Jubilant Bhartia Foundation Announces Finalists for SEOY India Award 2026

Mumbai, July 16, 2026: Jubilant Bhartia Foundation (JBF), in partnership with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, has announced the five finalists for the 17th edition of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY) India Award 2026. Since its inception in 2009, the award has recognised social entrepreneurs developing scalable solutions to address key social challenges across India.

The 2026 finalists were selected from 208 applications, nearly 70% of which were first-time applicants, following a multi-stage evaluation process based on social impact, innovation, scalability, sustainability and potential for systemic change.

The shortlisted finalists are Dr. Neha Verma of Intelehealth (Maharashtra) for AI-enabled telemedicine solutions, Nidhi Pant of Science For Society Techno Services Pvt. Ltd. (S4S Technologies), Maharashtra, for solar-powered food processing and rural entrepreneurship, Nuneseno Chase of YouthNet (Nagaland) for youth-led development initiatives, Vinay Kumar Reddy Vadde of Sickle Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (Telangana) for agricultural technology solutions, and Vineet Saraiwala of Atypical Advantage (Jharkhand) for promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through a technology-enabled platform.

The finalists will present their work before an independent jury, with the winner scheduled to be announced at an awards ceremony in New Delhi on August 21, 2026. The recipient will join the Schwab Foundation's global community of social innovators, while all finalists will be eligible to apply for the Hindustan Times Fellowship for the Stanford Seed Transformation Program.

Mr. Vivek Prakash, Head, Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, said, “Over the past 17 editions, the Social Entrepreneur of the Year India Award has evolved into a platform that not only recognises exceptional social entrepreneurs but also amplifies innovative solutions that create meaningful and lasting impact. This year's finalists reflect the strength and diversity of India's social innovation ecosystem, demonstrating how purpose-driven leadership can address complex societal challenges through scalable and sustainable models. Together with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, we remain committed to strengthening the ecosystem by providing deserving changemakers with a platform to inspire, collaborate and scale their impact.”

Dr. Francois Bonnici, Director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, said, “As India advances towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, it is important to recognise the contributions that social entrepreneurs are making to the country’s inclusive growth and development journey. Across India, they are combining innovation with a deep understanding of local realities to develop solutions that expand opportunity, strengthen resilience and improve lives at scale. The finalists of this year’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year India Award demonstrate the potential of social innovation in contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future. Together with our partners at the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, we are proud to celebrate these finalists’ achievements - this recognition will amplify their influence, inspire others and encourage greater support for the solutions helping to shape India’s future.”