Nobel Prizes 2025: Who decides and how the winners are chosen?

The international arena stops every October, with a handful of diplomats, scientists, peacemakers, and writers receiving a call that set a fourth their lives. But behind a Nobel legacy there remains a secretive process that deserves Nobel applause. What lies in the selection process? What marks this legacy and how it is shaped?

Historical background

The Nobel Prize was built with the will of Swedish Inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel who specified that it will be awarded to a person “who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”    

Over the period of time, the Nobel Peace Prize has gained recognition and people became aware of its predominant nature in the era of peace. With the political hustle-bustle around the world, there lies a forum which recognises peace and acknowledges those who win.  

The Nobel Prize has been in existence since 1901, and in the earliest phase during the World War I era, the prize was often conferred to those who organised peace and led peaceful movements. After that, with the rise of political parties, it began to consider active politicians who started organising peaceful movements by the means of statesmanship and humanitarian work.

The fields specified in which the prize is awarded are— physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature, and peace.

Process of nomination

The nomination process for the award is highly secretive. The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects the laureates and nomination is filed to the people who are applicable for the respective fields.

The laws and regulations of the Nobel foundation follow a set of norms which restrict the disclosure of information about the nominations for about 50 years. This maintains the secrecy of the selection.

There are certain criteria which the nominated person has to meet for valid nomination. People cannot nominate themselves. They can only be nominated by a cabinet member or minister of a sovereign state, University professors, members of International court of Justice, main board of directors or the current or former member of Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Selection process

The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects the specific person for the classified role of Nobel Prize. The committee comprises five members. The process requires a lengthy procedure with proper checks. A short list is prepared by the committee members which follows a review by the adviser. After the proper review process is conducted the one who receives the majority vote, the winner is announced and conferred with the prize.

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

This year in 2025, there are 338 candidates who are nominated which is much more as compared to last year’s number, which was 244. The first award has been awarded for physiology or medicine on Monday.