Bengaluru, 02 November 2026: The Azim Premji Foundation has launched a Social Startups Programme to support development sector professionals in setting up and leading civil society organisations that address the needs of underserved communities.

Many professionals have years of experience working with communities and understand their challenges but lack the financial support and guidance to start organisations of their own. The programme aims to bridge this gap by providing financial assistance, guidance and learning opportunities to help them build locally rooted organisations.

Rajib Ghosh, Head – Philanthropy, Azim Premji Foundation, said: “We need more organisations working at the grassroots, especially in underserved areas. Many experienced professionals understand the challenges communities face and want to contribute more. This programme aims to help them take that step and build organisations of their own. This is distinct from the Foundation’s regular grants programme that supports existing, registered organisations (both mature and more recently early-stage).”

The first cohort will include ~100 participants across four geographies: Odisha, North-East India, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bengaluru Urban. The areas of work supported will include rural livelihoods, health, youth, mental health, disability, children’s welfare, well-being of Adivasi communities, work in urban informal settlements including creches and community sanitation, and welfare rights.

Who can apply
Applicants must be below 40 years of age, have a graduate degree and at least three years of ground-level development sector experience. They should intend to set up and lead a new civil society organisation, be willing to relocate and make a long-term commitment to their chosen geography. Those who have already registered an organisation are not eligible.

Programme structure and support
The programme has two phases. In the first, an eight-month seeding phase, participants will receive financial support to work with communities, understand local needs and develop their organisations. They will also receive guidance on registration, governance and statutory compliances.

At the end of this phase, participants are expected to have registered their organisations. They can then submit a grant proposal for evaluation. Those who meet the programme’s criteria may receive a two-year seed grant to establish and strengthen their work.

Applications and selection

Applications are open from 1 November to 31 December 2026. The selection process includes eligibility screening, document review, a statement of purpose, an online interview and an in-person panel discussion.

The eight-month seeding phase will begin on 1 April 2027. Participants will be assessed in November–December 2027 for progression to the grant phase.

To know more about the programme, eligibility and application process, visit:
https://azimpremjifoundation.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-organised/grants/social-startups-programme/

Chirawa, in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, is known for its rich tradition of military service, with generations of local families contributing to the Indian Armed Forces. Reflecting this legacy of discipline, dedication and service, the initiative has since 2021 been training local youth in Unarmed Security services, creating pathways to formal employment across different sectors like – civil aviation, corporates and industries, hospitals, educational institutions, hospitality and various other industrial establishments.

The dedicated Security Guard Skill Academy has been established near Chirawa Railway Station, creating a permanent training hub for youth from Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. The academy will also introduce a Fire and Safety course to expand its skilling portfolio and prepare candidates for diverse employment opportunities. With an extended curriculum and job-oriented courses delivered by experienced trainers in the field of security, the academy will focus on providing, certified vocational training and expanding opportunities for women across multiple states.

In association with NSF, Ambuja Foundation has trained over 600 young men and women at Skill & Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) Chirawa in the security guard course only, achieving a placement rate of 94% with 20+ placement partners across Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Telangana. Apart from the security guard course, rural youth are also trained in Business Correspondence, Beauty & Wellness, Domestic Data Entry, Guest Service Associate and Field Technician at the SEDI.

Building on the success of previous trainings, Mr. Manish Joshi, CEO, Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation said, “It is encouraging to see a new establishment taking shape to skill the youth of the region. I am confident that this course will help bridge the growing demand for professionally trained unarmed security guards across various sectors, while creating meaningful employment opportunities for our youth,”.

On the launch of the guard training academy in Chirawa, Mr. Chandrakant Kumbhani, CEO, Ambuja Foundation said, “Ambuja Foundation believes in bringing positive change in the lives of rural communities. With the launch of Security Guard Skill Academy, we aim to address several key challenges, including workforce readiness and sector-specific skill shortages. Through this strategic partnership with NSF, we are committed to empowering youth through skill training and placement opportunities in providing sustainable career solutions.

New Delhi, October 10, 2026: Shri Ashish Sood, Hon’ble Minister of Home & Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, and Shikhar Dhawan, Chairperson, Da One Group, inaugurated a state-of-the-art STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Lab at CM Shri School, Janakpuri today under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, organized to mark 25 years of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s public service and to engage citizens in the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Supported by Sportskeeda under its CSR initiative, the STEM Lab has been established under SDF’s STEM Shiksha initiative, building on the Foundation’s work to expand technology-enabled learning across Delhi Government schools.

