The award recognises REC’s continued commitment to using sports as a powerful tool for youth empowerment, inclusion and community development, creating opportunities and enabling aspiring talent across the country.

REC’s CSR interventions in the sports sector reflect its focus on nurturing talent, promoting inclusivity and creating avenues for youth to realise their potential. By supporting sports development, REC Foundation continues to contribute towards building a more inclusive and empowered society.

Mumbai, 18th August 2026: Building on progress made in 2025 through the women’s empowerment program in Dadri, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ambuja Foundation and Aramco have extended the “Empowering Women” initiative for an additional year in 2026. This year, the project will focus on expanding opportunities for women in the region through training in stitching, tailoring, and block printing.

Bengaluru, 10August 2026: ACC, the cement and building materials company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, along with the Adani Foundation, through its Adani Skill Development Centre (ASDC) at ACC Thondebhavi, is helping young people in Karnataka find careers that do not require them to choose between earning a living and being present for their families.

Santhosha had done everything right. The young man from Chikkadalavatta village in Thondebhavi had completed his ITI, gathered work experience and shown the kind of initiative that should have made finding stable employment straightforward. But the right opportunity close to home kept not appearing. What was available was either too far away or too unstable. And for Santhosha, distance from family was not a tradeoff he wanted to make indefinitely.

When he enrolled in the Domestic Data Entry Operator course at the Adani Skill Development Centre, he was not starting from zero. He was filling in the gaps of digital fluency, the communication skills, the workplace readiness and the structured career guidance that his ITI had prepared him for technically but not professionally. The course gave him the full picture.

The placement support that followed was equally purposeful. Santhosha was matched with Musashi Auto Parts Pvt. Ltd. in Doddaballapura — close enough to home to matter, substantial enough as an employer to offer what he had been looking for. He joined as an operator and now earns Rs. 17,750 per month.

The salary is important. But for Santhosha, what the job represents goes beyond the payslip. It is stability, proximity to family and the end of a period of uncertainty that had stretched on longer than it should have for someone with his ability and his drive.

For Adani Foundation at ACC Thondebhavi, Santhosha’s story is a reminder that skill development is most powerful when it meets people where they already are — and helps them get to where they have always been capable of going.

Bengaluru, 3rd August, 2026 – Kotak Securities Limited (KSL), through its flagship CSR initiative Kona Kona Shiksha, has empowered about 3.6 lakhs youth with financial literacy since its launch in July 2021. In FY26 alone, the programme reached 72,624 students nationwide, reinforcing its scale and relevance in building financial knowledge among India’s young population.

Implemented in partnership with the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), the programme was conducted across 293 cities and 909 colleges during the year. The programme delivers a structured 10-hour learning module covering personal finance, investment fundamentals, securities markets and financial planning, culminating in an online assessment and NISM certification that equips students with practical, industry-relevant financial skills.

Shripal Shah, MD & CEO, Kotak Securities, added, “At Kotak Securities, helping people make informed financial decisions is at the heart of what we do. In a rapidly evolving financial landscape, financial literacy must begin early. Through Kona Kona Shiksha, we are working to equip young Indians with the knowledge and confidence to navigate financial choices responsibly. The encouraging impact of the programme reinforces our commitment to expanding its reach and contributing to a more financially aware and resilient generation.”

Sashi Krishnan, Director, NISM, said, “We take immense pride in the continued impact of Kona Kona Shiksha. Our partnership with Kotak Securities has enabled us to equip lakhs of young Indians with essential financial knowledge and skills. The strong participation and positive feedback we receive each year reaffirm the growing need for financial literacy, and we remain committed to further expanding the programme’s reach.”

As a flagship initiative within Kotak Securities’ education-focused CSR portfolio, Kona Kona Shiksha continues to receive strong participant endorsement, underscoring its relevance and its success in driving meaningful, long-term change where it matters most.

For these learners from rural and educationally underserved communities, the examinations mark far more than an academic milestone. They represent a second chance to complete their education, pursue their aspirations, and build a more independent future after having previously dropped out of school.

Through its Pragati program, Educate Girls identifies adolescent girls and young women aged 15–29 who have left school and supports them in re-entering the education system through flexible second-chance learning opportunities. The program is currently implemented in the districts of Dhar, Barwani, Khargone, and Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Across these four districts, 2,654 learners have been identified, enrolled with MPSOS, and are now taking their Class 10 board examinations.

Working closely with families, communities, local stakeholders, and government partners, Educate Girls has helped these learners overcome barriers to education and return to formal learning. Their participation in the examinations reflects months of preparation, determination, and the transformative impact of providing girls with the opportunity to continue their education.

Sixteen-year-old Nikita, a Pragati learner from Ujjain shared her experience and said, “All the hard work I put in truly paid off in the examination. The learning I received during the preparation camp, along with the guidance and encouragement of the Educate Girls team, helped me prepare well. Today, I have more confidence in myself than ever before.”

Dr. Ramakant Tiwari, Assistant Director, Madhya Pradesh State Open School Education Board (MPSOS), said, “I encourage all learners and their parents to approach these examinations with thorough preparation and complete dedication. Believe in yourselves, remain confident, and give your best.”

Ranjeet Nath, State Lead, Educate Girls, Madhya Pradesh, said, “Every learner appearing for the MPSOS Class 10 board examinations is a reminder that no educational journey is beyond revival when young women are supported with the right opportunities. At Educate Girls, we believe every girl deserves the chance to complete her education and realise her potential. We wish all our learners the very best for their examinations and the future that lies ahead.”