Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra Passes Away: Founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar
Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away at the age of 74. He was widely known as the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar and a pioneer in neurosciences in India.
What happened
Eminent neurosurgeon Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away on Monday night, November 2, 2026, at AIIMS, New Delhi, at the age of 74 following complications from a brain stroke while battling glioblastoma. He had been shifted from SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, to AIIMS, New Delhi, for advanced care in October 2026.
A distinguished medical professional hailing from Odisha, Dr Mahapatra served nearly four decades at AIIMS New Delhi, holding prominent roles including Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, Chief of the Neurosciences Centre, and Dean of Research. He later served as the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar from 2012 to 2016, establishing its initial academic and super-speciality programmes, and also headed SGPGIMS Lucknow as Director from 2006 to 2009.
Important dates
| Demise of Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra | 2 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Transferred for Advanced Care | 2 October 2026 |
📌 Static GK links
- Award: Padma Shri (2025)
- Profession: Neurosurgeon
- Institution Linked: AIIMS Bhubaneswar (Founding Director)
- Origin: Odisha
What candidates should do
- Aspirants preparing for upcoming Banking, SSC, UPSC, and State PSC examinations should note the prominent personalities who have passed away recently, especially Padma awardees and institutional founders.
- Make a note of Dr Mahapatra's key institutional affiliations, including AIIMS Bhubaneswar, AIIMS New Delhi, and SGPGIMS Lucknow, for current affairs and static GK questions.
PrepZen analysis
The passing of Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra marks the loss of one of India's foremost medical pioneers who played a pivotal role in expanding premier healthcare infrastructure in eastern India. As the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, his contributions transformed medical education and super-speciality healthcare delivery in Odisha.
In competitive exams such as UPSC, State PSCs, and SSC, questions regarding eminent personalities often test their primary achievements, associated institutions, and civilian honours. Aspirants should thoroughly memorise his association with AIIMS Bhubaneswar, SGPGIMS Lucknow, his 2025 Padma Shri award, and his milestone medical surgeries like the separation of conjoined twins.
Practice questions
Q1. Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, who passed away recently, was the founding Director of which institution?
Q2. In which year was Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra conferred with the Padma Shri award?
He was a Padma Shri awardee from 2025.
He served as the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Dr. Mahapatra was a distinguished medical professional from Odisha.
🎯 Key Point: Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, passed away.
FAQs
Who was Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra?
Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra was an eminent Indian neurosurgeon, Padma Shri awardee, and the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
When did Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra pass away?
He passed away on Monday night, November 2, 2026, at AIIMS, New Delhi, at the age of 74.
Which major institutions did Dr Mahapatra head during his career?
He served as the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Director of SGPGIMS Lucknow, and Vice-Chancellor of SOA University, alongside holding key leadership roles at AIIMS New Delhi.
What major medical milestone was he associated with in 2017?
He led a 30-member multidisciplinary surgical team at AIIMS New Delhi in 2017 to successfully separate craniopagus conjoined twins (Jaga and Kalia) from Odisha in India's first such successful procedure.
Sources and references
- tribuneindia.com (www.tribuneindia.com)
- hindustantimes.com (www.hindustantimes.com)
- sarkaripariksha.com (sarkaripariksha.com)
- pragativadi.com (pragativadi.com)
Prepared by PrepZen for exam preparation. Consult the linked sources for original announcements and current details. Corrections policy. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
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