Q. Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of ‘Gandhi Peace Prize?

  1. The President of India
  2. The Prime Minister of India
  3. The Chief Justice of India
  4. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  • 2 and 4 only
  • 1, 2 and 3
  • 2, 3 and 4
  • 1 and 3 only

Answer: (c) 2, 3 and 4

Gandhi Peace Prize
  • Gandhi Peace Prize Awards for Social, Economic and Political transformation through Non-violence was instituted in the year 1995, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as a tribute to his ideals and contributions to humanity.
  • Reward:
    • There shall be one Award each year, and the award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and a traditional handicraft or handloom item.
      • The award is conferred by the President of India at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
  • Consideration:
    • This award is given to individuals, associations, institutions or organizations who have worked selflessly for peace, non-violence and amelioration of human sufferings.
      • Personal applications for the Award shall not be considered
    • The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
    • The Award may be divided between two persons / institutions who are considered by the Jury to be equally deserving of recognition in a given year.
      • Work by a person since deceased cannot be the subject of an Award. If, however, his death occurred subsequent to a proposal having been submitted to the Jury (headed by the Prime Minister) in the manner stipulated in the Code of Procedure, then a Posthumous Award may be made.
  • Period of Award:
    • The Award shall be made annually starting with the year 1995 and every year thereafter.
    • If, however, it is considered that none of the proposals that have been made merit recognition, the Jury will be free to withhold the Award for that year.
    • Only recent work achieved within ten years immediately preceding the nomination shall be considered for the Award.
      • The preceding section notwithstanding, older work may be considered if its significance has not become apparent until recently.
  • Competence to make Proposals:
    • Competence to make proposals for the Award shall be enjoyed by;
      • (a) Former members of the Jury;
      • (b) Persons who have received the Award;
      • (c) Members of Parliament of India;
      • (d) Nobel Laureates for the last five years;
      • (e) The Secretary-General of the United Nations and other leaders in international organisations or institutions whose objectives are promotion of peace, non- violence and emancipation of less privileged sections of society, tolerance, social harmony and social justice;
      • (f) Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of the Universities;
      • (g) Heads of Indian Missions abroad for bringing it to the notice of and for consulting major relevant institutions and experts of the country concerned;
      • (h) Heads of Institutions relating to studies and research in non-violence and Gandhian principles;
      • (i) Presiding Officers of Lok Sabha / State Assemblies/Councils;
      • (j) Governors/ Chief Ministers of the States/ UTs Administration;
      • (k) Secretary-General, Commonwealth;
      • (I) Commonwealth Parliamentary Union;
      • (m) Inter-Parliamentary Union; and
      • (n) Any other person whom the Jury may wish to invite to make proposals for the Award.
  • Selection (Jury):
    • The requisite scrutiny and final selection for the Award shall be made by a Jury to be appointed by the Government of India for this purpose.
    • The Jury shall comprise five members, i.e.
      • the Prime Minister of India, who would chair the Jury;
      • the Chief Justice of India;
      • the Leader of Opposition recognized as such in the Lok Sabha or where there is no such Leader of Opposition then, the Leader of the single largest opposition party in that House;
      • and two other eminent persons.
    • Members of the Jury shall be appointed for a period of three years. After three years those chosen, other than the three permanent ex-officio members, shall retire. The retiring persons shall, however, be eligible for reappointment.
    • If a member of the Jury retires or dies before the expiry of his term in office, another shall be appointed in his place for the unexpired part of that term.
    • The Prime Minister of India shall be the Chairman of the Jury. If for some reason it is not possible for him to be present in a meeting, the members present in the meeting may elect one member amongst them to preside over the meeting.
    • The Jury shall not be competent to take a final decision unless at least three of its members are present.
    • The decision of the Jury shall be by consensus.
    • The discussions, deliberations, opinions and proceedings of the Jury in connection with the Award shall not be made public or otherwise revealed.
    • The Jury shall announce its decision, as far as possible, on birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi which is 2nd October.
    • Decisions of the Jury shall not be subject to confirmation by any other authority and no appeal or protest can be made against them.
  • Payment of Award: The Ministry of Culture will make payment of the amount of the Award at the time and place requested by the Awardee.
    • Non-acceptance of Award: Should an awardee decline an Award, then the amount will immediately revert to the Government of India. But if an awardee accepts the Award yet fails to draw the amount within the period of 36 months, then the amount shall revert to the Government of India.
  • In the event of death of an Awardee without receiving the Award, his next of kin shall be entitled for receiving the Award.