Ramanujan Prize 2026: Mahesh Kakde, an Indian mathematician and professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, India, has been awarded the "2026 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from Developing Countries" in recognition of his contribution to the field of number theory. The prize is presented jointly by the ICTP and the IMU and celebrates significant contributions made by young mathematicians under45years of age from developing countries.

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For what contribution was the Award Given?

Professor Kakde has been recognized for his fundamental work in 'Algebraic Number Theory,' particularly for solving significant problems related to the behavior of numbers and the interconnections between various mathematical structures.

What is Algebraic Number Theory?

Algebraic number theory is the study of numbers and their properties. Algebraic number theory takes this a step further, exploring hidden patterns and structures that explain why numbers behave the way they do.

One of Kakde's major contributions lies in the field of 'Iwasawa theory.' At its core, this involves studying how mathematical patterns change when numbers are extended into more complex systems.

He developed results that helped mathematicians understand these changes, including cases where systems do not behave in simple or predictable ways.

Prof. Kakde has also made significant contributions to the Gross-Stark and Brumer-Stark conjectures. These are long-standing mathematical hypotheses that link seemingly distinct areas of number theory.

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About Professor Mahesh Kakde:

Mahesh Kakde teaches mathematics at IISc Bengaluru. After working as a teacher and researcher in the UK for a number of years, he joined the institute in 2019. Kakde started his academic career by graduating from the Indian Statistical Institute in Bengaluru with a bachelor's degree in mathematics.

Subsequently, he went to the University of Cambridge to pursue a master's degree and a PhD in pure mathematics. He completed his PhD by 2008 and began teaching at Princeton. Later, he held research and faculty positions at University College London and King's College London.