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Nobel Prize Winners in India: The Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious international honours or awards, granted every year to those individuals and organisations who have made remarkable contributions to humanity. This was established by the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor, the Nobel Prize recognises outstanding and exceptional achievements that have made a significant impact on society and the economy. Here, we bring to you the list of the top Nobel Prize Winners of India as well as their outstanding contributions in the field. 

The first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize was Rabindranath Tagore in the year 1913, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his profound literary work, Gitanjali (popularly known as the collection of poems). Since then, India has produced several remarkable Nobel Prize Laureates. In this article, we have curated the list of the Nobel Prize winners from India, their respective fields, and their excellent contribution in various sectors.From scientists and peace activists to writers and doctors, these Indian winners have changed the world and leave a lasting legacy. 

Top 3 Categories of the Nobel Prize:

The Nobel Prize is awarded in the following six categories to those people who have made exceptional contributions in this field :

1. Physics

2. Chemistry

3. Medicine

4. Literature

5. Peace

6. Economic Sciences

India’s Contribution to the Nobel Prize:

India has made some of the most crucial contributions to the Nobel Prize, with various Indian laureates being honoured for their achievements and contributions in a variety of sectors. Rabindranath Tagore, a famous personality was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Since then, India has produced multiple remarkable Nobel Laureates in various fields. 

Also Read: India’s Leading Colleges For Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In 2025

List of Nobel Prize Winners in India and Their Contributions:

Name

Year

Field

Contribution

Rabindranath Tagore

1913

Literature

Gitanjali (a beautiful collection of poems)

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman

1930

Physics

He discovered Raman Effect/Scattering 

Mother Teresa

1979

Peace

She contributed to overcome poverty

Amartya Sen

1998

Economics

Contribution to Welfare Economics

Kailash Satyarthi

2014

Peace

He fought for children’s rights and education

Har Gobind Khorana

1968

Physiology or Medicine

Interpretation of the genetic code and its function

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

1983

Physics

His studies of the physical processes important to the structure and evolution of stars

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

2009

Chemistry

Studies of the structure and function of the ribosome

Abhijit Banerjee

2019

Economics

His experimental approach to alleviating Poverty

Ronald Ross

1902

Physiology or Medicine

Work on malaria, laying the foundation for research on this disease 

14th Dalai Lama

1989

Peace

Consistent resistance to violence in the struggle for liberty

Rudyard Kipling

1907

Literature

Originality, observation, and talent in his works

V. S. Naipaul

2001

Literature

Unified narrative and scrutiny to reveal suppressed histories

 

According to an official data of 2024, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to a total of 1,012 individuals and organisations since its commencement in the year 1901. There are 976 individuals and 28 organizations who have recieved Nobel Prize for their outstanding contribution. The breakdown of individual laureates includes a total of 930 men and 59 women, reflecting a slight increase in female recipients over the years. Stay connected with us if you want to enhance your general knowledge with these type of content.