The Janakpuri STEM Lab marks the expansion of Shikhar Dhawan Foundation’s Digital Shiksha programme, taking technology-enabled learning beyond the classroom and into dedicated spaces for hands-on exploration and experimentation. The initiative is being undertaken in continued collaboration with the Government of NCT of Delhi, with a focus on creating meaningful and future-ready learning opportunities for students across Delhi Government schools.

Shri Ashish Sood, Hon’ble Minister of Home & Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, said, “The Government of Delhi, under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji, is committed to strengthening education through technology and creating advanced and future-ready learning opportunities for children in our Government schools. STEM Labs are an important step in this direction, enabling students to move beyond textbook learning and learn through experience, exploration and experimentation. It is encouraging to see the vision we began with the STEM Lab Launch in August take shape further with the launch of the second Lab here at CM Shri School, Janakpuri. The Government of Delhi shares a long and strong association with Shikhar Dhawan Ji and Da One Group, and I encourage Shikhar Dhawan Ji and his Foundation to take this vision of STEM Labs to more schools across Delhi.”

Shikhar Dhawan, Chairperson of Da One Group and Founder of the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation, said, “It is extremely encouraging for us at the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation to see this initiative grow and reach more schools here in Delhi. When we launched STEM Shiksha, the vision was to create greater access to technology-enabled learning across Delhi under the leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji and the guidance of Hon’ble Minister of Home & Education Shri Ashish Sood Ji. I am grateful to the Government of Delhi for believing in our STEM Shiksha initiative. I am also pleased to have Sportskeeda as our CSR partner for the STEM Lab. We aspire to grow this further to empower our children and make digital education more accessible to them.”

Anshita Gupta, CEO, Da One Group, said, “Shikhar Dhawan Foundation’s partnership with the Government of Delhi has been inspirational in keeping us motivated to grow STEM Shiksha initiative across multiple government schools in Delhi. We are grateful to Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji and Hon’ble Minister of Home & Education Shri Ashish Sood Ji for their continued trust and support in us. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our CSR partner Sportskeeda for coming on board in resonance with Shikhar’s vision of creating meaningful and future-ready opportunities for children.”

Since its launch, the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation’s Digital Shiksha initiative has focused on technology-enabled learning, with STEM Shiksha taking this journey forward through dedicated spaces for hands-on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

STEM Shiksha is being led by Sophie Dhawan, COO, Da One Group, and Anshita Gupta, CEO, Da One Group, who continue to drive the Foundation’s education initiatives and strategic partnerships.

Sanand, Gujarat, 7^th October 2026: Vijayi Bharat Foundation’s Khele Sanand Sports Utsav 2026 today concluded at Sanskardham, marking the culmination of an 18-day sporting movement that brought together 45,000+ young athletes from 150+ schools across all 105 villages of Sanand Taluka. Launched on 17 September, the initiative enabled the early identification and scientific evaluation of sporting talent, creating a pathway from grassroots sport to the Olympic stage while strengthening the sporting culture across Sanand. 

The closing ceremony brought together a distinguished group of sporting personalities and leaders, including Arjuna Awardee and Table Tennis player– Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, MMA Fighter – Pawan Maan Singh, Cricketer – Vedant Trivedi and VBF Directors – Jalaj Dani, Dhanraj Nathwani and Durgesh Agarwal. The ceremony marked the finale of competitions held across the taluka and celebrated the young athletes, schools and communities that came together as part of the Sports Utsav. 

The Sports Utsav culminated with competitions across 23 events in girls’ and boys’ categories, with 336 medals awarded across Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. As part of the closing-day programme, the Chief Guest interacted with the U-17 60m finalists, U-14 50m Cycling, U-8 Softball and witnessed the U-11 Kids Javelin and U-14 and U-17 Tug of War finals. The closing ceremony showcased the journey of Khele Sanand Sports Utsav from 17 September to 7 October, and featured the launch of Veer and Garvi, the mascots of Khele Sanand, representing the movement’s focus on bringing children and communities together through sport. 

Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Arjuna Awardee and Table Tennis Player said, “It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm among the children and the platform that Vijayi Bharat Foundation has created for them through Khele Sanand. This is closely aligned with the vision of making sport more accessible and creating opportunities at the grassroots. Seeing the energy here, I truly believe this is the right time to be in sports. I would encourage every child to keep playing, because sport teaches you dedication, discipline and teamwork. Whether you win or lose, what matters is that you continue to play and keep improving.” 

