Who is the first citizen of India to receive the Nobel Prize?

Appeared in: Maharashtra CHO - 2020

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian citizen to be awarded the Nobel Prize.
He received the prize in 1913 in the field of Literature for his profoundly sensitive, fresh, and beautiful verse, 'Gitanjali'.
This achievement also made him the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Option A: C.V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in 1930, which was after Rabindranath Tagore (1913).
Option B: Har Gobind Khorana, although born in India, was an American citizen when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1968.
Option C: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, like Khorana, was an American citizen of Indian origin when he received the Nobel Prize in 1983.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain General Knowledge: First Indian Nobel Prize Laureate as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
General knowledge, including national and international achievements, is a component of the reasoning and general awareness sections of many nursing entrance exams.
A broad awareness demonstrates well-roundedness, a quality valued in healthcare professionals who must communicate with diverse patient populations.
What if the question asked for the first Indian citizen to win a Nobel in a scientific field? In that case, the answer would change from Rabindranath Tagore (Literature) to C.V. Raman (Physics).

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key constraints in the question: 'first', 'citizen of India', and 'Nobel Prize'.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge of major Indian historical and cultural figures.
Evaluate each option against the 'first citizen' criterion. Rabindranath Tagore received his award in 1913.
Consider the other options. C.V. Raman's award was later (1930).
Rule out options where the individual was not an Indian citizen at the time of the award, such as Har Gobind Khorana and Chandrasekhar.
Conclude that Rabindranath Tagore is the only option that fits all the criteria.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 240-463 of 478) p. 13-15

Practise the full Maharashtra CHO - 2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.