24.03.2026: Governor presents the India Today Group–Mahindra ‘Drivers of Change’ Awards 2026
Maharashtra Governor felicitates 15 young ‘Drivers of Change’
*Navya Naveli Nanda, Mona Singh, Genelia Deshmukh achieve top honours
Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma felicitated 15 outstanding young entrepreneurs and innovators at the India Today Group–Mahindra ‘Drivers of Change’ Awards 2026 in Mumbai on Tue (24 Mar).
Addressing the gathering, the Governor lauded the awardees—each under the age of 40—for transforming innovative ideas into impactful enterprises and contributing to India’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem.
Drawing inspiration from India’s rich legacy, the Governor cited examples of great personalities such as Sant Jnaneshwar, Adi Shankaracharya, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Swami Vivekananda, who achieved remarkable feats at a young age. He said that these examples reinforce the idea that youth is not a limitation but a dynamic force that shapes history.
Highlighting India’s growing global stature, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma said that the country is today shaping global conversations in areas such as technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship. He noted that despite global challenges posed by the war in the Middle East, India continues to safeguard the interests of its 1.4 billion citizens and move steadily towards the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The Governor emphasised that India currently hosts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over two lakh recognised startups and more than 100 unicorns.
He added that in 2025 alone, over 44,000 startups were registered, generating more than 21 lakh direct jobs. He noted that nearly half of these startups are emerging from Tier-II and Tier-III towns, reflecting the democratisation of opportunity and ambition.
Speaking about Maharashtra’s pivotal role, the Governor said the State continues to be at the forefront of India’s economic and industrial growth, with Mumbai as the financial capital and cities like Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar emerging as vibrant centres of innovation and enterprise.
Referring to his role as Chancellor of 29 universities, the Governor highlighted his ‘School Connect’ initiative aimed at encouraging students, especially from rural and tribal areas, to pursue higher education and become future “Drivers of Change”.
Congratulating all the awardees, the Governor urged them to continue inspiring millions of young Indians to dream big and translate ideas into meaningful action. He also appreciated the India Today Group and Mahindra & Mahindra for instituting the awards and recognising emerging leaders shaping the nation’s future.
Raj Chengappa, Group Editorial Director, India Today Group, Nalinkanth Gollagunta, CEO, Mahindra Automotive Division senior leadership of the India Today Group and Mahindra & Mahindra, members of the jury, awardees and their families, and distinguished guests.
The Award Winners
Navya Naveli Nanda, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist who leads Project Naveli
Ghazal Alagh & Varun Alagh, Co-founders, Honasa Consumer Ltd
Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder and CEO, IG Defence
Pranav Vempati, CEO, Makers Hive
Avarna Jain, Vice-Chairperson, Saregama India, and Chairperson, RPSG Lifestyle Media
Tarun Wig, CEO and Co-Founder, Innefu Labs
Sarah Sham, Principal Designer and founder, Essajees Atelier
Narayan Subramaniam, CEO, Niraj Rajmohan, CTO, both Co-founders, Ultraviolette Automotive
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace
Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund
Madhav Krishna, Founder & CEO, Vahan.ai
Mehtab Ali Niazi, Sitarist and Composer
Mona Singh, Actress and Restaurateur
Genelia Deshmukh, Actor and Entrepreneur
**