Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, today announced the winners of the fourth edition of the Aarohan Social Innovation Awards. Launched in 2018, the Awards recognise and reward individuals and teams developing transformative, technology-led solutions for social good that improve lives and uplift communities across India.
This year’s Awards celebrated exceptional innovations across Education, Healthcare, and Environmental Sustainability, three core focus areas that align closely with the Foundation’s mission to drive meaningful social impact through creativity, empathy, and technology. Selected from more than 2,000 entries nationwide, the winners were chosen by an eminent jury comprising: Mr. Abhijit Ray (Co-founder, Unitus Capital and UC Inclusive Credit); Ms. Alina Alam (Founder, MITTI Cafe); Ms. Aparna Uppaluri (Founder and Principal Advisor, Antara Advisory); Mr. Sumit Virmani (Trustee, Infosys Foundation); and Mr. Sunil Kumar Dhareshwar (Trustee, Infosys Foundation).
Each of the three category-winning teams received INR 50 lakh for their scalable, high-impact innovations.
Education – Connecting the Dots (Bengaluru):
Developed by Rajesh A Rao, Ravindra S Rao, and Deepa L B Rajeev, this interactive learning programme teaches STEM and spoken English to government school students (Grades 6–10) through daily live classes, lab kits, scholarships, and teacher training. The initiative strengthens conceptual learning and supports improved academic outcomes for underserved students.
Healthcare – CLUIX C012 (New Delhi):
Created by Chitranjan Singh and Robin Singh, this portable, AI- and IoT-enabled water-quality analyser generates real-time, GPS-tagged reports and tests 14 key parameters within 30 minutes. By making accurate water testing accessible and affordable, the device supports early detection of waterborne diseases and delivers reliable results across urban and rural communities.
Environmental Sustainability – Borecharger (Pune):
Invented by Rahul Suresh Bakare and Vinit Moreshwar Phadnis, Borecharger is the world’s first robotic artificial borewell-recharge technique that injects 4–80 lakh litres of rainwater annually into existing borewells. The innovation enhances irrigation, increases farm productivity and incomes, improves drinking-water quality, and strengthens long-term water sustainability in rural habitations.
Speaking on the announcement, Salil Parekh, Chairman, Infosys Foundation, said: “Innovation with purpose has the power to transform lives and build a sustainable future. The Aarohan Social Innovation Awards stand as a testament to this belief, recognising individuals who turn challenges into opportunities with ingenuity, empathy, and impact. By championing groundbreaking work across education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, we aim to strengthen the reach of these innovations and inspire a generation of changemakers.”
In addition to the category winners, the jury presented Jury’s Special Awards, granting INR 10 lakh each to five promising innovations:
- Sukoon (Pune) developed by Phalgun Mukesh Vyas is a smart cooling jacket based on a Digital Hybrid-IDEC mechanism designed to protect users working in extreme heat-stress environments.
- Comprehensive Wildlife Management Platform (Pune) developed by Neha Panchamiya and Nachiket Utpat is a One Health-based digital system for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, treatment, and release, supporting surveillance and governance.
- Project Bindu (Pune) developed by Sowmya S and Pallavi Kulkarni is a remote, tech-enabled work ecosystem enabling persons with disabilities (PWDs) to deliver elderly-care services, backend support, and data handling—promoting economic independence and inclusion.
- CERVICHECK (Vadodara) developed by Anirban Palit, Dr. Sayantani Pramanik, and Palna Patel is India’s first CDSCO-approved at-home HPV self-sampling kit for cervical cancer screening.
- Hexis & Iris (Bengaluru) developed by Nagarajan Rajagopal, Vidhya Y, and Supriya Dey is an integrated learning ecosystem for visually impaired students featuring a refreshable Braille display, tactile diagram explorer, and teacher-content platform to support advanced reading and STEM learning.
Reflecting on this year’s winners, Sumit Virmani, Trustee, Infosys Foundation, said, “At the heart of the Aarohan Social Innovation Awards lies the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. The dedication and imagination of this year’s innovators show what is possible when compassion guides creativity. We are inspired by their commitment to building community-first, sustainable solutions and hope their efforts spark positive change across the country.”
Through the Aarohan Social Innovation Awards, Infosys Foundation continues to nurture India’s innovation ecosystem and empower changemakers dedicated to creating a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.
