In India, science is often taught through rote learning, leaving little room for children to experiment or ask questions. For students in underserved communities, this can make science feel distant and unapproachable. KPIT Technologies set out to change this through its flagship CSR initiative, Chhote Scientists. Launched in 2012, the program gives students access to hands-on science learning, using simple experiments and activity-based kits to make concepts easier to grasp.
Over the past decade, Chhote Scientists has reached more than 1.5 lakh students in 1,000+ schools across 86 districts. Beyond the numbers, it has given children—many of whom are first-generation learners—the confidence to explore, innovate, and see science as a part of their daily lives, not just a subject to memorize for exams.
Leading this effort is Mr. Tushar Juvekar, Lead – CSR Initiatives at KPIT Technologies. With over 20 years of experience in community development, Mr. Juvekar has played a central role in designing and scaling initiatives that now impact more than 6 million lives across India and beyond.
We spoke to Mr. Juvekar to learn more about the journey of Chhote Scientists, the importance of employee engagement, and how consistent efforts can lead to lasting change.
Q&A
Q. Chhote Scientists has touched over 1.5 lakh students across India so far. Could you share the vision that led to its inception and how it aligns with KPIT’s core philosophy of reimagining mobility for a cleaner, smarter, and safer world?
A. At KPIT, our commitment to shaping a cleaner, smarter, and safer world through mobility innovation extends beyond technology—it begins with nurturing future-ready minds. Chhote Scientists was conceived in 2012 as a grassroots effort to build scientific curiosity and rational thinking among school-going children. We believed then—as we do now—that solving complex challenges like those in mobility begins with cultivating a foundational understanding of science from an early age.
Through hands-on learning and inquiry-based methods, the initiative empowers students not just to learn science, but to experience it, question it, and apply it meaningfully in day to day life. This ethos aligns seamlessly with KPIT’s own journey as an innovation-driven company—where we view sustainability, science, and education as interlinked responsibilities.
Q. What sets Chhote Scientists apart from other STEM education initiatives in India, particularly for students from underserved communities? Could you walk us through how the program is designed to be experiential and impactful at scale?
A. What distinguishes Chhote Scientists is its structured approach to experiential learning that makes science both intuitive and inclusive. With the aim of complementing textbook-based learning, the program equips students across rural, urban, and semi-urban schools with the tools to observe, ask, think, and experiment. Modules are meticulously mapped to age and grade, covering core scientific concepts and skills like observation, questioning, classification, and environmental awareness to understand science in a better way. Importantly, every experiment is designed to be low-cost and easy to replicate, which ensures accessibility even in resource-constrained schools. The program is not just about outreach—it’s about meaningful engagement that scales without diluting quality. Today, the model operates across 1,000+ schools in 86 districts from 10 states and has been successfully adopted by diverse education ecosystems—from Pune to the Northeast and even globally, in countries like US, Brazil and Thailand.
Q. As you look to scale the program to 5 lakh students annually, what are the key challenges you foresee—especially in rural India—and how do you plan to overcome them?
A. Scaling Chhote Scientists to reach half a million students annually is an important goal for us. The biggest challenge lies not in reach, but in retaining quality and consistency—especially when scaling to rural geographies. Teacher training is a critical bottleneck, given the pedagogy shift required from rote to experiential science.
To address this, we’ve institutionalized a cascading training model, where master trainers from partner institutions like Jnana Prabodhini conduct intensive residential workshops for local educators/facilitators. These are supplemented with digital toolkits, QR-coded manuals, and continuous monitoring via feedback loops. At the same time, strategic partnerships with school networks and local NGOs enable operational efficiency. The aim is not just to expand, but to deepen impact as we scale.
Q. The program leverages hands-on learning using low-cost experiments. How do you ensure curriculum relevance, scientific accuracy, and scalability while keeping the model simple and accessible?
A. Chhote Scientists follows a 4S design philosophy: Simple, Scalable, Sustainable, and Sharable. The curriculum is directly mapped to national and state education boards (CBSE SSC & NEP) to ensure alignment. However, where most curricula stop at theory, we extend into experiential domains. For example, instead of demonstrating Newton's laws via simulations, students build models using everyday objects—paper, cups, string—to internalize scientific principles. Each module is rigorously tested for accuracy and ease of implementation, and reviewed with the support of our academic partners.
Our execution models—through teachers, corporate volunteers, and NGOs—ensure wide coverage while retaining quality. This hybrid model of instruction, validation, and real-time feedback enables scale without compromising pedagogical integrity.
