Indian professor wins eminent Dirac Medal, joins Hawking and other physics giants

Deepak Dhar, an IINSA distinguished professor and one of India’s most respected theoretical physicists, has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), a recognition considered among the highest honours in the field of physics.

The award, instituted in 1985, has over the decades been associated with some of the biggest names, including Stephen Hawkings, in theoretical physics.

Dhar is among four physicists selected this year for their important contributions to statistical mechanics.

ICTP said the 2026 Dirac



Medal recognises physicists whose work has significantly advanced the understanding of statistical mechanics, the branch of physics that studies how systems with a very large number of particles behave collectively.

The field is not limited to theoretical research. Scientists say it provides tools that are increasingly useful in understanding artificial intelligence, complex networks, and even financial markets.

Dhar has long been associated with the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bengaluru, and has spent decades working on problems related to complex physical systems.