Feast of St Joseph Vaz celebrated with religious fervour

Have you ever wondered how someone actually wins a Nobel Prize? Who decides it and how the winners are chosen? The Nobel Prize, created by Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, is one of the most prestigious awards in the world honoring outstanding achievements in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economics. But winning it isn’t about applying for it. The process is long, confidential, and extremely selective. Every September, nomination forms are sent to around 3,000 qualified experts including professors, scientists, and past Nobel laureates, and self-nominations are not allowed. From February to August, Nobel Committees carefully review nominations, consult international experts, and prepare detailed reports. Different institutions select winners for different categories: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences chooses Physics, Chemistry, and Economics; the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects Medicine; the Swedish Academy chooses Literature; and the Norwegian Nobel Committee selects the Peace Prize. In October, the final vote takes place and the decision is final. The winners are then honored on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, receiving their medal, diploma, and prize money in ceremonies held in Stockholm and Oslo. Interestingly, all nomination records remain secret for 50 years. A Nobel Prize isn’t simply given — it’s earned through a rigorous and highly secretive evaluation by some of the world’s top experts for work that truly changes the world.