Dr. G. Gopakumar

Former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Kerala

Prof. (Dr.) G. Gopa Kumar is the former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kerala and an eminent political scientist, psephologist, and academic with over 41 years of distinguished service in higher education. He previously served as Dean of Social Sciences and Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Kerala, and as Director General of the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala.

A specialist in International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Indian Politics, Prof. Gopa Kumar has authored and edited 12 books and published more than 145 research articles. He has also guided 28 PhD scholars, making significant contributions to political science research and teaching.

He has held prestigious fellowships and visiting appointments at leading international institutions, including the University of New South Wales (Australia), Claremont Graduate University (USA), and the University of Calgary (Canada). His academic excellence has been recognised through several national and international honours, including the Fulbright Fellowship (USA), Salzburg Fellowship (Austria), UGC-Indo-French Cultural Exchange Award, Australian Studies Senior Fellowship, and Shastri Mobility Fellowship.

Beyond academia, Prof. Gopa Kumar is widely respected as a public intellectual, television political analyst, and newspaper columnist, known for his objective, evidence-based analysis of political and electoral developments.

At Cosmo IAS Civil Services Academy, Prof. Gopa Kumar guides the Academy as a Patron and personally teaches Political Science.