Pawan Maan Singh, MMA Fighter, said, “The scale of the facilities and the platform created through Khele Sanand is immense, and it is encouraging to see children being given such opportunities at an early age. Initiatives like this can make sport a meaningful part of a child’s journey by giving them access, encouragement and the confidence to compete. It is heartening to see VBF creating an environment where children are being encouraged to take up sport and pursue it seriously.” 

Vedant Trivedi, Cricketer, said, “Being from Gujarat, it makes me really proud to see VBF giving grassroots athletes the attention and opportunities they need to grow. Sporting talent can emerge from anywhere, and what matters is having the right platform, guidance and support to nurture it.Seeing so many children participate through Khele Sanand gives me confidence that initiatives like this can help create a stronger sporting culture and give young athletes the opportunity to take their talent forward.” 

The ceremony included the felicitation of medal winners, addresses by the participating dignitaries and a celebration of the students and schools that contributed to the movement. 

At the heart of Khele Sanand Sports Utsav was a large-scale, on-ground talent identification process led by coaches, scouts and sports experts. Athletes were observed and assessed through sport-specific drills, physical tests and performance parameters to identify promising talent at an early age.

Tools such as statistical data models and predictive analytics were also used to support these assessments, helping create a more scientific pathway for identifying and developing future sporting talent from the grassroots.

Khele Sanand Sports Utsav is part of VBF’s larger effort to strengthen sport at the grassroots by creating structured opportunities for children even before talent reaches established sporting centres.

The Sports Utsav has established a platform across Sanand with the message at its core:

“Every Child. Every School. A Sporting Movement. A Vibrant Sports Taluka.”

●   It follows the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ 27 May 2026 amendment allowing companies to meet CSR obligations by subscribing to ZCZP instruments issued by SSE-listed non-profits.

●       Proceeds will strengthen career counselling, skilling, employer partnerships and long-term livelihood tracking in Pune.

5th October 2026, Mumbai: Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF), a non-profit that helps underserved youth build livelihoods, is set to list on the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Social Stock Exchange (SSE), with its public issue recently openeded on 30th September and closes on 14th October 2026. The issue will raise funds through Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments to expand its Lighthouse programme in Pune. The SSE is a SEBI-regulated platform for eligible non-profits, and the listing builds on a programme that has enabled more than 50,000 youth to access livelihood opportunities.

The timing is significant. On 27 May 2026, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs amended India’s CSR rules so that companies can fulfil their CSR obligations through subscriptions to ZCZP instruments issued by SSE-listed non-profits. For corporates with ESG commitments and measurable impact goals, this creates a direct, regulated route to organisations that can show results at scale. Lighthouse can.

For the past decade, LCF has worked to give young people from underserved communities the guidance, confidence and skills to build careers they choose for themselves. Lighthouse begins before any training does. Every young person is first helped to understand their aspirations, strengths and the realities of the job market, so they can make informed livelihood choices. They then choose from 80 vocational courses delivered through 100+ partner organisations, across fields such as manufacturing, BFSI, fashion design, fitness and nutrition, beautician certification, electrician training, accounting and hospitality.

The model runs on a public-private partnership, with state and local governments providing infrastructure and corporate partners funding operations. Today, Lighthouse operates 51 centres across six states: Delhi, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Women account for nearly 60% of programme enrolments, 77% of placed youth are still employed a year after placement, and two-thirds of graduates find their own job leads after the programme. These are ten years of documented outcomes, not projections, which is exactly what the SSE’s social audit and impact reporting framework is designed to surface and verify.

The need is just as large. India has 367 million young people aged 15 to 29, according to the State of Working India 2026, and the Economic Survey 2025-26 found that 91.94% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 had no exposure to skilling.

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Founder & Chairman, LCF said, “India’s demographic dividend can only be realised if young people are equipped not just with skills, but with the confidence, guidance, and opportunities to make informed livelihood choices. The Social Stock Exchange listing strengthens our ability to build that ecosystem while holding ourselves to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.

The listing is not a fundraising event. It is a transparency commitment, an invitation to institutional donors, impact investors, and CSR partners to examine exactly what we do, how we do it, and what it produces.”

Proceeds from the ZCZP instruments issued through the listing will support the expansion of Lighthouse’s programmes in Pune, strengthening career counselling, skilling, employer partnerships, and long-term livelihood tracking.

Set for completion over a 36-month period, the project will feature 13 modern classrooms, five specialized laboratories, a digital classroom, a library, and separate sanitation facilities. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), the upgraded complex aims to enhance practical learning and provide better academic, digital, and co-curricular access to children from economically weaker communities.

