IISc Professor Mahesh Kakde Named 5th Indian Recipient of Prestigious Ramanujan Prize

New Delhi: Professor Mahesh Kakde from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been conferred the 2026 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians, making him the fifth Indian scholar to receive the international honor.

The award is jointly administered by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the International Mathematical Union (IMU), and the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST). Conferred annually since 2005, the prize recognizes researchers under the age of 40 from developing nations who have conducted groundbreaking work in mathematics, carrying a citation alongside a $10,000 cash grant.

Kakde earned the distinction for his significant breakthroughs in algebraic number theory, particularly his contributions involving Iwasawa theory. His research explores the underlying architectures and symmetries of numbers, analyzing how complex mathematical structures transform across intricate algebraic systems.

Academic Trajectory and Recognition

An alumnus of IISc, Kakde pursued advanced studies in pure mathematics at the University of Cambridge, completing both his master’s and doctoral degrees there. Prior to returning to IISc as faculty in 2019, he held teaching and research roles at Princeton University, King’s College London, and University College London. He also serves as a visiting researcher at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. Over his career, Kakde has earned several top honors, including the Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences and the Frontiers of Science Award at the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) in Beijing.

Indian Laureates of the Ramanujan Prize

Kakde joins a select cohort of Indian mathematicians previously recognized by the committee:

• Sujatha Ramdorai (2006): Honored for her foundational work on non-commutative Iwasawa theory and the arithmetic of algebraic varieties.
• Amalendu Krishna (2015): Recognized for research spanning algebraic cycles, algebraic K-theory, and motive theory.
• Ritabrata Munshi (2018): Awarded for advancements in analytic number theory focusing on automorphic forms and L-functions.
• Neena Gupta (2021): Commended for solving long-standing problems in affine algebraic geometry and commutative algebra.