Schaeffler India has announced the winners of its 4th Social Innovator Fellowship Program on December 22, 2025. The leading motion technology company's flagship initiative recognizes and empowers young social innovators creating impactful and scalable solutions to pressing environmental and societal challenges. By nurturing ideas that combine innovation with sustainability, the program seeks to transform grassroots initiatives into long-term change drivers that can improve communities.

Program Overview and Participation

Marking its fourth edition, this year's fellowship program invited applications from individuals, groups, institutions, and organizations, both for-profit and non-profit, across India. The program was open to applicants aged 18-35 addressing pressing challenges in environmental sustainability, renewable energy, carbon neutrality, circular economy, natural resource management, and the application of technology in the social sector.

The program's reach and impact are demonstrated by the following participation metrics:

Winner Recognition and Benefits

After a rigorous screening process encompassing stringent evaluations and prototype demonstrations, the top 10 exceptional projects were awarded comprehensive support packages. Each winner receives:

• Grant Amount: ₹1.75 lakh
• Mentorship Program: 24-week hybrid program at IIM Ventures, IIM Ahmedabad
• Resources: Tools, framework, and industry expert mentoring
• Objective: Market readiness and solution scaling to amplify impact

Notable Winning Innovations

The winning projects represent diverse technological solutions addressing critical societal needs:

Healthcare and Accessibility:

• Swapnil Gawande (Amravati): Unified digital platform connecting Eye Banks, Eye Retrieval Centres, and Eye Transplant Centres for real-time tracking and fair distribution of corneal tissues
• Sreeraj R (Bengaluru): Panoculon Labs - AI-powered assistive device supporting visually impaired individuals
• Arnav Jain (Gurugram): Stealthera - Smart monitoring device with mobile app for senior safety, featuring fall detection and 24/7 family connectivity

Environmental Solutions:

• Chirag MG (Bengaluru): Biodegradable coconut-leaf straws and tableware addressing plastic pollution
• Abhimanyu Rathi (Bengaluru): RenewCred - Digital platform improving transparency and validation in carbon markets
• Shashwat Sharma (Pune): CarbonM - Technology converting tire pyrolysis waste emissions into valuable fuel
• Shubham Singh (Punjab): Ares Systems - Green hydrogen-based technology for industrial decarbonization

Agricultural Innovation:

• Arif Jamal (Delhi): Krishigro - Decentralized renewable-energy solutions for smallholder farmers
• Adesh Manik Ghisare (Delhi): UnBubble - Converting fruit and agri-waste into value-added products through circular-economy processes

Road Safety:

• Dhulipalla Venu (Chennai): GlareZero - Automated glare-reduction system for mass-market vehicles to reduce night-time accidents

Leadership Perspective

Harsha Kadam, MD and CEO of Schaeffler India, emphasized the program's alignment with the company's ESG commitment. "Change is the only constant. In a dynamic world where environment and technology play a fundamental role to meet the evolving needs of the world's population, the Social Innovator Fellowship Program speaks volumes of Schaeffler's commitment to ESG and building not just a technologically advanced business model but be sensitive to the environment we operate in," he stated.

Kadam highlighted the program's role in identifying and empowering young changemakers developing scalable, impactful, and technology-driven solutions. The initiative aims to harness entrepreneurial spirit and provide a platform where innovators can translate their ideas into transformative actions that make a sustainable impact on society.

Award Ceremony and Recognition

The award ceremony was graced by distinguished personalities from academia and industry:

• Professor Gurudas Nulkar: Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
• Mr. Munish Bhatia: Co-Founder, India Accelerator CEO, Bharat Ventures
• Dr Bharat Kakade: President Managing Trustee, BAIF Development Research Foundation
• Ms. Ankur Sohanpal: AVP IIM Ventures

Broader Social Development Initiatives

Beyond this fellowship, Schaeffler India continues to drive social development through targeted initiatives including promoting STEM education in underserved areas, advancing water conservation, encouraging agroforestry and climate-resilient agriculture, and supporting community health projects. Through these initiatives, the company envisions creating an ecosystem where innovation and sustainability converge, ensuring equitable progress and positive transformation in society.

Schaeffler India Limited has disclosed receiving a regulatory communication from tax authorities regarding Input Tax Credit (ITC) disallowance and associated penalty imposition. The company made this disclosure under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Tax Order Details

The communication was received from the Office of the Additional Commissioner of Goods and Service Tax and Central Excise, Salem, Gujarat. The order specifically addresses alleged contraventions regarding disallowance of Input Tax Credit.

Financial Impact Assessment

Schaeffler India has assessed that there is no material impact on the company's financials, operations, or other activities resulting from this communication. The penalty amount of ₹3,59,51,098 (Rupees Three Crore Fifty-Nine Lakh Fifty-One Thousand and Ninety-Eight only) has been imposed by the tax authorities.

Company's Response Strategy

The company has indicated its intention to challenge the order through appropriate legal channels. Schaeffler India plans to file an appeal with the Commissioner of Goods and Service Tax and Central Excise, Salem, Gujarat against the said order.

Regulatory Compliance

This disclosure was made in compliance with SEBI regulations, which mandate listed companies to inform stock exchanges about material communications received from regulatory authorities. The company has communicated these details to both BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited.