In a significant move aimed at strengthening women’s participation in India’s engineering and manufacturing sectors, Bajaj Auto Foundation has announced a long-term commitment of ₹400 crore towards the Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering. The initiative, which will be implemented over the next decade, is being described as India’s largest scholarship programme dedicated to women pursuing core engineering disciplines.
The announcement was made at Bajaj Auto Limited’s headquarters in Pune, where the Foundation also felicitated the first batch of 506 scholarship recipients from 40 leading engineering institutions across the country. The inaugural cohort includes students from premier institutes such as IITs, NITs, IIITs, as well as reputed state and private universities.
Named after Rupa Rahul Bajaj, the scholarship programme seeks to support talented young women pursuing engineering disciplines including Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Industrial Instrumentation, Mechatronics, Robotics and related fields. Under the scheme, eligible students can receive financial assistance of up to ₹8 lakh during the course of their engineering education.
However, the initiative goes beyond financial support. The programme has been designed to help create future industry leaders through structured mentorship, leadership development programmes, industry exposure and access to professional networks. The aim is to equip women engineers with both technical knowledge and career-building opportunities.
The launch event was attended by prominent industry leaders, including Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder of Biocon Limited, who joined Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj in recognising the first group of scholarship recipients.
Speaking at the event, Rajiv Bajaj highlighted the growing contribution of women in the company’s workforce. He noted that while women were virtually absent from many operational roles a decade ago, they now account for nearly 20 per cent of Bajaj Auto’s workforce. According to him, this shift has contributed positively to the company’s growth, innovation and global competitiveness.
Rajiv Bajaj also described the scholarship as a tribute to his mother, Rupa Rahul Bajaj, whose commitment to education and belief in women’s empowerment inspired the initiative. He said the programme represents an investment in talent, ambition and opportunity, with the goal of enabling more women to shape the future of engineering and manufacturing.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw emphasised the importance of encouraging greater female participation in science, technology and engineering. She stated that expanding opportunities for women in core engineering fields is not only a social priority but also an economic necessity for a country aiming to strengthen its innovation ecosystem.
The scholarship launch also marked the unveiling of Bajaj Auto Foundation’s broader vision under the theme, “Where there’s a skill, there’s a way.” The Foundation’s initiatives focus on skilling, education and community development, with the objective of creating a stronger future workforce for India.
Over the past five years, Bajaj Auto Limited has invested nearly ₹550 crore in skilling and community development programmes. Building on this momentum, the Foundation plans to invest approximately ₹1,500 crore over the next five years to expand its social impact initiatives across the country.
With increasing demand for skilled talent in advanced manufacturing, robotics and industrial technology, the scholarship programme aims to bridge gender gaps while creating opportunities for the next generation of women engineers.
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