New Delhi, India , 4 September 2025: As floods in Uttarakhand and torrential rains in Mumbai underline the escalating impacts of climate change, Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG)—an organization dedicated to peace, culture, education, and sustainability—launched its first-ever BSG Awards for Excellence in Sustainability to celebrate the transformative power of individual changemakers.
The award ceremony, held at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, New Delhi, on 3 September 2025, honoured 17 winners and 3 special mentions across 14 categories, selected from over 200 nominations by an eminent jury. (See attachment for full list of awardees and categories.)
Mr. Amit Chandra (Cofounder – A.T.E. Chandra Foundation & Chairperson – Bain Capital India Advisors) was the Chief Guest in the award ceremony. The members of the awards jury included: Prof. Bijayalaxmi Nanda (Principal of Miranda House); Mr. Gaurav Shah (Co-founder and director of Indian School of Development Management); Dr. Ruby Makhija (Founder of Why Waste Wednesday’s Foundation); Mr. Ramveer Tanwar (Founder of Say Earth and Pondman Enterprises); and Mr. Vikas Verma (Regional Head, North India, UNDP).
Mr. Amit Chandra said “For me, true sustainability is not just about conserving resources, but about nurturing the relationships between people, nature, and institutions. When communities lead, we create systems that last thereby restoring not only our environment but our collective future.”
BSG Chairperson Mr. Vishesh Gupta, in his inaugural address, said “At BSG, we believe that the spark of change begins with a single individual. These awards celebrate ordinary people whose extraordinary commitment to sustainability is shaping a greener, more resilient India. Their stories remind us that every action matters.”
“Sustainability stems from the idea, we owe the generations to come, a planet they can safely call their own. It is not an idea that is good to do but an absolute imperative which can’t and should not overlooked.” said Mr. Gaurav Shah.
The ceremony comes just months before world leaders gather for the UN Climate Conference (COP) to assess progress towards the 1.5°C global warming goal, amid warnings that the world is off track. Experts agree that accelerating climate action requires not just governments but the active participation of individuals and communities.
“Sustainability is not a choice; it is our responsibility to the future. A greener world begins not with policies, but with daily practices.” said Dr. Ruby Makhija.
Mr. Ramveer Tanwar said “Embracing sustainability is not just a choice but a responsibility; it’s about creating a thriving future for generations to come. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities for a greener planet.”
Since 2021, through its ‘BSG for SDG’ initiative with the motto “Towards 2030: Achieving SDGs through Sustainable Human Behaviour,” BSG has been championing sustainability across India. Through awareness drives, campaigns, and youth-led initiatives, BSG has empowered ordinary individuals to become catalysts of change and to help build a world where no life is left behind.
A special highlight of the ceremony was the screening of the ‘BSG for SDG Film,’ which featured inspiring stories of hope and resilience, followed by an open exchange of ideas to inspire collective action. Dr. Jaya Rao, in her closing remarks, affirmed that human beings created this problem, and human beings can solve it. Together, we can and will build a sustainable future.
