Indian physicist Deepak Dhar wins the 2026 Dirac Medal

Indian theoretical physics has earned another major global recognition. Deepak Dhar, INSA Distinguished Professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS-TIFR), has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

The honour recognises his pioneering contributions to statistical mechanics and complex systems, including work connecting physics with optimisation, theoretical neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

Deepak Dhar shares the award with Bernard Derrida, Marc Mézard and Haim Sompolinsky, three internationally recognised researchers whose work has also shaped modern statistical physics.

Deepak Dhar earns a global physics honour

ICTP announced the 2026 recipients on 10 August. The Dirac Medal is awarded annually to scientists who have made significant contributions to theoretical physics. It was first presented in 1985 in honour of British physicist Paul Dirac.

For Dhar, the recognition also marks an important moment for Indian science. ICTS said he is only the second scientist working in India to receive the medal, following physicist Ashoke Sen.

Dhar has spent much of his career at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and has also been associated with IISER Pune. He is currently based at ICTS-TIFR in Bengaluru.

Why his work stands out

Deepak's research has helped explain how simple rules can produce complex behaviour in large systems. One of his best-known contributions is his work on the mathematical structure of the sandpile model, which became an important example of self-organised criticality.

The idea can be understood through a simple pile of sand. Adding grains one at a time may produce no visible change for a while. But once the pile reaches a critical state, one additional grain can trigger a much larger avalanche.

This type of behaviour appears in many complex systems, where small changes can sometimes produce disproportionately large effects.

From statistical physics to AI

The importance of Dhar's work extends beyond traditional physics. Statistical mechanics provides mathematical tools for understanding systems made up of many interacting parts. Over time, researchers have applied similar ideas to areas such as computer science, biology, optimisation and neuroscience.

ICTP Director Atish Dabholkar said the work of the 2026 medallists has helped establish statistical mechanics as a framework for addressing questions well beyond its traditional boundaries, including in biology, computer science and AI.

That cross-disciplinary reach is increasingly relevant as researchers try to understand complex networks, optimisation problems and learning systems.

A second major recognition for India

The Dirac Medal adds to Deepak Dhar's long list of honours. He became the first Indian recipient of the Boltzmann Medal in 2022, one of the major international awards in statistical physics. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023.

His recognition has also highlighted the role of India's theoretical physics community in global research. ICTS Director Rajesh Gopakumar described the award as a matter of pride for both ICTS and India, noting that many previous Dirac medallists have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.

Why the Dirac Medal matters

The Dirac Medal is more than a recognition of a single research result. It honours work that has significantly expanded the understanding of theoretical physics.

Dhar's 2026 award reflects how statistical mechanics has evolved into a broader toolkit for studying complex systems. From avalanches in physical models to optimisation and AI, the same mathematical ideas can help researchers understand how large systems behave.

For India, the award puts another spotlight on the country's contribution to fundamental science and reinforces Bengaluru's growing role as a centre for theoretical research.