Ashoka University's scholarship model wins big at India's FICCI awards

Ashoka University in New Delhi was honored at the 12th FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards with prizes for financial sustainability with student access, and for globalisation — plus a Personality of the Year award for Vice-Chancellor Rishikesha T. Krishnan. Backed by more than 200 founders and donors, the university's philanthropy-driven model disbursed over ₹100 crore (about $10.5 million) in scholarships in FY2025-26 alone, and ₹723 crore (about $76 million) to more than 5,400 students since inception. Access turned into outcomes: 394 students placed with top companies, 138 admitted to leading global universities, and 17 graduates winning 19 prestigious scholarships this year.