Sankar K. Pal
Also known as Sankar Kumar Pal
Pal is a researcher whose work covers soft computing, pattern recognition and image processing. He earns a BSc in physics at the University of Calcutta in 1969 and a PhD in electrical engineering at Imperial College London in 1982. He joins the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata in 1975 and founds its Machine Intelligence Unit in 1993. The International Association for Pattern Recognition names him a fellow in 2002, and he receives the Padma Shri in Science and Engineering in 2013. As of October 2026, he is an ANRF Prime Minister Professor and an emeritus professor at ISI.
- Now at
- Indian Statistical Institute and ANRF
- Works
- 495
- Citations
- 25,075
- h-index
- 69
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 14 October 2026.
Timeline
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1969
Physics studies in Calcutta
Studying at the University of Calcutta, he earns a BSc in physics in 1969.
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1975–1987
Joining the Indian Statistical Institute
In 1975 he joins the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata as a CSIR senior research fellow. He becomes a professor there in 1987.
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1982
A doctorate from Imperial College
At Imperial College London, he completes a PhD in electrical engineering in 1982.
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1993–2004
Soft computing centers at ISI
He founds the Machine Intelligence Unit in 1993 and the Center for Soft Computing Research in 2004, both at ISI.
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2002
An IAPR fellowship
The International Association for Pattern Recognition names him a fellow in 2002 for contributions to pattern recognition and image processing using soft computing.
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2013
The Padma Shri award
In 2013 he receives the Padma Shri in Science and Engineering.
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2022–2026
Serving as ISI president
From 2022 to 2026, he serves as president of the Indian Statistical Institute, after directing it from 2005 to 2010.
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As of October 2026
An ANRF Prime Minister Professorship
He is an ANRF Prime Minister Professor and an emeritus professor at ISI.
Sources and credits
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