Axis Bank Opens Its Largest Axis DilSe Centre of Excellence in Tezpur

Tezpur, Assam, November 4, 2026: Axis Bank has inaugurated its eighth and largest Axis DilSe® Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Tezpur, Assam, in partnership with Assam Rifles and the National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO). The residential centre will provide coaching and mentoring to students preparing for national-level competitive examinations, including NEET and JEE.

Named the Dhurba Jyoti Dutta Centre of Excellence, the facility was inaugurated by Lt. General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General, Assam Rifles, in the presence of Major General Inderjit Singh Bhinder, IGAR (E); Brigadier Nishant Chandel, DIG, 21 Sector Assam Rifles; Dr Rohit Srivastava, CEO, NIEDO; and senior representatives from Axis Bank.

The centre is named in honour of Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta of 33 Assam Rifles, who was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award. Earlier located in Dibrugarh, the centre has now been shifted to the 41 Assam Rifles Garrison in Tezpur. It will have the capacity to mentor up to 80 students annually.

Launched in 2022, the Axis DilSe® Centres of Excellence programme is a CSR partnership between Axis Bank, Assam Rifles and NIEDO. It provides fully residential, intensive coaching and mentoring for up to one year to students aspiring to appear for national-level entrance examinations, including NEET and JEE. The programme also focuses on building students' confidence, discipline and leadership skills through mentoring.

With the new facility, the initiative now operates eight centres across six north-eastern states. According to the organisations, the centres have collectively supported more than 1,000 students in securing admission to colleges and universities across India, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The programme has also reported results from its 2025-26 cohort. Of the 308 students across the eight centres who appeared for NEET, 264 qualified, recording a success rate of 86%. Five centres reported qualifying rates of more than 90%. Among the 41 students who appeared for JEE, 32 secured admission to engineering institutions, including IITs, National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and BIT Mesra.

Speaking at the inauguration, Lt. Gen. Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General, Assam Rifles, said, "The youth of Northeast India possess immense talent and aspiration. Through partnerships such as this, we can provide deserving students with access to quality guidance, mentorship and opportunities that help them realise their full potential. The Centre at Tezpur will serve as a platform for nurturing future leaders and professionals from the region."

Dr. Rohit Srivastava, CEO, NIEDO, said, "The Tezpur Centre reflects the power of collaboration between government, industry and implementation partners. Together, we are creating opportunities for young people to realise their potential and build brighter futures. I encourage every student to make the most of this opportunity and strive for excellence."

Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, said, "At Axis Bank, we believe that opportunities should not be constrained by geography or economic circumstances. This has been the core purpose of our Axis DilSe® philosophy for almost a decade, which has supported thousands of children and youth from India’s international borders in the North-east to its remotest interiors to pursue their ambitions and build meaningful futures. We are proud to inaugurate our largest Axis DilSe® Centre of Excellence at Tezpur with the Assam Rifles that once again reaffirms our commitment to supporting education-led development in India’s North-East."

Through the Axis DilSe® initiative, the three partners aim to expand access to quality coaching and mentorship for students from remote communities in the North-East. The programme seeks to support young people in pursuing higher education and professional opportunities, while contributing to the region's development and India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.