Meet Padma Shri V Kamakoti, IIT Madras director who contributed to tech and national security initiatives

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti has been awarded the Padma Shri in the science and engineering category for his contribution to computer architecture research and national security. 

Reacting to the honour, Kamakoti said the award had strengthened his resolve to contribute to the country’s progress. In a video message released late Sunday evening, he said, “The Padma Shri Award means only one thing to me. I will put all my best efforts towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Who is V Kamakoti?

V Kamakoti, or Kamakoti Veezhinathan, is a highly experienced computer science professional and academic leader who has been teaching, researching, and institution, building for decades. He is currently the Director of IIT Madras and is widely recognized for his research in computer architecture, information security, and VLSI design. Besides, over the years, he has been involved in several major national technology and security programs.

Kamakoti Veezhinathan completed his M.S. and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras. He joined the faculty of the same institute in 2001 and was made the Director in January 2022. Currently, he serves on the National Security Advisory Board, and formerly he was the Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force constituted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He is also a member of the Technology committees of the National Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India.

V Kamakoti’s areas of expertise 

Kamakoti’s core areas of work include Computer Architecture, Information Security and VLSI Design. At IIT Madras, he leads the Microprocessor Development Program and the Information Security Education and Awareness Program, both funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He has also been appointed as a member of the institute body of AIIMS in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

His leadership has helped IIT Madras to maintain a solid track record of achievement in national rankings. As of 2025, the institute has been ranked number one in the engineering category for 10 consecutive years by NIRF 2025 and number one overall for the seventh consecutive year.

Besides leading the institute, Kamakoti has been entrusted with various important roles at IIT Madras like Chairman of JEE and Associate Dean for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research. In the course of his career, he has written more than 150 research articles published in various international journals and presented at international conferences. He has also guided a significant number of PhD and Masters students and has been a leading researcher in around 50 projects funded by the industry and government.

Dr Kamakoti has received numerous awards throughout his career like the DRDO Academic Excellence Award, Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association Techno Visionary Award, Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship, ACCS Lifetime Achievement Award, IBM Faculty Award, and the VASVIK Industrial Research Award.