IIT Hyderabad Professor Who Decodes Raindrops Wins National Teachers' Award 2026
Prof. Kirti Chandra Sahu of IIT Hyderabad receives the National Teachers' Award 2026 for his raindrop research and teaching excellence.
Professor Kirti Chandra Sahu of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has been conferred the National Teachers' Award 2026. The honour was presented by the Ministry of Education on September 5, in recognition of his contributions to teaching, research, and academic leadership.
Sahu's research focuses on the shape and size distribution of raindrops at varying altitudes, a field with direct implications for improving rainfall prediction accuracy. He has built a specialised experimental facility from the ground up that recreates the atmospheric conditions raindrops encounter as they travel from clouds to the earth's surface. This facility holds potential for advancing weather forecasting and climate modelling.
A founding faculty member of IIT Hyderabad, Sahu has played a key role in shaping its curriculum and mentoring students. The institute highlighted his efforts in fostering a culture of excellence in both education and research.
His work has earned him several accolades, including Young Scientist Awards from the Indian National Science Academy, the National Academy of Sciences, India, and the Indian Academy of Sciences, as well as the VASVIK Award. He is also a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Physics, UK, and holds the J C Bose Grant.
At the award ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu noted that award-winning teachers are setting exemplary standards in education. IIT Hyderabad congratulated Sahu on the national recognition, celebrating his achievements in teaching and research.