7 months ago
IIT Madras Director Honored with Padma Shri
V Kamakoti, the director of IIT Madras, has been given the Padma Shri award, which is a very big honor in India.
He is very happy and says he will work even harder to help make India a better place by 2047.
He has done many great things, like helping to create India's first computer chip called Shakti.
He also has other important jobs, like being on a board that gives advice about keeping the country safe.
He has won other awards before too, like one named after Dr. Abdul Kalam, a famous scientist.
He says he couldn't have done all this alone and thanks everyone who helped him.
He has also been a teacher and has written many research papers.
IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti received the Padma Shri award in the science and engineering category.
Kamakoti dedicated the award to his collective efforts and pledged to contribute to 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047'.
He specializes in Computer Architecture, Information Security, and VLSI Design, and led the development of India's first indigenous microprocessor, 'Shakti'.
Kamakoti is a member of the National Security Advisory Board and has received multiple prestigious awards.
He has published over 150 research papers, guided several PhD and Master’s students, and led close to 50 projects.
- Who
- V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras
- What
- Received the Padma Shri award
- Where
- India
- When
- January 25, 2026
- Why
- For his contributions to computer architecture research and national security
National Recognition
Personal Achievement
Award Significance
National Recognition
The Padma Shri award is a national recognition of Kamakoti's contributions to technology and national security.
Personal Achievement
The award is a personal milestone for Kamakoti, acknowledging his decades of work in computer science and academia.
Key facts
- Recipient
- V Kamakoti
- Award
- Padma Shri
- Current Position
- Director, IIT Madras
- Specializations
- Computer Architecture, Information Security, VLSI Design
- Notable Achievement
- Developed India's first indigenous microprocessor, Shakti
- Previous Awards
- Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship (2020), IESA Techno Visionary Award (2018), DRDO Academic Excellence Award, IBM Faculty Award, VASVIK Industrial Research Award
- Current Role
- Member, National Security Advisory Board
- Education
- M.S. and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras
- Institutional Roles
- Chairman of JEE, Associate Dean for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research
- Research Output
- Published over 150 research papers, guided several PhD and Master’s students, led close to 50 projects
Timeline
Anna University revamps low-enrollment PG courses, boosting IIT Madras' global ranking.
Then, IIT Madras targets top 50 in five subjects, catching Padma Shri's eye.
Prof. Kamakoti's interdisciplinary push and IIT's ranking rise earn him Padma Shri.
He's awarded for driving IIT's global rise and education innovation.
IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti feted with Padma Shri
Quotes
Sridhar Vembu
Zoho founder
“I have defended him on scientific grounds and I will do so again: cow dung and cow urine have excellent microbiomes that could be valuable for humans. It is the slavish colonial mindset that thinks these are not scientific propositions worthy of investigation.”
financialexpress.com
“Some day, when Harvard or MIT publish a study on this, these enslaved minds would worship that as the gospel truth.”
financialexpress.com
Congress Kerala
State Congress party
“Since you are a billionaire who believes in the magical benefits of cow urine, why doesn’t your company invest in proper cow urine and cow dung research? If cow urine can help in healing cancer, that would be one of our greatest contributions to the world. Why don’t you take up this challenge and put the money where your mouth is?”
financialexpress.com
“Research is not about quoting random Western research papers out of context. What is the outcome of all this research on cow dung and urine? And why are we limited only to cow dung? What about the excreta of buffaloes, goats, or even humans?”
financialexpress.com
Mohandas Pai
Ex-Infosys CFO
“These are Morons who cannot even appreciate the high achievements of a great academic. What a shame these folks are. @Jairam_Ramesh this is outrageous. Is this what @INCIndia is all about- a rag tag bunch of abusive people with no pretext to decency? Cry, my beloved country!”
financialexpress.com
V. Kamakoti
IIT Madras director and recipient of Padma Shri
“The Padma Shri award means only one thing to me, that I will put all the best efforts towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047, this award is not possible as an individual, it’s a collective effort, I dedicate this award to all who contributed… It is because of them I am getting this award.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
Padma Awards 2026: From former UGC Chief to IIT Madras Director — full list of education leaders honoured
Meet Padma Shri V Kamakoti, IIT Madras Director who contributed to tech and national security initiatives
IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti gets Padma Shri award
‘It is slavish colonial mindset’: Mohandas Pai, Sridhar Vembu slam Congress over Padma for Prof Kamakoti
Padma Awards 2026: Former UGC Chief, IIT Madras Director Among Education Awardees, See Full List
