Indian theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar, an INSA Distinguished Professor and one of the country's most respected minds in the field, has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), placing him among an elite group of scientists honoured for their contributions to theoretical physics. Instituted in 1985, the Dirac Medal is considered one of the highest honours in physics and has over the decades been associated with some of the biggest names in the discipline, including Stephen Hawking. After completing his doctorate, Dhar returned to India and joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. The Dirac Medal adds to a distinguished list of honours for Dhar. In 2022, he became the first Indian to receive the Boltzmann Medal, and in 2023 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour.