Awards & Honors

In 1954, the first three recipients were philosopher Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, statesman C. Rajagopalachari, and scientist Dr. C.V. Raman. Dr. Rajendra Prasad received it later in 1962. [Memory Trick: The first three Nobel/genius minds of 1954 form the triple 'R' club: Radhakrishnan, Rajagopalachari, Raman.]

According to Alfred Nobel's will, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, by a committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, while other prizes are awarded in Stockholm. [Memory Trick: You go to 'Os-lo' (peaceful snowy city) to seek 'Peace' (Nobel Peace Prize).]

'Tomb of Sand' (originally 'Ret Samadhi') was the first book written in an Indian language (Hindi) to win the International Booker Prize, sharing the cash reward equally between the author and translator. [Memory Trick: Geetanjali won 'International' (globe-trotting) laurels for her Hindi sand 'Tomb' (Tomb of Sand).]

Bhanu Athaiya won the Oscar for Best Costume Design for Richard Attenborough's biographical film 'Gandhi' in 1983. [Memory Trick: 'Bhanu' (Sun) shone bright in Hollywood, dressing up Gandhi elegantly.]

Initially restricted to Schedule 8 languages, Jnanpith was later opened to English. Amitav Ghosh became the first English author to win it in 2018. [Memory Trick: 'Jnanpith' is the peak of knowledge ('Jnan'), accepting 22 Indian languages plus 'English' literature.]

Sahitya Akademi recognizes books in 24 languages: the 22 languages of the Eighth Schedule, plus English and Rajasthani. [Memory Trick: 'Double Dozen' ('24') literary prizes are distributed by the National Academy of Letters.]

First introduced in 1969 to honor the Father of Indian Cinema Dadasaheb Phalke, the award is presented at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals. [Memory Trick: National awards and Phalke honors are held by 'Information and Broadcasting' ('I&B') Ministry.]

The Gandhi Peace Prize is an international award open to all persons regardless of nationality, creed, or gender. First awarded to Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. [Memory Trick: Gandhi's message of peace belongs to the 'All' (Universal global family).]

The award was renamed in August 2021 as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, honoring the legendary hockey wizard. [Memory Trick: Hockey magic wizard 'Dhyan' Chand inspires high-focus attention ('Dhyan') in sports.]

The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime military decoration, awarded for conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. Ashok Chakra is the peacetime equivalent. [Memory Trick: 'Param' means 'Ultimate' wartime brave warrior.]

Named after the founding director of CSIR, Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the prize recognizes outstanding young scientists under 45 in seven disciplines. [Memory Trick: 'Bhatnagar' was a genius scientist who built 'S-S-B' lab networks.]

The award was established to perpetuate President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in public service, administered from Manila, Philippines. [Memory Trick: Manila, 'Philippines' honors Ramon 'Magsaysay' for public service integrity.]

The Abel Prize was established in 2001 to honor Niels Henrik Abel, recognizing outstanding work in Mathematics. [Memory Trick: If you are 'Abel' (Able) to solve complex geometry and integration, you win the Abel Prize!]

The Fields Medal is awarded to researchers who have made outstanding contributions, with a strict age limit of under 40 on January 1st of the award year. [Memory Trick: Young geniuses are deployed to mathematical 'Fields' before turning '40'.]

Established in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker, this prize honors a living architect whose built work demonstrates talent, vision, and commitment. [Memory Trick: You need high-standard 'bricks' and structures to win the 'Pritzker' (Pritz-brick) Architecture prize.]

Headquartered in San Francisco, the Goldman Environmental Prize recognizes grassroots environmental activists, famously dubbed the 'Green Nobel'. [Memory Trick: 'Goldman' green forests are precious, therefore = 'Green Nobel'.]

These literary awards were instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation to promote literature and cultural heritage of India. [Memory Trick: 'Birla' (K.K. Birla) built a grand spiritual library for Saraswati and Vyas.]

The first Jnanpith Award was won by Malayalam writer G. Sankara Kurup in 1965 for his poetry collection 'Odakkuzhal' (The Bamboo Flute). [Memory Trick: 'Sankara' (Kurup) played his bamboo flute to win the first Jnanpith knowledge shield.]

The ACM A.M. Turing Award is named after Alan Turing, recognizing technical contributions of lasting importance in computer science. [Memory Trick: 'A-C-M' handles the core 'Computing' algorithms of Turing machines.]

The Ashok Chakra is awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield (peacetime), corresponding to the Param Vir Chakra. [Memory Trick: 'Ashok' (Ashoka's peace wheel) represents the prime counterpart of 'Param' Vir Chakra.]

This award is presented annually by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, carrying a cash prize of 25 lakh Indian Rupees and a trophy. [Memory Trick: Silver jubilee ('25' Lakhs) prize amount for global peace.]

The Tyler Prize was established in 1973 and is administered by the University of Southern California (USC) to recognize environmental science achievements. [Memory Trick: 'Tyler' walks on the sunny shores of 'Southern California' (USC).]

Like the Olympics, the ICM and Fields Medal presentations are organized every four years. [Memory Trick: Olympic 'Fields' are green every 4 years = Fields Medal structure.]

The Booker Prize is for a single novel written in English and published in the UK, while the International Booker Prize is for work translated into English. [Memory Trick: Core 'Booker' is for books originally written in 'English' print.]

The Goldman Environmental Foundation is based in San Francisco, California, hosting dynamic award programs there. [Memory Trick: 'Golden' Gate Bridge is in 'San Francisco' which hosts the Goldman environmental awards.]