As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day in 2026, it is also a moment to recognise Indians and people of Indian origin whose work has made a mark on the world. Among them is Jainendra K. Jain, a physicist whose groundbreaking work in quantum physics has transformed the way scientists understand electrons and quantum matter.
Born in rural Rajasthan, Jain went on to become the Erwin W. Müller Professor of Physics at Pennsylvania State University. In 2025, his decades of research earned him the prestigious Wolf Prize in Physics, making him the first physicist of Indian origin to receive the honour.
