PRIF Scholarship Programme Helps 364 Scholars Generate ₹10 Crore Annual Income

New Delhi, August 13, 2026: The Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), in partnership with Youth Dreamers Foundation (YDF), has reported that 364 scholars supported through its scholarship programme are now employed across 273 companies, collectively generating nearly ₹10 crore in annual income.

The update comes on International Youth Day 2026, whose theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”. Since 2019, the PRIF Scholarship Support Program has supported 2,576 scholars across Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan through scholarships, mentorship, Digital Learning & Resource Centres (DLRCs), career guidance and employability-focused interventions.

Over the last five years, the programme has provided ₹6.91 crore in direct scholarship support and facilitated access to an additional ₹4.77 crore through government and private scholarship schemes, taking total educational support to nearly ₹11.68 crore.

The programme also seeks to support the transition from education to employment. Community-based DLRCs provide digital access, skill-building, mentoring and career-readiness support. Across the centres, more than 250 learning hours and 105 learning sessions have been conducted, with over 18,000 visits recorded.

A spokesperson for Pernod Ricard India Foundation said, “The theme ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’ reflects a powerful reality—while young people come from diverse backgrounds, their ambitions for a better future are shared. At Pernod Ricard India Foundation, our focus extends beyond access to education. We are committed to creating an ecosystem that nurtures skills, enables youth from underserved communities to unlock their potential and improves access to employability. The success of the programme is reflected not only in educational outcomes but also in the growing number of scholars transitioning into higher education and employment opportunities. We believe that by investing in young people today, we are helping to build more resilient communities and a more inclusive future”

According to the programme, scholars have moved into sectors including healthcare, technology, education and professional services. For first-generation graduates, the employment outcomes have also contributed to changes in household income and economic mobility.

An independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) assessment found that every ₹1 invested generated ₹3 in measurable social value, based on the programme's contribution to education, employability and socio-economic advancement.

The initiative has also focused on inclusion. Girls account for 70% of scholarship beneficiaries, while 70% of scholars belong to SC, ST, OBC and economically vulnerable communities. The programme also supports first-generation learners, including students from single-parent and orphaned backgrounds.

In Nashik, employed alumni have collectively contributed nearly ₹3 lakh towards a community-led fund intended to support future cohorts, creating a mechanism for alumni participation and peer support.

Through the scholarship programme and its supporting interventions, PRIF and YDF are focusing on education completion, digital skills, career guidance and employability as pathways for underserved youth to enter higher education and the workforce.