16th August 2024: Kotak Education Foundation (KEF), the CSR implementing agency of Kotak Mahindra Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Bombay on 12th August 2024. In a bid to empower promising women from underserved communities at IIT Bombay and support their academic journeys, IIT Bombay and KEF have joined forces to offer an exclusive Kotak Kanya-IIT Bombay Scholarship. This initiative underscores our commitment to nurturing talent and facilitating access to quality education.
The MoU was exchanged under the able leadership and in the esteemed presence of Prof. Ravindra D. Gudi, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT Bombay; Prof. Pratibha Sharma, Associate Dean Academic Programs, IIT Bombay; Prof. Pradeepkumar PI, Chairperson, Institute Scholarships Committee, IIT Bombay; Mr. Ravishankar Gedela, CEO, IIT Bombay Development and Relations Foundation (IITB DRF); Dr. Ganesh Raja, CEO, Kotak Education Foundation; Mr. Parag Ganu, CFO, Kotak Education Foundation; Ms. Jayasree Ramesh, Director-Education and Scholarship, Kotak Education Foundation; and Ms. Arati Kaulgud, Project Head, Scholarship, Kotak Education Foundation.
The scholarship program aims to empower the female students from IIT Bombay by providing them with financial support of INR 2.85 lakhs per year till the completion of their professional graduation course/degree, enabling them to pursue their higher education without financial constraints. Besides Financial assistance, the scholarship facilitates holistic development of the scholars through intensive student engagement and finishing school activities.
Dr. Ganesh Raja, CEO of Kotak Education Foundation, said, “Empowering girl children from underserved communities through education, the Kotak Kanya IIT Bombay Scholarship is a powerful, transformative, industry-leading collective for social progress. This pivotal merit-cum-means scholarship is designed to provide a comprehensive umbrella of financial aid, holistic mentorship, industry exposure, valuable career counseling and academic support, critical life skills, and communication skills. A sustainable enabler of equitable, quality education, this scholarship will help students thrive, facilitate economic empowerment, drive mindset changes, and foster future leaders.”.
Prof. Ravindra Gudi, Dean of Alumni & Corporate Relations at IIT Bombay, said: “IIT Bombay is delighted to partner with the Kotak Education Foundation to launch the Kotak Kanya-IIT Bombay Scholarship. Aligned with national initiatives for women’s empowerment, such as GATI, IIT Bombay is determined to break down barriers and drive gender equality in higher education. The Kotak Kanya-IIT Bombay Scholarship is a powerful catalyst for change that will enable exceptional young women from underserved communities to claim their rightful place in STEM fields.
Such scholarship support plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality by opening doors for more women to join IIT Bombay. By investing in these future leaders, we are not only fostering excellence in education but also contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society. This initiative will empower these young women to break barriers, achieve their full potential, and spark a ripple effect that will resonate far beyond their communities to help shape a better world.”
Jayasree Ramesh, Executive Committee Member (EC) & Director of Education Programme and Scholarship, Kotak Education Foundation, said, “Today marks a watershed moment in the journey towards gender equality and scientific advancement. This partnership between Kotak Education Foundation and IIT Bombay is a testament to our collective commitment to empowering young women to be leaders and change-makers in the fields of STEM. This scholarship will support girls in breaking barriers and becoming successful professionals and role models for their families and communities. By investing in their education, we are nurturing individual potential and cultivating a brighter future for our nation.”.
Kotak Kanya IIT Bombay Scholarship Eligibility Criteria: Open to meritorious girls of IIT Bombay.
- Applicants must have scored 75% or more marks or equivalent CGPA in Class 12 board examinations.
- The applicant’s annual family income must be less than INR 5,00,000.
- Meritorious girls who have secured admission to the first year of graduation programs in the academic year 2024–25 at IIT Bombay for graduation degrees like B.Tech, BS, B.Des, and integrated Master’s program.
- Applicants must be within the top 20,000 in the advanced Joint Entrance Examination (Adv. JEE)
Kotak Kanya IIT Bombay Scholarship Benefits:
- The scholarship has a holistic approach towards nurturing the scholars beyond financial aid, making them ready for the professional world.
- The scholarship provides scholars with intensive student engagement support, such as mentoring sessions and life skills and mental well-being sessions, in collaboration with reputed finishing school organizations to make them future-ready.
- Expert mentoring sessions by industry experts from a particular domain help the scholars get a glimpse of the real-world professional landscape.
- To support students in their academic journeys, KEF also provided the engineering and medical students with additional subscriptions to Unstop and Marrow, respectively, for the additional skill development of the scholars in their respective fields.