Q. Employee engagement is central to KPIT’s CSR. How have KPIT employees contributed to the success of Chhote Scientists, and what role do they play in the program’s expansion and on-ground execution?
A. Chhote Scientists was born out of employee initiative—and continues to thrive because of it. KPIT’s employees currently serve as Vidnyan Doots (science ambassadors), conducting regular sessions across schools in India and abroad. Our employees help design curriculum elements, problem-solving challenges (like the vSolve competition), and mentor students during boot camps and science fairs. In cities like Pune, Bengaluru, and even locations like US, Brazil and Thailand, KPIT employees volunteer in classrooms, helping translate complex science into joyful learning. The ownership shown by our people—from developing learning aids to field implementation—has been instrumental in scaling and sustaining the program. It is this alignment between professional expertise and social responsibility that gives Chhote Scientists its unique energy and authenticity.
Q. You’ve had an inspiring personal journey—from an engineer to a full-time social development leader. How has your experience in Northeast India shaped the way you approach CSR at a global tech company like KPIT?
A. Spending the early years of my career in Northeast India—amid development challenges, border vulnerabilities, and social inequalities—profoundly shaped my understanding of what sustainable change looks like. That experience taught me that lasting transformation doesn’t come from sporadic aid, but from consistent engagement, empathy, and systems thinking. At KPIT, this insight has informed how we approach CSR: with long-term commitment, not transactional support. Whether it’s through education, energy, or environment, we strive to embed purpose in every initiative. Our belief is that a tech company cannot just engineer mobility solutions—it must also enable human progress in the communities it touches.
Q. KPIT has also been recognized for its other initiatives like KPIT Sparkle and reforestation drives. How do you ensure coherence between your diverse CSR projects under the themes of Energy, Education, and Environment?
A. We consciously anchor all our CSR initiatives within a ‘4E’ framework—Environment Education, Energy, and Employee Engagement. This thematic focus ensures coherence across seemingly diverse projects. For instance, KPIT Sparkle nurtures student-led engineering innovations in mobility and energy; our reforestation work combines ecological restoration with employment and community resilience. Chhote Scientists brings science based experiential learning into classrooms, while simultaneously seeding long-term interest in STEM careers. The common thread is impact that is not just scalable but strategic—backed by data, deep collaboration, and employee involvement. By staying focused on these pillars, we are able to drive convergence across initiatives and sustain momentum over time.
Q. With AI, automation, and climate change transforming the future of work and life, how is KPIT integrating future-readiness and sustainability into its CSR vision for the next decade?
A. Our CSR roadmap increasingly reflects the dual imperative of future-readiness and environmental stewardship. For instance, we are building digital tools to support program monitoring and teacher training—reducing administrative load and improving efficiency. At the same time, we are exploring sustainability-focused modules within Chhote Scientists, such as the Green Olympiad, which trains students in project-based environmental thinking. Whether it’s enhancing digital access, supporting eco-literacy, or enabling circular economy skills, our aim is to build capacities that will serve students and communities not just today—but a decade from now. We believe that social responsibility in the age of climate disruption and AI must equip people with agency, not just aid.
Q. How do partnerships—with NGOs, schools, and even government bodies—enhance the impact of Chhote Scientists? Could you share any significant collaborations that helped unlock scale or innovation?
A. Strategic partnerships are the backbone of Chhote Scientists. Our long-standing collaboration with Jnana Prabodhini has helped standardize curriculum and teacher training at scale. Collaborations with school networks like Vidya Bharati, Vivekananda Kendra, and other esteemed educational institutions have enabled deep penetration into remote areas. We also work closely with municipal school bodies and secure annual approvals from state education departments to ensure compliance and continuity. These partnerships go beyond operational convenience—they enable innovation, cultural relevance, and scale without dilution. Most importantly, they reflect a shared mission: that science literacy is foundational to India’s inclusive growth.
Q. Finally, what is your message to other corporates who want to go beyond compliance and build CSR programs that are both strategic and deeply human in their impact?
A. CSR that creates real impact isn’t built on checklists—it’s built on conviction. My message to other corporates is simple: choose fewer initiatives, but invest deeply. Find issues that resonate with your core values and employee ethos, and then approach them not as donors but as stakeholders. At KPIT, our programs like Chhote Scientists have scaled because we saw them not as projects, but as platforms to shape future generations. If we want CSR to be truly transformative, we must think in decades, not quarters. The impact of a well-designed program will certainly shape the world you’re engineering.
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