IISc Professor Mahesh Kakde Wins Ramanujan Prize 2026 for Work in Mathematics

Some mathematical discoveries take years to reveal their significance. For Professor Mahesh Kakde, that deep and patient work has now earned one of the field’s notable international honours.Kakde, a professor in the Department of Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been awarded the Ramanujan Prize 2026 for his contributions to algebraic number theory.The prize is awarded by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in association with the International Mathematical Union (IMU). It recognises outstanding mathematicians from developing countries who have made significant contributions to mathematical sciences.Making Complex Mathematics Easier to UnderstandSo, what exactly does Kakde study?At its simplest, number theory is the study of numbers and the patterns and properties hidden within them. Algebraic number theory goes a step further, using algebra to explore deeper structures behind numbers and equations.One of Kakde’s major areas of research is Iwasawa theory. It examines how mathematical patterns and structures change as numbers are extended into increasingly complex systems. His work has helped mathematicians understand these changes, including situations where the patterns become particularly difficult to analyse.Kakde has also contributed to the Gross-Stark and Brumer-Stark conjectures, long-standing problems that connect different parts of number theory.From Bengaluru to Cambridge and BackKakde’s academic journey began in India. He completed his Bachelor of Mathematics at the Indian Statistical Institute in Bengaluru before moving to the University of Cambridge, where he completed his master’s degree and PhD in pure mathematics in 2008.He subsequently worked at prestigious institutions including Princeton University, University College London and King’s College London.In 2019, he returned to India and joined IISc as a professor, where he continues his research in algebraic number theory.Exploring One of Mathematics’ Deepest QuestionsKakde’s research also has implications for Hilbert’s 12th problem, one of the famous 23 mathematical problems proposed by German mathematician David Hilbert in 1900. Broadly, the problem asks whether important numbers associated with mathematical systems can be described in a systematic way.Kakde’s research contributes to mathematicians’ understanding of these deep connections between numbers, equations and mathematical structures.The Ramanujan Prize adds to an impressive list of honours. Kakde received the Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences in 2022, was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians, and was named among Asian Scientist 100 in 2023.Established in 2005, the Ramanujan Prize carries a US$10,000 cash award.There may be no simple answer to some of mathematics’ biggest questions yet. But researchers like Mahesh Kakde are helping bring those answers closer. The Ramanujan Prize 2026 celebrates not just what he has discovered, but the questions he continues to explore.