding.


• They are often regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia.

Booker Prize :

• It is the highest literary award given to the authors of British, Irish and Commonwealth countries.


• It was instituted in 1968 by the Booker Company and the British Publishers Association along the lines of Pulitzer Prize of US.


• Booker Prize has been renamed as Man Booker Prize, as the sponsorship has been taken over by the Man Group, an international stockbroker.

Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding :

• It was instituted in 1965 by the Government of India.


• It is given annually to persons for outstanding contributions to the promotion of international understanding and goodwill among the people of the world.

Oscar Awards :

• These awards were instituted in 1929 and conferred annually by the Academy of Motion Pictures in USA.


• These are considered the most prestigious awards in the cinema world.


• The first Indian to get an Oscar was Bhanu Athaiya for the movie 'Gandhi'.


• Satyajit Ray was the first Indian who was awarded Oscar for lifetime achievements in cinema in 1992.

Right Livelihood Award :

• It was instituted in 1980 by the Right Livelihood Society, London.


• It is renowned as alternate Nobel Award to promote and contribute in the fields of environment and social justice.

Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize :

• It was instituted in 1995 by the Government of India.


• It is presented for international peace on the lines of Nobel Prize.

UNESCO Peace Prize :

• It is presented by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for extraordinary contributions for international peace.

UNESCO Human Rights Award :

• It is also presented by UNESCO for contributions in the field of Human Rights Awareness.


• It is given every alternate year.

UN Human Rights Award :

• It is presented by United Nations (UN) for personal contribution for the cause of human rights.


• It is presented every sixth year.

World Food Prize :

• It is presented by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), one of the branches of UNO, for the cause of agriculture and food development.

Olympic Gold Order :

• It is presented by the International Olympic Committee for distinguished services in the development of the Olympic Movement.

Indira Gandhi Award For International Peace, Disarmament and Development :

• It is presented by Indira Gandhi Memorial Fund for specialized contribution in the field of international disarmament and development.

Bharat Ratna :

• It is the highest civilian award of India. It is presented by the Government of India.


• It is presented for exceptional public service and rarest achievements in the field of art, literature and science.


• It was instituted in 1954 and the first recipient was Dr. Radhakrishnan.


• Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award for distinguished services in any field including Government service.


• Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree are the other important civilian awards.

Bhartiya Jnanpeeth Awards :

• It was instituted in 1965 and is given for distinguished works in any recognized language by a scholar.

Sahitya Akademy Awards :

• It was instituted in 1955 and is given for any exclusive writing in any of the 22 languages including English literature during last 5 years.

Murtidevi Award :

• It was constituted in 1948 and is given in any Indian language or in English literature, for distinguished contribution to Indian values.

Saraswati Samman :

• It was instituted in 1991 by the K.K. Birla Foundation and is given for any distinguished literary work made during last 10 years in any of the Indian language.

Tansen Awards :

• These awards are given by the Government of M.P. for the outstanding contribution in the field of music.

Vyas Samman :

• It was instituted in 1992 by the K.K. Birla Foundation for outstanding contribution to Hindi literature.

Tansen Awards :

• These awards are given by the Government of M.P. for the outstanding contribution in the field of music.

Iqbal Samman :

• These awards are given by the Government of M.P. for the outstanding contribution in the field of literature.

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards :

• These awards are given to the Indian scientists for their exceptional performance.

R.D. Birla Award :

• These awards are given in the field of medical sciences.

Dhanvantri Award :

• These awards are given for the extra ordinary performance in medical sciences.

Arjuna Awards :

• These were instituted in 1961 and given by Sports Ministry, Government of India.


• These are given for the special achievements in different types of sports.

Dronacharya Awards :

• These were instituted in 1985 and given by Sports Ministry, Government of India.


• These are given to sports coaches.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna :

• It was instituted in 1962 and is presented for commendable display by the players.

Gallantry Awards :

• Param Vir Chakra : It is India's highest award for bravery.


• Mahavir Chakra : It is the second highest gallantry award.


• Vir Chakra : It is the third highest gallantry award.


• Ashok Chakra : It is the highest peace-time gallantry award.