Cummins in India has marked a significant milestone as it celebrated 20 years of its flagship initiative, Nurturing Brilliance, by welcoming a new batch of 520 scholars for the 2025–26 academic year. The programme, implemented through the Cummins India Foundation, continues to empower students from underprivileged backgrounds to pursue engineering education and build sustainable careers.
This year, the initiative received an overwhelming response, with more than 9,600 applications. After a rigorous selection process, 520 deserving students were chosen, including 20 students with disabilities, reflecting the programme’s strong focus on inclusivity and equal opportunity. Over the past two decades, Nurturing Brilliance has impacted more than 3,100 students, with women making up 52 percent of the beneficiaries, highlighting its commitment to gender diversity.
The new cohort of scholars was felicitated at a ceremony held at the Cummins India campus in Pune. The event was attended by Shveta Arya, Managing Director of Cummins India Limited, and Ashish Aggarwal, Chief Administrative Officer, Cummins in India. Their presence underscored the company’s continued focus on education as a key driver of social and economic progress.
Speaking on the occasion, Shveta Arya emphasised that true progress lies in creating meaningful opportunities for growth. She highlighted that for the past 20 years, the programme has ensured that a student’s ambition is not limited by their circumstances. According to her, education plays a vital role in nation-building, and initiatives like Nurturing Brilliance help bridge the gap between aspiration and access.
What sets this programme apart is its holistic approach. Beyond financial support, it offers a complete ecosystem for student development. Scholars receive full assistance for tuition fees, academic expenses, and learning resources. At the same time, they benefit from structured mentorship by industry leaders, exposure to real-world work environments, and specialised training in soft skills, employability, and career readiness.
The programme also focuses on building a strong community of learners and mentors. This network encourages knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and continuous learning, ensuring that students remain supported even as they progress in their careers.
From a modest beginning in 2006 with just 13 students in Pune, Nurturing Brilliance has grown into a national initiative. Today, it operates across several key industrial hubs, including Phaltan, Ahilyanagar, Indore, Jamshedpur, Dharashiv, Vidisha, Guna, and Ranchi. Its expansion reflects both its success and the growing need for such impactful educational programmes in India.
Established in 1962, Cummins in India has built a strong presence in the industrial and automotive sectors, with a wide network of manufacturing plants and customer touchpoints. Alongside its business operations, the company continues to invest in community development through initiatives focused on education, equity, and the environment.
As it celebrates two decades of Nurturing Brilliance, Cummins reaffirms its commitment to shaping the next generation of engineers. By empowering young minds today, the company is helping build a more inclusive and prosperous future.
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