The Government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a very prestigious Award and carries an amount of 10 million rupees, a citation and a Plaque. The Award is selected by a Jury under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their outstanding contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods for amelioration of human suffering particularly of the less privileged sections of the society, contributing social justice and harmony.
The details of prize conferred to individuals and organizations from the year of its inception in 1995 to till date are given hereunder:-
2018 - Sh Yohei Sasakawa
2017 - Ekal Abhiyan Trust
2016 - Akshaya Patra Foundation and Sulabh International
2015 - Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari
2014 - Indian Space Research Organisation
2013 - Sh. Chandi Prasad Bhatt
2005 - Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa
2003 - Mr. Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia
2002 - Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan
2001 - Dr. John Hume, Ireland
2000 - Dr. Nelson Mandela and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh (jointly)
1999 - Baba Amte (Murlidhar Devidas Amte) (India)
1998 - Rama Krishna Mission (India)
1997 - Dr. Gerhard Fischer of Germany
1996 - Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Sharamadana Movement, Sri Lanka.
1995 - Dr. Julius K. Nyerere, former President of Tanzania
This prize was not awarded for the years 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.