Awards / Gandhi Peace Prize — UPSC Mains Model Answer

The Prize is awarded by the Government of India and is decided by a jury chaired by the Prime Minister of India. Other members include the Chief Justice of India, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and two eminent persons nominated by the Prime Minister. This multi-institutional design ensures cross-partisan legitimacy and judicial credibility in the selection process.

The Prize is open to individuals, institutions, and organisations from any country, reflecting its universal character. It carries a cash award of one crore rupees along with a citation and a plaque. The broad eligibility criterion allows recognition of diverse forms of non-violent social transformation across geographies.

By extending the award to foreign nationals and international organisations, India projects Gandhian values as a universal framework for conflict resolution and development. Past recipients have included international figures and organisations engaged in humanitarian work, reinforcing India's positioning as a civilisational voice for peace in multilateral forums.

Periodic gaps in award conferment and the absence of a publicly documented, rule-bound selection timeline have drawn attention to the need for greater procedural transparency. Institutionalising a fixed annual cycle and publishing selection criteria would strengthen the Prize's credibility and global standing.