India’s extraordinary participation in the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics that won the prize for their landmark research at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), is an achievement worth celebrating internationally. The Breakthrough Prize is considered as one of the largest science awards and Indian scientists who have worked on these LHC experimental collaborations played a crucial role in the Run-2 data from 2015 to 2024. This article explores the importance of this prize, India’s contribution to experiments carried out at the LHC and what it holds in store for Indian science.
The 2025 Breakthrough Prize: An Overview
As the “Oscars of Science,” The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics is one that ranks near the top when it comes to scientific accolades. First awarded in 2012 by tech titans including Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg, the prize grants $3 million each year to scientists who have made pioneering discoveries revealing the most basic aspects of the universe. The 2025 prize is an exceptional recognition of four major international experimental collaborations that have studied most profound aspects of particle physics using CERN’s LHC.
CERN and the Large Hadron Collider
The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, which is based in the vicinity of Geneva, Switzerland, is home to the most powerful particle accelerator on the planet — it created antimatter. The LHC collides protons and heavy ions at near light speed, smashing them together to replicate the conditions of just after the Big Bang. The LHC workings probe the fundamental forces, discover new particles e.g. the Higgs boson, look for matter-antimatter differences and analyze quark-gluon plasma forms.
India’s Key Contributions
Indian scientists and institutions have significant roles in the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) and CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) experiments at the LHC. Indian scientists have played a significant role over the last decade in developing and upgrading detector technologies, as well as advanced data analysis and theoretical interpretation. This wide collaboration is a reflection of India’s increasing footprint in high-energy physics at the world level.’
Institutions like PU are specially celebrated with over ten faculty and alumni contributing to the winning teams, confirming decades of leadership in particle physics and international collaborations as behind it. At the same time, scientists at University of Hyderabad Centre for Advanced Studies in Electronics Science and Technology have made immense contributions to the CMS experiment over these years — in developing novel sensors for detecting particles and physics beyond the standard model.
Elite technical institutes such as IIT Mandi, too, have become significant contributors. In 2024, their School of Physical Sciences got CMS membership and among the researchers were Dr. Amal Sarkar and Prabhakar Palni. Their teamwork has showcased how Indian physicists have established themselves on the world stage of CERN’s premiered programmes, a significant contribution to India’s fundamental physics research.
Researchers like Prof. Supriya Das and Dr. Sanchari Thakur from Bose Institute’s Experimental High Energy Physics group, headed by Prof Sibaji Raha, were actively involved in the ALICE experiment. Their work involves an investigation of quark- gluon plasma, a state of matter that existed in the early universeThe scope of the Indian contribution to probing the origin of matter is thus evident.
The Prize and Its Impact on Indian Science
The Breakthrough Prize of $3 million will be distributed among the four collaborations to ensure that more than 5,000 people are encouraged to join together and celebrate in September: $1 million for CMS and ATLAS; $500,000 apiece for ALICE and LHCb. The prize money will be utilised to provide doctoral student grants under which talent from member institutions such as Indian universities and laboratories can contribute to the research work at CERN. This experience provides them with firsthand knowledge of experimental particle physics, and will prepare the next generation of scientists who will continue the scientific legacy that India upholds.
Prof. Abhay Karandikar, the Secretary of India’s Department of Science and Technology hailed the Indian scientists saying their favourable role they played in LHC experiments and it is a global recognition that this prize brings to Indian science. The accolade highlights not just the groundbreaking discoveries but also how India fits into global research collaborations.
Scientific Significance of the Award-Winning Research
The prize-winning work is based mostly on LHC Run-2 data, which helped to broaden insight into the Higgs boson’s characteristics, quark-gluon plasma and rare interactions between particles. The ALICE detector is concerned with the study of matter at extreme temperatures just after the Big Bang and the CMS experiment studies new particles that could shed light on physics beyond the Standard Model such as dark matter searches. These discoveries would answer some of the most basic questions about what the universe is made of and how it came to be.
The Indian scientists have been involved not only in the data analysis, but als o in developing electronics and firmware for detectors as well as to make hardware better for working of these mega experiments. For example, Hyderabad teams have undertaken upgrades to the CMS detector’s trigger systems, which play a key role in filtering and processing the large volume of data produced by proton collisions.
Future Prospects for Indian Fundamental Physics
India’s continued participation in CERN LHC experiments extends broader scientific and educational vistas. Funds for the Breakthrough Prize support these researchers, a crop of talent that will guarantee knowledge-wealth to flow perpetually from labs around the world into Indian institutions. This inflow ensures a more robust scientific infrastructure within the country leading to high-end R&D and innovation.
In addition, Indian scientists’ contribution towards the development of other types of detectors and high-performance computing may find lay beyond physics. Such expertise and partnerships augment India’s ability to take the lead in other frontier science and technology areas.
The award also gives impetus to continuing investment by Indian science policy makers in megascience, international collaboration and building up indigenous talent pool in the area of fundamental physics. This strategic location will help India influence global scientific developments, and also contribute to the progress of society by improving STEM education and infrastructure.
Celebrating a Historic Moment
The 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics is both a huge leap for India and the world of science. It embodies our global spirit of cooperation, with thousands of scientists around the world — including many in India — contributing to one of humanity’s noblest pursuits: learning what makes the universe tick.
With Indian scientists and industry recognized as an integral part of these historic discoveries at CERN, India’s credible presence of the cutting edge of fundamental physics is well-established. This recognition opens up an exciting future of science and innovation fueled by global collaboration and insatiable curiosity.
This accomplishment not only recognizes the incredible scientific work done to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, but also India’s position as one of the world players in physics research fundamental. Young Indian physicists are to be nurtured with the three million dollar prize, which he has shared with broad LHC collaborations in order to help propel them towards future revolutionary discoveries over several decades.