Michelle Bachelet

What is the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted in 1985 in honour of Indira Gandhi, to commemorate her commitment to peace, disarmament, and global welfare. It is officially called the “Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.” The award is given annually (though some years may have joint winners or exceptions) to a person or organization — regardless of nationality, race, or religion — that has made “creative efforts” towards: international peace and disarmament; racial equality and goodwill among nations; economic cooperation; development of nations; use of science/knowledge for greater good; freedom and human dignity. The prize carries a monetary award (the value is currently ₹ 10 million or its equivalent in foreign exchange) along with a citation. Decisions are made by an international jury appointed by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. So the idea is to honour people or institutions whose work reflects the values and vision that Indira Gandhi championed — peace, human welfare, development, equality, and humanity’s collective good.

Who was awarded the prize recently (latest recipients)
The 2024 Indira Gandhi Peace Prize was awarded to Michelle Bachelet (full name: Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria), the former President of Chile — in recognition of her long-standing global advocacy for human rights, gender equality, and vulnerable populations. According to the Trust’s website, the 2023 prize was jointly awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad for efforts in promoting non-violent dialogue and mutual understanding between Israelis and Palestinians using music, cultural exchange, and peaceful activism.