India’s growth story is shaped by more than its biggest companies, well-known entrepreneurs and influential leaders. Across the country, individuals, small businesses, educators, healthcare professionals, artisans, social workers and innovators are contributing to change in their own ways. Recognising these efforts and bringing their stories to a national audience, The Times of India is launching the TOI Bharat Makers Awards, a national recognition platform celebrating people and organisations helping build a progressive India.The initiative aims to bring together achievers from diverse backgrounds and sectors, giving recognition to contributions that often go beyond conventional measures of success. With 35 award categories, the platform will spotlight individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses, institutions and grassroots changemakers whose work is creating an impact across the country.From a business founder building an enterprise to a teacher transforming a classroom or an artisan preserving traditional crafts, the awards seek to recognise people whose efforts are contributing to India’s development.
A national platform for India’s diverse achievers
The TOI Bharat Makers Awards has been conceptualised to celebrate the people who are driving progress across different parts of the country. The platform recognises that nation-building is not limited to a particular profession, industry or geographical location. Its 35 categories cover a wide range of fields, including entrepreneurship, business, education, healthcare, innovation, public service, social impact, arts, culture, sports, agriculture and institutional initiatives.The awards also include flagship honours such as Bharat Maker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement in Nation-Building and the People’s Choice Award. Other categories recognise entrepreneurs, women achievers, young innovators, farmers, social workers, educational institutions, NGOs and organisations working towards community development.The initiative is open to individuals, groups and organisations whose work is based in India, irrespective of their scale or location. This means a small-town entrepreneur, a grassroots organisation, an independent innovator or an established institution can all find a place on the platform, provided their work meets the relevant category’s eligibility criteria.
Recognising impact, originality and long-term contribution
An important aspect of the awards is the emphasis on merit-based recognition. Entries will be evaluated by an independent jury against a published scoring framework, ensuring that achievements are assessed on the basis of their contribution and measurable impact. The evaluation will consider five parameters: impact, originality, scale and reach, sustainability, and integrity. Impact carries 30 marks, originality 25, scale and reach 20, sustainability 15, and integrity 10.The jury will assess how effectively an individual or organisation has addressed a challenge, the uniqueness of its approach, the extent of its contribution and the potential for its work to create lasting change. The jury panel brings together professionals and leaders from enterprise, public life, healthcare, education, social impact, media and the arts. Among the listed members are AI innovation leader Shantanu Gaur, actor and host Tanuj Virwani, healthcare entrepreneur Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Gauranga Das, journalist and author Dr Tabeenah Anjum, entrepreneur Rashi Narang, Kanchan Gupta, civil servant Shraddha Joshi Sharma and social impact leader Asmita Satyarthi.
How the nomination and selection process will work
The awards follow a structured nomination and evaluation process. Interested individuals can nominate themselves or put forward someone whose work they believe deserves recognition. Organisations can also submit entries in relevant categories. Nominations opened in October 2026 and will remain open until December 31, 2026. Applicants need to select the appropriate category, provide a brief description of their work and submit supporting evidence. This may include achievements, photographs, figures, media coverage or references that establish the impact of their contribution.Once submitted, entries will undergo an initial screening to check eligibility and completeness before moving to the jury evaluation stage. The platform will also feature a People’s Choice Award, which will be decided through public voting on TOI Bharat among the published nominees. Voting is scheduled between January 1 and January 12, 2027.The nomination process includes different participation tiers for individuals and institutions. The entry fee starts at Rs 30,000 for the Nominee category, while Featured Nominee entries cost Rs 50,000 for up to two categories. Institutional entries are priced at Rs 1 lakh for up to two institutional categories, with applicable GST. Importantly, paying the nomination fee does not guarantee an award. All entries receive equal consideration from the jury, irrespective of the nomination tier selected. The winners will be determined through the independent evaluation process.
Winners to be honoured in New Delhi during Republic Day week
The culmination of the TOI Bharat Makers Awards will take place at the Summit and Awards Night scheduled for January 22, 2027, in New Delhi, ahead of the 78th Republic Day celebrations. The event will bring together finalists, winners, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, professionals and other contributors from across the country. Winners will receive the Bharat Makers citation and trophy, recognising their achievements and contributions.Beyond the awards ceremony, the platform aims to give selected nominees and winners greater visibility through TOI Bharat’s channels. Shortlisted stories may also be featured through editorial profiles, videos and other storytelling formats, allowing their work and journeys to reach a wider audience. The initiative is also expected to create opportunities for participants to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, institutions, investors, industry leaders and changemakers through the summit.Through the TOI Bharat Makers Awards, The Times of India seeks to bring attention to the people whose work is shaping India’s present and future. By recognising achievements across 35 categories, the platform aims to celebrate not just established success but also meaningful contributions taking place at the grassroots level.Ultimately, the initiative is built around a simple idea: India’s progress is driven by millions of makers, and their stories deserve to be recognised. Whether they are building businesses, improving communities, advancing knowledge, preserving traditions or finding solutions to everyday challenges, the awards aim to bring these contributions into the national spotlight. For details about the categories, eligibility, nomination process, jury, fees and important dates, visit the TOI Bharat Makers Awards website.
