Overview
- Sonia Gandhi, as chair of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, presented the prize, which is a trust-administered honor and not a Government of India award.
- Accepting the award, Bachelet said the struggle for human rights is inseparable from the defense of democracy and called for stronger multilateral cooperation.
- The citation highlighted Bachelet’s healthcare expansion, tax reforms, social protection measures, and steps to increase women’s political participation in Chile.
- Bachelet is the 37th recipient; trustees include Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, with a jury of senior figures such as Shivshankar Menon and Raghuram Rajan.
- BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized the choice, referencing Bachelet’s past UN statements on India including concerns over the CAA, FCRA use, and UAPA cases.