Criteria & Process

The Anjani Mashelkar Prize is named after Dr. Mashelkar’s late mother, who raised him facing many hardships as a poor, uneducated widow. In spite of her own circumstances, she always wished to do something to improve the quality of life of resource-poor and excluded people.

This award presents an opportunity to spur and fuel innovation for the benefit of the excluded sections of society in order to ‘include’ them in the mainstream. Most importantly, it will value solutions that represent ‘affordable excellence‘, breaking the myth that ‘affordability’ and ‘excellence’ cannot go together.

The winner becomes a part of the coveted portfolio of the foundation and gets access to funding, markets access and the customary prestigious prize from Dr. R A Mashelkar. An eminent jury selects the winner through a rigorous evaluation process.

Why Should You Apply?

Anjani Mashelkar Prize recognizes & rewards the spirit to solve the problems of India by creating access equality despite income and other inequalities. If you are an innovator keen to solve problems of India through ultra-affordable but excellent solutions, please apply to the Anjani Mashelkar Prize. The winner becomes part of the coveted portfolio of the foundation and gets access to*:

  • Investment up to INR 2 crore*
  • Exclusive market access
  • Hands-on support from experts
  • Customary INR 1 lakh prize from Dr. R. A. Mashelkar

*Strategic Partner:

*Subject to proper due diligence

Who Can Apply?

  • Digital-first, point-of-care innovations in health-tech and med-tech domains, including devices, software, and technology-driven solutions
  • Organisations and individuals of any age, origin, or nationality, provided their innovation caters to and has a plan to scale in India
  • Innovations at various stages— proof of concept, prototype or commercialized— are eligible, provided they have a well-defined target market and business model. Raw ideas will not be considered

How To Apply?

Kindly fill up the application form (link provided below)

  • Post receiving applications for the prize, the team of experts will review and shortlist applications
  • The team will reach out to shortlisted applicants for further due diligence
  • The best innovation will be selected from the shortlist by our esteemed Jury
  • The award will be announced on Gandhi Jayanti and will be given at the hands of an eminent personality on 17th November 2025 in Pune

The award will be declared on the commemorative occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, 2nd October 2025 and will be given at the hands of an eminent personality on 17th November 2025 in Pune

Eminent Chief Guests who graced Anjani Mashelkar Prize Ceremony over the years

2024
Mr. Sanjay Kirloskar

Managing Director, Kirloskar Brothers Limited

2023
Shri. Abhay Firodia

Chairman, Force Motors

2022
Mrs. Sangita Jindal

Chairperson, JSW Foundation

2019
Dr. Vijay Kelkar

Chairman of the Forum of Federations, Ottawa & India Dev. Found., New Delhi

2018
Late Mr. Girish Bapat

Member of Parliament

2017
Mr. Hamid Ansari

Former Vice President of India

2016
Dr. Vikas Amte

Innovative Scientist

2015
Prof. Anil Gupta

Retired professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

2014
D.R. Mehta

Former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India

2013
Dr. Abhay Bang

Founder Director, SEARCH (Soc. for Edu., Action & Research in Comm. Health)

2012
Ms. Anu Aga

Former Chairperson of Thermax Ltd.

2011
Dr. Narayana Murthy

Former CEO of Infosys

Process

Please feel free to reach out to us at contact@mashelkarfoundation.org for any queries