About Nobel Peace Prize: Nihon Hidankyo: UPSC Current Affairs

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Context:

A Japanese organization "Nihon Hidankyo" won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

Details

The Nobel Peace Prize 2024 awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. These survivors, known as Hibakusha, have dedicated their lives to sharing their experiences to promote peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Note: Similar efforts have been honoured in the past, including the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for promoting a treaty-based ban on nuclear weapons.

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings

In 1945, during the final days of World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs: "Little Boy" on Hiroshima on August 6 and "Fat Man" on Nagasaki on August 9. These bombings instantly killed thousands of people, and many more died in the weeks, months, and years that followed due to radiation exposure.

About The Nobel Peace Prize

The prize was created by Alfred Nobel’s will, which specified that it should be rewarded to those who have "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901 to Frédéric Passy and Henry Dunant.
The prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member committee appointed by the Parliament of Norway. Candidates are nominated by qualified individuals and organizations, and the committee reviews these nominations to select the laureates.
The award ceremony takes place annually on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, in Oslo, Norway. Laureates receive a medal, a diploma, and a monetary award.

List of 2024 Nobel Laureates
Han Kang	Literature
Nihon Hidankyo	Peace Prize
Geoffrey Hinton	Physics
John Hopfield	Physics
Demis Hassabis	Chemistry
David Baker	Chemistry
John Jumper	Chemistry
Victor Ambros	Physiology or Medicine
Gary Ruvkun	Physiology or Medicine

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Source:

Indian Express

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the Nobel Peace Prize:

1. The Nobel Peace Prize can be awarded to individuals and organizations.

2. The Nobel Prize can only be awarded to living recipients.

3. All Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.

How many of the above statements are incorrect?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) All three

D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct:

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to both individuals and organizations. For example, the International Committee of the Red Cross has received the prize multiple times.

Statement 2 is incorrect:

While the Nobel Prizes are generally awarded to living recipients, there have been exceptions. If a laureate dies between the announcement and the award ceremony, the prize is presented posthumously. For example, Ralph Steinman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011 after his death.

Statement 3 is incorrect:

While most Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway.