History of Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious international awards, established through the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor, engineer, chemist, and philanthropist. Alfred Nobel is best known for inventing dynamite, but he was also deeply concerned about how his invention could be used for destruction. In his last will, written in 1895, he dedicated most of his fortune to creating a series of prizes for those who had “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, in five fields that Alfred Nobel personally chose - Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. Each category reflected a core human value: scientific progress, intellectual creativity, and the pursuit of peace. Later, in 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s Central Bank) created an additional prize namely; the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in the honour of Nobel's legacy.
Each prize is awarded by an independent institution based in Sweden or Norway. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences presents the awards for Physics, Chemistry, and Economic Sciences; the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute handles the prize in Medicine or Physiology; the Swedish Academy selects the Literature laureate; and the Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize.
Significance of the Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize symbolizes the highest recognition for contributions that benefit humanity. It promotes innovation, peace, and knowledge across science, literature, and global harmony. By honouring excellence and moral courage, it inspires future generations to work for a better world, making it not just an award but a lasting symbol of human progress and unity.
Each Nobel Prize Laureate Receives
- Gold Medal: Symbolizes the Nobel honour and features Alfred Nobel’s portrait.
- Diploma (Certificate): A beautifully designed document stating the laureate’s name and achievement.
- Cash Prize: The monetary award decided by the Nobel Foundation each year (amount varies: in 2023, it was 11 million Swedish kronor, approximately 1.2 million USD).
Event Details
- Date of Award: Presented annually on 10th December, the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel.
- Place of Award Ceremony (Sweden): Held in Stockholm Sweden, where the prizes for Physics, Chemistry, Medicine (Physiology), Literature, and Economic Sciences are presented.
- Place of Award Ceremony (Norway): The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded separately in Oslo Norway, highlighting Nobel’s wish for peace and international harmony.
How the Nobel Laureates Are Chosen
- Invitations for Nominations: Sent to qualified experts, academicians, and past laureates (self-nominations are not accepted).
- Submission of Nominations: Candidates are officially nominated by the invited individuals or institutions.
- Evaluation Process: Expert committees review the achievements and global impact in respective fields of each nominee.
- Final Decision: The respective Nobel Prize awarding institutions vote and select the laureates.
- Announcement & Award: Winners are announced in October, and prizes are presented on 10th December each year.
Nobel Prize 2025 Categories
Originally, the Nobel Prize was awarded in five categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace, which were personally chosen by Alfred Nobel. In 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s Central Bank) introduced an additional award known as the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in honour of Nobel’s legacy. Each category holds a distinct purpose, recognising remarkable achievements that advance human knowledge, promote peace, and improve the quality of life. The prizes are presented by prestigious institutions in Sweden and Norway, upholding the highest standards of research, creativity, and humanitarian excellence.
Table: Nobel Prize 2025 all Category List
| Category | Awarded By | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | To honour discoveries or inventions that advance understanding of the laws of nature and the physical world. |
| Chemistry | The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | To recognise outstanding achievements in chemical research and discoveries that benefit humanity and improve the human life. |
| Physiology or Medicine | The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet | To reward discoveries that improve understanding of human or animal life processes and medical advancements. |
| Literature | The Swedish Academy | To celebrate exceptional writing that demonstrates creativity, human insight, and artistic excellence. |
| Peace | The Norwegian Nobel Committee (Oslo) | To honour individuals or organisations promoting peace, human rights, and international cooperation. |
| Economic Sciences (Added in 1968) |
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Sveriges Riksbank) | To recognise contributions to economics that enhance understanding of growth, development, and policy. |
Nobel Prize Winners List 2025
The 2025 Nobel Prizes were announced from 6th to 13th October 2025. It recognizing outstanding achievements across six fields: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine (Physiology or Medicine), Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. The Nobel Foundation, following Alfred Nobel’s will, honors those whose contributions deeply benefit humanity. The winners are chosen through a rigorous nomination and selection process and receive a medal, diploma, and cash award.
The complete or full list of Nobel Prize Winners 2025, including the category, awarding body, name of the laureates, and their contributions to their respective fields is presented below -
Table: Nobel Prize Winners 2025- Category, Awarding Body, Winners & Contribution.
| Category List | Awarding body | Winners (Laureates) | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | John Clarke (UK), Michel H. Devoret (France), and John M. Martinis (USA) | For discovering macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in aelectric circuits. |
| Chemistry | The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences |
Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Richard Robson (UK), and Omar M. Yaghi (Jordan) | For the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that enable advanced applications in gas storage, filtration, and catalysis |
| Medicine or Physiology | The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet | Mary E. Brunkow (USA), Fred Ramsdell (USA), and Shimon Sakaguchi (JAPAN) | For discoveries explaining peripheral immune tolerance and autoimmune disease control. |
| Literature | The Swedish Academy at Börssalen, Stockholm | László Krasznahorkai (Hungary) | For his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art |
| Economic Sciences (Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel) |
Sveriges Riksbank & Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences | Joel Mokyr (Netherlands), Philippe Aghion (France), and Peter Howitt (Canada) | For advancing theories of innovation-driven economic growth and creative destruction- One half of the prize was awarded to Joel Mokyr "for identifying the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress." And the other half jointly to Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt "for developing the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction." |
| Peace | The Norwegian Nobel Committee | María Corina Machado (Venezuela) | For promoting democracy, human rights, and a peaceful transition of power in Venezuela. |
Nobel Prize Winners 2025 in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 was announced on 7th October 2025 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. The award was given to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for their discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit. Their groundbreaking experiments demonstrated that quantum effects can occur in large, hand-held systems, proving that superconducting circuits can tunnel between states and absorb or emit energy in specific, measurable quantities. This research has paved the way for quantum computing and advanced electronic technologies.
Nobel Prize Winners 2025 in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 was awarded to scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their groundbreaking development of metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award in Stockholm on 8th October 2025. Their pioneering research on MOFs, which are highly porous materials with vast surface areas, has transformed applications in gas storage, catalysis, and environmental sustainability. This discovery represents a major advancement in chemical sciences with potential benefits for medicine, clean energy, and climate solutions.
Nobel Prize Winners 2025 in Medicine (Physiology)
The Nobel Prize in Medicine (Physiology) 2025 was announced on 6th October 2025 by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet. The prize was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking discoveries in the field of immunology. Their research revealed the crucial role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maintaining immune system balance and preventing autoimmune diseases. This discovery has led to major advances in treating multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, marking a transformative step in medical science and human health.
Nobel Prize Winners 2025 in Literature
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature was announced on 9th October, 2025 by the Swedish Academy at Börssalen, Stockholm. The prize was awarded to László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian novelist celebrated for his visionary and intense literary works. His writing captures the chaos and resilience of human existence through long, flowing sentences and deep philosophical insight. Krasznahorkai’s novels, such as Satantango and The Melancholy of Resistance, explore themes of despair, endurance, and the search for meaning in a turbulent world.
Nobel Prize Winners 2025 in Economic Science
The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2025 was announced on 13th October 2025 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. Officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, it was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their pioneering research on innovation-driven economic growth.
Joel Mokyr examined the historical conditions that enabled sustained technological progress, while Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt formulated the theory of creative destruction, explaining how new innovations replace older systems to promote long-term growth. Their combined work provides a comprehensive understanding of the forces driving modern economic development and continues to influence global economic policy and innovation strategy.
Nobel Peace Prize 2025
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was announced on 10th October, 2025 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. The award was presented to María Corina Machado of Venezuela for her courageous efforts to promote democracy, human rights, and peaceful political transition in her country. Despite threats and repression, she has remained a strong advocate for freedom, justice, and women’s participation in governance. Her leadership embodies the Nobel ideal of achieving peace through non-violence and civic courage.
FAQs on Nobel Prize 2025
Q1. What is the Nobel Prize?
The Nobel Prize is an international award given every year in recognition of outstanding contributions in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. It was established according to the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895.
Q2. When were the Nobel Prizes 2025 announced?
The 2025 Nobel Prizes were announced between 6th and 13th October 2025 across different categories by the respective Nobel committees in Sweden and Norway.
Q3. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize 2025?
The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to María Corina Machado from Venezuela for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights through peaceful means.
Q4. Who won the Nobel Prize in Physics 2025?
The Physics Nobel 2025 went to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for discovering macroscopic quantum tunnelling and energy quantisation in electric circuits.
Q5. What was the Nobel Prize 2025 in Chemistry awarded for?
The Chemistry Nobel 2025 was given to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for developing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) used in sustainable energy and environmental applications.
Q6. Who won the Nobel Prize 2025 in Literature?
László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian novelist, received the Nobel Prize in Literature 2025 for his visionary and profound storytelling that explores human endurance and despair.
Q7. What is the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2025 about?
The Economics Nobel 2025 was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their research on innovation-driven economic growth and the role of creative destruction.
Q8. Who received the Nobel Prize 2025 in Medicine?
The Medicine Nobel 2025 went to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell , and Shimon Sakaguchi for discovering the mechanisms of peripheral immune tolerance that prevent autoimmune diseases.
Q9. When and where are the Nobel Prizes awarded?
The Nobel Prizes are presented on 10th December, the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel. Ceremonies take place in Stockholm (Sweden) for all categories except Peace, which is awarded in Oslo (Norway).
Q10. How are Nobel laureates selected?
Nobel laureates are chosen through a confidential nomination and evaluation process managed by specialised Nobel committees. Only invited experts and institutions can nominate candidates.