Indian mathematician Mahesh Kakde, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Ramanujan Prize 2026 for his pioneering contributions to algebraic number theory.
Administered jointly by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and the International Mathematical Union (IMU), the annual award recognizes outstanding mathematical research by young researchers under the age of 45 from developing nations.
Breakthroughs in Algebraic Number Theory and Hilbert’s 12th Problem
Professor Kakde was recognized for his fundamental research results in noncommutative Iwasawa theory and his work on the Gross-Stark and Brumer-Stark conjectures. According to the official ICTP release, Kakde’s field of study utilizes complex structures like fields and groups to solve intricate problems involving integers.
His research carries far-reaching implications for Hilbert’s 12th problem, one of the 23 landmark mathematical problems outlined by German mathematician David Hilbert in 1900.
Exceptional Academic Journey
Professor Kakde earned his Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Bengaluru before pursuing his Master’s and PhD in pure mathematics at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, completing his doctorate in 2008.
Before joining the faculty at IISc Bengaluru in 2019, Kakde built an extensive international academic career, serving as an instructor at Princeton University, a research associate at University College London (UCL), and a faculty member at King’s College London.
Global Recognition and Honors
The 2026 Ramanujan Prize, which carries a cash award of $10,000, adds to Kakde’s growing list of academic accolades:
- Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences (2022): Awarded for his deep research in algebraic number theory.
- International Congress of Mathematicians Speaker: Invited guest speaker alongside research collaborator Samit Dasgupta.
- Asian Scientist 100 (2023): Named among the continent’s leading researchers and academic innovators by Asian Scientist Magazine.
The Ramanujan Prize has been awarded annually since 2005 to honor researchers who conduct groundbreaking mathematical research under challenging environments in developing countries, selected by a global panel of eminent mathematicians.
