Professor Thalappil Pradeep of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, has found a groundbreaking technique that makes clean groundwater accessible to hundreds of people across the country who currently reside in areas with contaminated water. He won the VinFuture Prize for "Innovators from Developing Countries" for his work on this low-cost groundwater filtration technology. 

In order to provide clean water, Professor Pradeep discovered inexpensive, environmentally safe nanoparticles. When these materials eliminate contaminants like arsenic, they have no negative effects on the environment. This technique uses simplistic designs and offers a low-cost means of purifying groundwater and distributing it to millions of affected households. This approach is more useful in remote locations because it doesn't require energy.

Professor Pradeep received the award at a ceremony held in Hanoi, Vietnam on December 20. Speaking to India Today, Professor Pradeep stated, “I am aware of the huge gap yet to be bridged to deliver clean water to everyone. I hope that this recognition will help in realizing that dream. I thank my institute, which gave me everything. I thank my country, which made me stand up". 

Professor Pradeep was one of 1,000 innovators from 71 nations who were nominated. He has previously received a number of prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, the Nikkei Asia Prize, and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water. Thanks to his innovations, more than 1.2 crore people now have access to clean water.