Shri Ajay V. Bhatt, the Indian-American computer architect widely celebrated as the creator of the Universal Serial Bus (USB), has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his extraordinary contributions in the field of Science and Engineering.
Born in Vadodara, Gujarat, Bhatt completed his engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University and later pursued his master’s in the United States. In the 1990s, while working at Intel Corporation, Bhatt proposed and led the development of USB—a revolutionary technology that made connecting electronic devices to computers simple and universal. Since its release in 1996, USB has become the global standard for device connectivity, powering billions of gadgets across the world.
Speaking on the recognition, Shri Bhatt remarked:
“This honour is deeply meaningful. USB was born out of frustration with complex systems—and a desire to simplify life for users everywhere. I never imagined it would have such worldwide impact.”
Beyond USB, Bhatt holds more than 130 patents, and as a Senior Intel Fellow, he continues to influence the future of computing technologies including platform power management and processor architecture.
Despite the massive success of USB, Bhatt did not personally profit from the technology—Intel made it freely available to promote standardization across the industry. His humility and dedication to public benefit have made him a role model for innovators globally.
The Padma Shri celebrates Shri Ajay V. Bhatt not just for inventing a breakthrough tool—but for making digital access easier, faster, and more inclusive for the entire world.
India proudly honours one of its brightest tech minds whose simple idea revolutionized modern life—one port at a time.
