Chennai, 28 October (H.S.) : Three distinguished professors from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) have been honored with the prestigious Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, which is India’s highest accolade recognizing exceptional contributions to science, technology, and innovation. The awards were conferred under four established categories: Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and Vigyan Team.
The awardees from IIT Madras are Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, and Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal. Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, from the Department of Chemistry, received the Vigyan Shri award. This recognition is for his pioneering and globally acclaimed research in clean water technologies and molecular materials. His work in developing affordable water purification methods has already had a transformative impact on communities in rural India.
In the Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar category, two professors were honored. Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, from the Department of Electrical Engineering and head of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, received the award for his impactful innovations in affordable medical devices and large-scale brain imaging technologies.
His inventions have benefited over 15 million patients worldwide. Also receiving the award in this category was Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal, of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, for her groundbreaking contributions to cryptography and post-quantum security, which are crucial for advanced data protection and encrypted machine learning.
V Kamakoti, the Director of IIT-M, congratulated the professors, stating that their achievements reflect both their individual brilliance and the innovative spirit that defines the institution. He added that their success serves as an inspiration for the next generation to advance science and technology for the nation's growth.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
