Washington, Feb 12: India-born Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has been selected for the 2011 US National Humanities Medal. He would be felicitated with the award by President Barack Obama along with others.

The White House announced yesterday that the award is being given to Sen for his insights into the causes of poverty, famine, and injustice.

The White House said, by applying philosophical thinking to questions of policy, Sen has changed how standards of living are measured and increased the understanding of how to fight hunger.