Who is Prof. Mahesh Kakde, winner of the 2026 Ramanujan Prize?

Mahesh Kakde’s primary research focuses on algebraic number theory. This branch of mathematics involves using algebraic structures to understand questions related to numbers and their properties.

Deciphering complex mathematical problems and the relationships hidden within numbers is no easy task. Indian mathematician Professor Mahesh Kakde, who has long conducted research in this field, has garnered significant international recognition. Professor Kakde, a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, has been awarded the 2026 Ramanujan Prize. He received this honor for his significant contributions to algebraic number theory. Presented by the ICTP Mathematics section and the International Mathematical Union, this award has once again brought Indian mathematical research into the international spotlight.

Mahesh Kakde’s primary research focuses on algebraic number theory. This branch of mathematics involves using algebraic structures to understand questions related to numbers and their properties. His research notably includes key results concerning non-commutative Iwasawa theory. Additionally, he has conducted remarkable work on the Gross-Stark and Brumer-Stark conjectures. His research also relates to David Hilbert’s famous "12th Problem," one of the 23 significant mathematical problems proposed in 1900.

It is worth noting that Mahesh Kakde pursued his initial higher education in mathematics at the Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru. He subsequently earned a Master of Mathematics degree from the University of Cambridge and completed his PhD in Pure Mathematics in 2008. Since completing his PhD, his academic career has been associated with several prestigious institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Ramanujan Prize marks yet another major milestone in Professor Kakde’s list of achievements. Prior to this, he received the Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences in 2022. In 2023, he was honored with the London Mathematical Society's Whitehead Prize and was also included in the 'Asian Scientist 100' list. He has also served as an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

The Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from Developing Countries was established in 2005. It is jointly awarded by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics and the International Mathematical Union. This honor is conferred upon mathematicians under the age of 45 working in developing countries who have conducted outstanding research in the field of mathematical sciences.

The award carries a cash prize of US$10,000. Named after the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, the prize has been awarded to Professor Mahesh Kakde for the year 2026.