The Kotak Education Foundation (KEF), the CSR implementing arm of the Kotak Mahindra Group, has launched the sixth edition of the Kotak Kanya Scholarship under the campaign theme “One in a Million”. The initiative aims to identify and support talented girl students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds across India, helping them pursue professional higher education without financial constraints.
Since its launch in 2021, the scholarship programme has provided educational support to 1,525 young women across 24 states. For the 2026–27 academic year, the foundation plans to add 500 new scholars, continuing its mission of expanding access to quality higher education for deserving students.
The Kotak Kanya Scholarship goes beyond financial assistance by offering mentorship, career guidance, industry exposure, life skills training and finishing school sessions. These initiatives are designed to prepare students for professional careers while strengthening their confidence, critical thinking and workplace readiness.
Speaking about the programme, Ridhi Bhatia, Senior Vice President – Group CSR, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said education remains one of the strongest drivers of long-term social development. She noted that many talented young women continue to face financial barriers when pursuing professional education and said the scholarship seeks to ensure that merit and ambition, rather than economic circumstances, determine their future. According to her, empowering deserving students can create a lasting positive impact on families, communities and society.
Highlighting the programme’s achievements, Arati Kaulgud, Head of Scholarship Program and Executive Committee Member at Kotak Education Foundation, said the first batches of scholarship recipients are already making significant progress in their careers. She said scholars have secured positions in leading global technology companies and major Indian corporates, while some have also graduated as doctors. Their achievements, she added, have encouraged the foundation to extend the opportunity to another 500 deserving young women this year.
Kaulgud also emphasised that the scholarship follows a rigorous selection process and focuses on the holistic development of students. By supporting women in pursuing careers in fields where female representation has traditionally been lower, the programme aims to contribute to a more gender-balanced professional workforce in India.
Under the scholarship, selected students can receive financial assistance of up to ₹1.5 lakh per year throughout the duration of their professional undergraduate degree, subject to the programme’s terms and conditions. The support covers a range of professional courses, including engineering, MBBS, architecture, design and integrated LLB programmes offered by reputed institutions accredited by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) or the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
In addition to tuition support, scholars receive access to mentoring programmes, life skills workshops and mental well-being sessions to help them navigate academic and professional challenges. Students from 136 leading institutions across the country are already part of the scholarship network.
To be eligible for the Kotak Kanya Scholarship 2026–27, applicants must be girl students who have secured at least 75 per cent marks or an equivalent CGPA in their Class 12 board examinations. The annual family income should not exceed ₹6 lakh. Applicants must also have secured admission to the first year of a professional undergraduate programme during the 2026–27 academic session at a recognised NIRF or NAAC-accredited institution.
Eligible courses include engineering, MBBS, integrated five-year LLB programmes, integrated BS-MS or BS-Research courses at institutions such as IISERs and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, as well as architecture and design programmes. Children of employees of the Kotak Mahindra Group, Kotak Education Foundation and Buddy4Study are not eligible to apply.
The Kotak Education Foundation’s scholarship initiatives have collectively supported more than 4,000 students over the years. More than 2,000 alumni are now working as professionals in leading companies and institutions across different sectors.
For nearly two decades, KEF has been working to improve educational opportunities for children and youth from economically disadvantaged communities through school education, scholarships, skills development and employability programmes. Its initiatives span foundational learning, teacher capacity building, school leadership, STEM education, Communicative English Future Readiness (CE-FR) programmes and vocational training.
The foundation also works closely with government agencies, educational institutions and community organisations to strengthen education systems and improve learning outcomes. Through its flagship initiative, KSHAMATA, KEF reaches thousands of schools, educators and students across multiple Indian states while expanding its efforts from individual school interventions to district and state-level educational transformation.
Beyond scholarships, the organisation runs vocational education and employability programmes that equip young people with industry-relevant skills, including digital literacy, spoken English, workplace readiness and professional competencies. These programmes are aimed at helping youth from underserved communities access sustainable employment opportunities and build successful careers.
With the launch of the Kotak Kanya Scholarship 2026, the foundation continues its efforts to bridge financial gaps in higher education and support talented young women in pursuing careers in professional fields. By combining financial assistance with mentorship and career development, the programme seeks to help the next generation of women professionals realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to India’s future.
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