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Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1962

Age64 Years

BirthplaceMamidala, Nalgonda District, Telangana

ProfessionUniversity Professor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseLakshmi

FamilyTwo sons: Saketh and Karthik

Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar Biography

M. Jagadesh Kumar is an Indian academic, administrator and author who has served in senior roles at IIT Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and the UGC. A V

Early life and background

Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar was born in 1962 in Mamidala, a village in Nalgonda District, Telangana. He is the son of M. Ranga Rao, a retired primary school teacher, and Jayaprada Devi. Raised in his native town, he later pursued higher education in electrical engineering, completing MS and PhD degrees in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He also undertook post‑doctoral research in 1994 at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Career

Jagadesh Kumar began his academic career in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Delhi after finishing his doctorate. At IIT Delhi he held the NXP (formerly Philips) Chair Professorship and led several departmental and interdisciplinary initiatives. From 2001 to 2006 he served as Chairman of the Electronics Group, and between 2009 and 2011 he coordinated the VLSI Design, Tools and Technology interdisciplinary program. He was a Chief Investigator of the Nano‑scale Research Facility and the Center of Excellence for Nanodevices and Systems, projects funded by the Government of India and the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

A researcher and teacher working in nanoelectronic devices, nanoscale device modelling and simulation, innovative device design and power semiconductor devices, Jagadesh Kumar has co‑authored multiple books and collaborated with undergraduate and M.Tech students on international publications. He served on editorial boards for prominent journals, including roles with IEEE publications such as IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (2006–2015) and the IEEE Electron Devices Society, and he was Editor‑in‑Chief of the IETE Technical Review. He is recognised as a distinguished lecturer in the IEEE Electron Devices Society (Nanoelectronics).

Beyond departmental duties, he has taken on operational responsibilities for national exams and institutions. He was vice‑chairman for the Joint Entrance Examination at IIT Delhi in 2007 and 2008, organising chairman for the All India JMET in 2011, and organising chairman for GATE in 2012, overseeing tests across hundreds of centres. He has also served on the executive committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, on the governing body of the National Council of Science Museums, and as a board member of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN‑SPACe).

Administrative and national roles

Jagadesh Kumar was appointed Vice‑Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University in January 2016. He served as a member of the University Grants Commission from 24 June 2016 to 23 June 2019 and briefly held the chairmanship of the UGC from 14 January 2016 to 2 February 2017. On 4 February 2022 he was appointed Chairman of the UGC for a tenure described as five years or until he attains the age of 65, whichever comes earlier; he stated that implementing the National Education Policy would be a priority.

Awards and honours

Over his career Jagadesh Kumar has received multiple awards recognising research, teaching and professional contribution. These include the IETE Ram Lal Wadhwa Gold Medal (2006) for work in semiconductor device design and modeling, an IBM Faculty Award (2008), an Excellence in Teaching award from IIT Delhi (2013), and the Padma Shri in 2026. He is a fellow of several Indian academies and professional bodies, including the Indian National Academy of Engineering, The National Academy of Sciences, India, and The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers. He also received the ISA‑VSI TechnoMentor award in 2007.

Public profile

Jagadesh Kumar’s tenure in university leadership drew public attention and controversy. Protests and incidents at JNU during his time as vice‑chancellor, including high‑profile campus events and the disappearance of a student in 2017, were widely reported. Allegations of caste‑based discrimination in promotional decisions were made by a JNU faculty member during his vice‑chancellorship. He was also the subject of opposition and was physically attacked by protesting students during demonstrations in December 2019 connected to hostel fee hikes.

Personal life

Jagadesh Kumar married Lakshmi in 1990. His wife holds an MBA in Marketing and is described as a homemaker. The couple have two sons, Saketh and Karthik; both have trained in karate and achieved success in state‑level competition. Saketh has been associated with a Delhi‑based music band.

Latest updates

In early February 2022 Jagadesh Kumar took office as Chairman of the University Grants Commission with a stated focus on rolling out the National Education Policy across higher education institutions. In 2026 he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. He continues to be active in academic publishing, institutional governance and public discourse on higher education reforms.
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Recent Work

Fundamentals of Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors

Co-author of a book on tunnel field-effect transistors published in November 2016.

2016
Tunnel Field-effect Transistors (TFET): Modelling and Simulation

Co-author of a companion book on TFET modelling and simulation published in November 2016.

2016
Junctionless Field-Effect Transistors: Design, Modeling and Simulation

Co-author of a book on junctionless field-effect transistors published in February 2019.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Delhi; held the NXP (Philips) Chair Professorship
  2. Vice‑Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (appointed January 2016)
  3. Chairman of the University Grants Commission (appointed 4 February 2022)
  4. Chief Investigator of the Nano‑scale Research Facility and Center of Excellence for Nanodevices and Systems at IIT Delhi
  5. Editor roles with IEEE journals and Editor‑in‑Chief of IETE Technical Review
  6. Recipient of the IETE Ram Lal Wadhwa Gold Medal (2006), IBM Faculty Award (2008), IIT Delhi Excellence in Teaching (2013), and Padma Shri (2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar born?

1962

What is Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar known for?

University Professor

What is Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar’s marital status?

Married

Who is Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar married to?

Lakshmi