Mrthdrb

Let $k$ be a field, $G$ a finite group, and $k[G]$ the group algebra.
Let $A$ be a subalgebra of $k[G]$. In general, $A$ is not the group algebra of some subgroup $H$ of $G$.

Question: Is there any criterion for when $A = k[H]$ for some subgroup $H$? Also, in that case, how do we read of the generating subgroup $H$? Will the situation become better/easier if I assume $A$ to be a sub-Hopf-algebra?

The characteristic of the field is important here, when considering Hopf sub-algebras. The Cartier-Kostant-Milnor-Moore theorem says that a cocommutative Hopf algebra $H$ over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic 0, is a semidirect product of a group algebra and an enveloping algebra of a Lie algebra. In particular, if $H$ is finite dimensional cocommutative Hopf algebra over $k$, then $H$ is isomorphic to a group algebra.

This theorem is not true over algebraically closed fields in positive characteristics, as there are restricted enveloping $p$-Lie algebras that are finite dimensional cocommutative Hopf algebras but not isomorphic to group algebras.

See the introduction of https://cel.archives-ouvertes.fr/cel-00374383/document (by Nicolas Andruskiewitsch) for further information.

If $A$ is the group algebra of a subgroup, then $k[G]$ will be free as a module over $A$, and that may help to rule out some cases. This is not at all an "if and only if" statement, though.

Proposition 3.2.1 in Sweedler's book Hopf Algebras says that a cocommutative Hopf algebra is a group algebra if and only if it has a basis of group-like elements (those elements $x$ which satisfy $Delta(x) = x otimes x$). So if you have a sub-Hopf algebra, you can try to see if it has such a basis.

Ravenel says in Theorem 6.2.3 in Complex Cobordism and Stable Homotopy Groups of Spheres: "this is equivalent to the existence of a dual basis of idempotent elements $y$ satisfying $y_i^2=y_i$ and $y_iy_j=0$ for $i neq j$."