Kotak Education Foundation Launches Kotak Kanya Scholarship 2026 for Meritorious Girl Students

New Delhi, July 29, 2026: Kotak Education Foundation (KEF), the CSR implementing arm of the Kotak Mahindra Group, has launched the Kotak Kanya Scholarship 2026 under the campaign "One in a Million" to support meritorious girl students from financially underserved families in pursuing professional higher education.

Now in its sixth year, the scholarship programme aims to remove financial barriers for girls seeking admission to professional courses such as engineering, MBBS, architecture, design and integrated LLB at NIRF- or NAAC-accredited institutions. Selected scholars will receive ₹1.5 lakh per year until the completion of their degree, along with mentoring, career guidance, life skills training and mental well-being support.

Since its launch in 2021, the Kotak Kanya Scholarship has supported 1,525 girls across 24 states. The Foundation plans to onboard 500 new scholars during 2026–27. According to KEF, its scholarship initiatives have supported more than 4,000 scholars, with over 2,000 alumni now working in leading organisations and institutions.

Commenting on the launch, Ridhi Bhatia, Senior Vice President – Group CSR, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said, “Education is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term community development. However, for many deserving young women, financial constraints continue to limit access to professional higher education at a pivotal stage in their lives. Through the Kotak Kanya Scholarship, we seek to ensure that merit and ambition - not economic circumstance - shape a young woman's future, enabling her to unlock her potential and create lasting impact for her family, community and beyond."

Arati Kaulgud, Head of Scholarship Program and Executive Committee Member (EC), Kotak Education Foundation, said, “As we celebrate the first successful outcomes of the Kotak Kanya Scholarship, we are proud to see our scholars creating a ripple effect. From joining leading global technology companies and India’s top corporations to graduating as our first doctors, they are fulfilling not only their own aspirations but also the dreams of their families. Their success inspires us to extend this opportunity to 500 more deserving young women. Our rigorous selection and focus on holistic development make us one of the most impactful scholarship programmes. By enabling more women to pursue careers in traditionally underrepresented fields, we are helping build a more gender-balanced workforce. We encourage India’s brightest young women to apply and become the next generation of changemakers.”

Eligible applicants must have scored 75% or above in Class 12, have an annual family income below ₹6 lakh, and secured admission to the first year of a professional undergraduate programme for the 2026–27 academic session.