Three distinguished professors from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have been conferred with the ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025’, the nation’s highest recognition for exceptional and inspiring contributions in science, technology, and innovation.
This year’s awardees Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, and Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal exemplify the institute’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge research that addresses India’s developmental priorities while shaping global scientific frontiers.
Instituted by the Government of India, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar honours exemplary achievements and lifetime contributions across diverse scientific and technological fields. The award is presented under four categories Vigyan Ratna (VR), Vigyan Shri (VS), Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB), and Vigyan Team (VT).
IIT Madras Awardees for 2025
Vigyan Shri: Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, Department of Chemistry
Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar: Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Congratulating the awardees, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “We are immensely proud to see our colleagues honoured with the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 — a recognition not only of their individual brilliance, but of the spirit of innovation and dedication that defines our institution. Their achievements reaffirm IIT Madras’s commitment to advancing science and technology for national development and inspire our entire academic community.”
Prof. Thalappil Pradeep – Vigyan Shri Awardee
A globally acclaimed scientist in clean water technologies, advanced materials, and molecular clusters, Prof. Pradeep’s research has led to affordable, sustainable water purification systems that have improved millions of lives across India. Previously honoured with the Padma Shri, he has received multiple international recognitions for his pioneering work.
Expressing gratitude, Prof. Pradeep said, “Science has become my blood and breath. I owe this journey to my teachers, students, collaborators, and family, who sacrificed much for the cause of science. I could do my bit only because of my institute, funding agencies, and my country. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude.”
Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam – Vigyan Yuva (VY-SSB) Awardee
Head of the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) and the Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC) at IIT Madras, Prof. Sivaprakasam has been recognised for his pathbreaking work in affordable healthcare technologies and large-scale human brain imaging systems.
His research has led to globally recognised medical technologies that have impacted over 15 million patients through collaborations with 40+ hospitals, industries, and government agencies.
At SGBC, his team has developed a world-leading imaging platform that maps entire human brains in 3D cell-resolution petabyte volumes, offering unprecedented insights into brain development and disease.
Prof. Sivaprakasam remarked, “This award recognises our belief that academia can drive cutting-edge R&D leading to globally competitive technologies with large-scale impact. I thank our medical and industry collaborators, and acknowledge the immense support from government, industry, and philanthropy that made this possible.”
Prof. Shweta Prem Agrawal – Vigyan Yuva (VY-SSB) Awardee
A Venky Harinarayan and Anand Rajaraman Chair Professor at IIT Madras’ Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Prof. Agrawal has been honoured for her pioneering contributions to cryptography and mathematical foundations of computer science.
Her team’s work explores new mathematical conjectures enabling advanced cryptographic functionalities, including machine learning on encrypted data and post-quantum cryptography — crucial for protecting sensitive information against emerging quantum computing threats.
Reacting to the honour, Prof. Agrawal said, “I am deeply grateful to receive the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar in the area of Mathematics and Computer Science. I thank my family, especially my husband Uday, for their unwavering support, and IIT Madras for fostering a research-driven environment. I hope this recognition encourages more students to pursue foundational research in cryptography and inspires greater institutional and industrial support for core scientific work in India.”
