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Prof. Yashwant Gupta

(BT/EE/1985)

Prof. Yashwant Gupta is a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur and a renowned radio astronomer. He currently serves as the Centre Director of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR), Pune. He is widely recognized for his seminal contributions to the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and for leading India's participation in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.





Profile

Prof. Yashwant Gupta received his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1985. He completed his PhD in Applied Physics from the University of California San Diego in 1990.Prof. Gupta made significant contributions to the construction and commissioning of the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune. During 2013 to 2019, he led the work for a major upgrade of the GMRT, solidifying GMRT's status as a leading low-frequency radio observatory worldwide. Since 2012, he also leads India's participation in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory, an internal project shaping the next-generation global radio astronomy facility. During 2014 to 2019, he led an international consortium that designed the Telescope Manager system for the SKA-the brain and nervous system of the entire Observatory.
Prof. Gupta's own research is primarily centered around two key areas: study of exotic neutron stars and advanced instrumentation for radio astronomy. He has over 180 publications in international journals and proceedings. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), life member of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI), member of the International Union for Radio Science (URSI), as well as a Senior Member of the IEEE.

Achievements and Honors

  • M. P. Birla Memorial Award, 2025
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT Kanpur, 2023
  • Murli M. Chugani Memorial Award, Indian Physics Association, 2022
  • Zubin Kembhavi Award, 2019
  • Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, 2007
  • URSI Young Scientist Award, 1996
  • Fellow, Indian National Science Academy, INSA
  • Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering, INAE

Last updated Feb 24, 2026