Why in news?
The Ministry of Culture invites nominations for awarding Gandhi Peace Prize and for the year 2020, last date for receiving the nominations been extended.
Gandhi Peace Prize
- The International Gandhi Peace Prize, named after Mahatma Gandhi, is awarded annually by the Government of India.
- Government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
- This award is given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods.
The jury that decides the awardee each year consists of:
- The Prime Minister of India,
- The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha,
- The Chief Justice of India,
- Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- One other eminent person.
- If it is considered that none of the proposals merit recognition, the jury is free to withhold the award for that year; the award was withheld in the years from 2006 to 2012 inclusive.
- Julius K Nyerere, former Tanzanian President, was the first recipient of the award in 1995.
Gandhi Peace Prize Winners to know about
| Year | Recipient | Decription |
| 1998 | Ramakrishna Mission | Founded by Swami Vivekananda for promoting social welfare, tolerance, and non-violence among disadvantaged groups. |
| 1999 | Baba Amte | Social worker, known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering from leprosy. |
| 2000 | Nelson Mandela | South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. |
| 2001 | John Hume | Northern Irish Politician and major figure in the Northern Ireland peace process. |
| 2005 | Desmond Tutu | South African cleric and social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. |
| 2014 | ISRO | Space agency of the Indian Govt. Objective is to advance space technology and deliver the applications of it. |
| 2016 | Sulabh International | A social service organization that works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms through education. |
| 2016 | Akshaya Patra Foundation | A non-profit organisation in India that runs school lunch programme across India. |
| 2017 | Ekal Abhiyan Trust | Contribution in providing Education for Rural and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, Rural Empowerment, Gender and Social Equality. |
| 2018 | Yōhei Sasakawa | Contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world. |
