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UPSC Notes-Nobel Prize

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August 2, 2024

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Introduction

1. Overview:
   • The Nobel Prizes are prestigious international awards given annually in several categories to individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements.
   • Established by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor, engineer, and philanthropist, who left his fortune for the establishment of these prizes.
2. History:
   • Alfred Nobel: Born in 1833, Nobel is best known for inventing dynamite. In his will, he stipulated that his fortune be used to create the Nobel Prizes.
   • First Awards: The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, five years after Nobel’s death.

Categories of Nobel Prizes

1. Nobel Prize in Physics:
   • Awarded for significant contributions to the field of physics.
   • Notable winners include Albert Einstein (1921) for his explanation of the photoelectric effect and Marie Curie (1903) for her work on radioactivity.
2. Nobel Prize in Chemistry:
   • Given for exceptional achievements in the field of chemistry.
   • Past laureates include Linus Pauling (1954) for his research on the nature of the chemical bond and Frances H. Arnold (2018) for her work on enzyme evolution.
3. Nobel Prize in Medicine (Physiology or Medicine):
   • Awarded for groundbreaking discoveries in the field of medical science.
   • Examples include Alexander Fleming (1945) for the discovery of penicillin and Francis Crick and James Watson (1962) for the structure of DNA.
4. Nobel Prize in Literature:
   • Recognizes authors, poets, and playwrights for outstanding literary work.
   • Recipients include Gabriel García Márquez (1982) for his novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and Toni Morrison (1993) for her novel “Beloved.”
5. Nobel Peace Prize:
   • Awarded to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to peace efforts.
   • Past laureates include Martin Luther King Jr. (1964) for his civil rights activism and the International Committee of the Red Cross (three-time laureate) for its humanitarian work.
6. Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences:
   • Established in 1968 by the Sveriges Riksbank (Swedish National Bank) in memory of Alfred Nobel.
   • Awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of economics.
   • Notable winners include Amartya Sen (1998) for his work on welfare economics and behavioral economics and Esther Duflo (2019) for her experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.

Selection Process

1. Nominations:
   • Nominations are submitted by qualified individuals and organizations. The Nobel Committees invite nominations from a select group of experts, including previous laureates, academicians, and members of various learned societies.
2. Evaluation:
   • Nominations are reviewed by committees of experts in each field. The committees assess the significance and impact of the contributions made by nominees.
3. Decision:
   • The Nobel Prizes are awarded by different committees for each category:
     • The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Economic Sciences).
     • The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute (Medicine).
     • The Swedish Academy (Literature).
     • The Norwegian Nobel Committee (Peace Prize).
4. Announcement and Award Ceremony:
   • Prize winners are announced in October each year.
   • The awards are presented on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, in a ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden (except the Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo, Norway).

Notable Facts and Controversies

1. Controversies:
   • Peace Prize: Occasionally, the Nobel Peace Prize has been controversial, with debates over the eligibility and impact of some laureates (e.g., Henry Kissinger, Aung San Suu Kyi).
   • Exclusions: Some notable figures and achievements have been excluded from receiving the prize, leading to discussions about the criteria and selection process.
2. Political Influence:
   • The Nobel Prizes are sometimes seen as being influenced by political considerations or prevailing international sentiments, particularly in the Peace Prize category.
3. Gender and Diversity:
   • There has been criticism regarding the lack of diversity among laureates, with calls for greater recognition of women and non-Western scholars.

Indian Nobel Laureates

1. Rabindranath Tagore (1913):
   • Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work “Gitanjali,” making him the first non-European to win the prize.
2. C.V. Raman (1930):
   • Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman Effect, which deals with the scattering of light.
3. Har Gobind Khorana (1968):
   • Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis.
4. Mother Teresa (1979):
   • Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work and dedication to the care of the poor and sick.
5. Amartya Sen (1998):
   • Awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social justice.
6. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (2009):
   • Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the structure and function of ribosomes.