Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Awards
Why in News?
The Nobel Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious awards, will be announced from October 6 to October 13.
Nobel Prize is a prestigious prize awarded to those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind, during the preceding year.
Establishment -The Nobel Prize was set up when businessman Alfred Nobel died and left the majority of his fortune to establish Nobel Prizes.
Categories -
Physics,
Chemistry,
Physiology/Medicine,
Literature and
Peace.
In 1968, a 6th category, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, was added by Sweden’s central bank.
Although technically not one of the original prizes, it is commonly referred to as a Nobel Prize.
First awarded on -The first Nobel Prizes were awarded on December 10, 1901, 5 years after Nobel's death.
It was not awarded mostly during World War I and II.
Fund – Alfred Nobel’s left out money to establish nobel prize should be converted into a fund and invested in “safe securities.”
Today the interest earned on that money is used to fund the Nobel Prizes.
As per Alfred Nobel’s wishes, the Nobel Peace Prize is presented in Norway while the other awards are handed out in Sweden.
Criteria -Focus on significant achievements in specific fields, not on personal character, and require a formal nomination by a qualified individual.
A Nobel Prize cannot be awarded posthumously.
No person can nominate herself/himself for a Nobel Prize.
Selection committee - The Nobel Committees of the awarding institutions review these nominations and decide the winners.
Award money - The award winners are also given a sum of money. The award money has increased over the years and currently stands at $1.1 million per prize.
Nobel Prize to women - A total of 57 women has been honored with the award since 1901.
The first was Marie Curie and she won the award twice, the only woman to have won it more than once.
Nobel Prize insignias - At the ceremony for the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Laureates receive 3 things –