National, September 29, 2026: InterGlobe Foundation, the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, and IndiGoReach, the CSR arm of IndiGo, India’s preferred airline and one of the fastest-growing carriers in the world, jointly hosted an immersive heritage walk in Mysuru. This specially curated experience was part of the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, designed to celebrate and promote the rich cultural heritage of Indian cities. By reconnecting citizens with their roots, the campaign fosters shared pride and a long-term commitment to cultural preservation.

The walk, themed ‘Markets, Museums and Mysuru’, was held in collaboration with Sahapedia and India Foundation for the Arts (IFA). It offered participants a unique opportunity to explore the city beyond its palaces and engage with the civic, commercial, and cultural landscape of Mysuru. Led by Aishwarya Kirit and facilitated by Raghuram SK, the 2.8-km walk moved through nine historic sites in Mysuru’s civic and commercial core, including Jaganmohan Palace, Lansdowne Building, K.R. Circle, Devaraja Market, K.R. Hospital, Cauvery Emporium, Makkaji Chowk, Sri Subramanyeshwara Temple and Town Hall.

Drawing on archival material from the Star of Mysore, the walk brought together newspaper reports, photographs, reader opinions, and letters to reveal how generations of Mysureans experienced, documented, and remembered these spaces. The experience also offered participants an opportunity to engage with Mysuru’s cultural traditions and intangible heritage at the historic Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion. A traditional string puppetry performance by S.N. Srikanta, a fifth-generation puppeteer, highlighted Karnataka’s rich storytelling traditions and craftsmanship. The event drew enthusiastic participation from the local community, government officials, and senior leadership of InterGlobe Foundation and IndiGo.

‘My City My Heritage’ is an ongoing initiative dedicated to raising awareness about India’s diverse cultural and historical legacy. Through engaging dialogues and meaningful partnerships, the campaign aims to preserve and promote both tangible and intangible heritage, encouraging citizens to rediscover and take pride in the stories that shape their communities. Similar walks have been held in twelve cities: Prayagraj, Bhubaneswar, Shillong, Nashik, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahmedabad, Puducherry, Gwalior, and Patiala, with each offering a unique experience. Mysuru marked the 13th city in this series.

Speaking on the occasion, Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, “India’s history is a living legacy, and through the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, we are committed to promoting the unique cultural identity of our cities. Mysuru, with its remarkable civic heritage, rich cultural institutions and living traditions, marked another significant chapter in our journey. By bringing together archival histories, historic urban spaces, and traditional art forms, this experience highlighted the many layers that shape the city. By engaging local citizens and heritage enthusiasts, we hope to inspire a sense of pride and collective responsibility, ensuring that our heritage remains a vibrant and cherished part of our future.”

Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “India’s cultural richness is reflected in the distinct identities of its cities, each contributing to the country’s diverse heritage landscape. Through ‘My City My Heritage’, our endeavor is to create experiences that encourage people to rediscover these unique cultural narratives. Mysuru’s remarkable heritage ecosystem, from its historic institutions and architectural landmarks to its vibrant artistic traditions, offered a compelling example of how culture continues to shape the future of our cities while preserving their unique character. At IndiGo, beyond connecting destinations, we are committed to enriching the communities we operate in.”

Both InterGlobe Foundation and IndiGoReach have undertaken various projects to promote heritage conservation and preservation in India. Key initiatives by InterGlobe Foundation include the conservation and cultural revival of Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan’s mausoleum in Delhi, the cultural mapping and documentation of eighteen cities, the restoration of the ‘Indra Kund’ stepwell in Delwara, the tile restoration of Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum, and Heritage Fellowships. Similarly, IndiGoReach has supported projects to conserve Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad and restore the interiors of the Lal Bagh Palace in Indore.

With an outlay of ₹9.17 crore, the 24-month initiative will organise 700 screening camps, screen 52,500 children, conduct 1,600 echocardiograms and support 500 cardiac surgeries/interventions. The programme will cover Singrauli, Sidhi and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, and Sonbhadra and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, with screening conducted through schools, Anganwadi centres and health facilities.

The initiative builds on the success of its first phase, which screened 38,315 children through 534 camps, conducted 909 echocardiograms and completed 300 cardiac surgeries/interventions. NCL also provided counselling, travel, accommodation, surgery and post-treatment care to beneficiaries, strengthening early detection and access to specialised cardiac treatment for children in underserved communities.