schaeffler india Limited has launched the Schaeffler India Social Innovation Fellowship 2026-27, a program designed to identify and support 10 high-potential social innovators from across India. The initiative, now in its fifth year, focuses on entrepreneurs from Tier II, Tier III, and rural geographies, providing them with financial grants, mentorship, and industry exposure to scale solutions addressing social and environmental challenges.

The 24-week cohort program is delivered by IIMA Ventures at IIM Ahmedabad and equips fellows with business, impact, and investor readiness capabilities. Selected startups will receive fellowship grants of Rs 2 Lakhs each, structured networking opportunities, and post-program impact tracking. The program targets individual innovators, startups, and organizations aged 18 to 35 who have developed functional prototypes in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, clean energy, and sustainability.

Applications for the 2026-27 cohort are open from July 15, 2026, and close on August 31, 2026. The selection process involves application screening, document verification, multi-stage evaluation, interactions with subject matter experts, and a final jury presentation before industry leaders. The fellowship is implemented by IHFC (I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics), in partnership with India Accelerator as the program management and evaluation partner.

Since its inception in 2021, the fellowship has supported over 41 early-stage social innovators. Several fellows have achieved national recognition, attracted investments, and scaled their innovations. The program reflects Schaeffler India’s commitment to driving inclusive progress through innovation and technology.

To apply, interested candidates can visit the official fellowship portal.

Schaeffler India Limited announced on July 3, 2026, that its manufacturing plants in Maneja and Savli have secured the first BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) license for Cylindrical Roller Bearings (CRB) in the Indian bearing industry. This certification was granted under a new Indian Standard, marking a significant development for the company and the sector. Additionally, both plants received BIS licenses for Deep Groove Ball Bearings (DGBB).

The certifications underscore the company's adherence to quality standards and manufacturing excellence. By securing these licenses, schaeffler india aims to strengthen customer confidence in its locally manufactured bearing solutions and support India's evolving quality framework.

Harsha Kadam, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Schaeffler India Limited, stated that the milestone reflects the company's commitment to quality, operational excellence, and customer trust. He highlighted that being the first to secure the BIS license for Cylindrical Roller Bearings under the new standard demonstrates readiness to meet regulatory and industry requirements.

Manufacturing and Certifications

The following table details the certifications awarded to the company's facilities:

Schaeffler India operates five manufacturing plants in India, including the facilities in Talegaon, Savli, Maneja, Hosur, and Shoolagiri. The company serves as a technology partner for customers across industrial and automotive sectors.