Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and Schwab Foundation Invite Applications for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, India 2026

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, March 12, 2026: Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and the Schwab  Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a foundation working in partnership with the World  Economic Forum, are pleased to announce the opening of the application round for the 17th annual Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Award, India –2026 (SEOY). Interested candidates may  apply via the application form available at jubilantbhartiafoundation.com by April 5, 2026. 

The winner of the Social Entrepreneur of the  Year Award, India 2026 will be announced on  August 21, 2026, in New Delhi. 

Nominated individuals and organisations will  be evaluated on the key parameters including  Market-Based Approach, Technology  Enablement, Sustainability, Direct Social  Impact, Reach, Scope, and Replicability. 

The finalists will be determined following an  extensive search and selection process, which  includes expert reviews, interviews, and site  visits. The winner is selected by a jury of  eminent leaders and professionals from government, business, media, and civil  society. 

The Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Award,  India recognises, promotes, and celebrates leading social entrepreneurs and their  innovative solutions that address societal  challenges in India and beyond. 

In 2010, Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and the  Schwab Foundation for Social  Entrepreneurship came together to promote  

Key Highlights 

Who can participate: Accomplished social change  leaders across diversity of large-scale, system  change and social innovation models in society 

How to participate: Submit application form  available at www.jubilantbhartiafoundation.com.  

Last Date: April 05, 2026 

Evaluation parameters: Market-based, Technology enabled, Sustainability, Direct Social Impact, Reach  & Scope, Replicability.  

Benefits:  

• Join India’s leading community of social  entrepreneurs. • Showcase awardees’ solutions to  relevant decision-makers • Build leadership capacity  of awardees by strengthening their organisational  and business strategies through executive education  programmes at top universities and peer learning  journeys • Create spaces for reflection and peer-to peer mentoring
  

social innovation in India through the Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Award, India and they  have since acknowledged and supported the growing field of social innovation in India. In  2026, the award celebrates its 17th anniversary and has established itself as one of the most  respected awards for social entrepreneurs in India.  

The award recognises individuals and organisations that implement innovative, sustainable and scalable solutions that address pressing challenges faced by underserved communities,  contributing to inclusive growth in India. They work in diverse areas such as health, education,  employment, water, clean energy, identity and entitlements, financial literacy, and access to  information and technology.  

Past winners: 

2025 Winner: Piyush Tewari, SaveLIFE Foundation 

Award presented by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister and India’s Sherpa to the  G7 & G20 

Piyush Tewari, Founder of the SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), has emerged as one of India’s most  influential public health innovators by confronting the country’s road safety crisis head‑on.  Sparked by a personal tragedy and the widespread fear that prevents bystanders from helping  accident victims, he built SLF into a pioneering organisation that has reshaped national policy  and on‑ground emergency response. His relentless advocacy led to the creation of India’s  landmark Good Samaritan Law, offering legal protection to citizens who assist road crash  victims. Under his leadership, SLF developed the Zero Fatality Solutions (ZFS) model—a  data‑driven, systemic intervention that has reduced crash deaths by up to 67% on some of  India’s most dangerous highways, transforming high‑risk corridors into safer mobility zones. 

Beyond life‑saving interventions, Piyush has demonstrated how policy reform, rigorous  evidence and institutional partnerships can unlock impact at scale. SLF’s holistic approach— integrating safer road design, better enforcement, trauma response, and community  engagement—has set new national benchmarks for public health and safety. Every ₹1 invested  by the organisation catalyses up to ₹350 in public funding, enabling exponential reach and  systemic change. Today, vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, two‑wheeler riders and  low‑income commuters, are significantly safer because of SLF’s work. As the winner of the  Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award,India2025, Piyush Tewari exemplifies how personal loss  can be transformed into a national movement that saves countless lives and redefines road  safety as a fundamental right for all.