Four Top Social Innovators make it to the final round of the 16th Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY) India Award 2025
Noida, June 26, 2025 The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, in partnership with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship (sister organisation of The World Economic Forum) are proud to announce the finalists of the 16th edition of the ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ India Award 2025. This award recognises and celebrates the outstanding contributions of social innovators in India who have transformed lives and communities through their exceptional socio-business initiatives.
The selected Finalists and their organisations are:
The final winner will be announced on August 8, 2025, in a ceremony in New Delhi, where global leaders and representatives from various sectors will gather to celebrate social entrepreneurship.
Selection Criteria:
- Addressing social inequalities, exclusion and marginalisation
- Unique social model or initiative
- Potential for sustainable, systemic-level change
The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation conducted background research, team interactions, impact assessments, expert reviews and reference checks to select these four high-impact social innovators.
The winner will join the Schwab Foundation’s global network of social innovators and can apply for the Hindustan Times Fellowship for the Stanford Seed Transformation program.
Statistics:
- 172 applications received in 2025
- 60% were first-time applicants
- Top sectors: Education, Healthcare, Livelihood, Agriculture, Clean Technology
The shortlisted finalists have contributed to:
- Poverty alleviation via Self-Help Groups, education and livelihood generation
- Road safety and trauma care through policy advocacy and tech-driven solutions
- Socioeconomic change in remote areas through solar-powered public health and rural entrepreneurship
- Empowering rural artisans via cooperatives, skill-building, and fair wages
Meet the Finalists
Kalpana Sankar
Organisation: Hand in Hand India and Belstar Microfinance
Website: hihindia.org
Year Established: 2004
Sector: Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation
About: Dr. Kalpana Sankar, a nuclear physicist turned visionary social entrepreneur, is the Managing Director of Belstar Microfinance Ltd. and Co-founder & Chairperson of Hand in Hand India. She has impacted over 10 million women through employment and enterprise development. Her five-pillar model integrates financial inclusion, education, healthcare, sanitation, and livelihoods. Hand in Hand India has mobilised 5.75 million women into SHGs, disbursed ?34,000 crore in microfinance, transitioned 373,040 children from labour to school, and revived 45,115 hectares for organic farming. She has received the Nari Shakti Puraskar and Princess Sabeeka Global Award.
Piyush Tewari
Organisation: SaveLIFE Foundation
Website: savelifefoundation.org
Year Established: 2008
Sector: Public Health
About: Piyush Tewari, a Harvard graduate and ex-private equity professional, founded SaveLIFE Foundation after a personal tragedy. He led the enactment of India’s first Good Samaritan Law and created the Zero-Fatality Solutions program that cut road deaths by 67% in high-risk zones. His organisation’s work spans safer road design, enforcement, trauma response, and community engagement.
Nagakarthik MP
Organisation: Sauramandala Foundation
Website: sauramandala.org
Year Established: 2018
Sector: Digital Governance and Poverty Alleviation
About: Nagakarthik MP, inspired to bridge policy and ground realities, founded Sauramandala Foundation using a community-led, co-creation approach. Their Centre for Accelerated Development (CFAD) empowers underserved communities in Northeast India. With support to 450+ rural entrepreneurs and 10,000 youth, their clean energy initiatives now power 350+ health centres. Their participatory model is transforming public policy to be locally informed and scalable.
Sumita Ghose
Organisation: Rangsutra Crafts India
Website: rangsutra.com
Year Established: 2006
Sector: Women Empowerment and Livelihood
About: After her husband’s death, Sumita Ghose founded Rangsutra to connect rural artisans to global markets. Rangsutra has empowered over 8,000 artisans—70% of them women—through design workshops, enterprise training and shareholder ownership. Their impact extends to over 50,000 beneficiaries. Rangsutra blends heritage with innovation to deliver dignity and livelihood to India’s craft communities.
About Us
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: In partnership with the World Economic Forum, it’s a global platform supporting systemic change through social innovation since 1998. Co-founded by Klaus and Hilde Schwab.
Jubilant Bhartia Foundation (JBF): Founded in 2007 as the CSR arm of Jubilant Bhartia Group, JBF works in community development, healthcare, environment, education, sports, and social entrepreneurship.
Media Contact:
Vivek Prakash
Jubilant Bhartia Foundation
Ph: +91 120 436 1804; 9810674758
Email: vivek.prakash@jubl.com