The initiative supports CSR goals linked to education, skilling, employability and workforce diversity in industry.
PUNE (India CSR): Bajaj Auto Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of automobile and manufacturing company Bajaj Auto Limited, has committed INR 400 crore over the next decade through the Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering to support meritorious women pursuing core engineering education across 40 leading institutions in India, the company said.
The programme was announced on 11 June 2026 at Bajaj Auto Limited’s headquarters in Pune. The Foundation also felicitated the first cohort of 506 women scholars from institutions including IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other reputed state and private engineering colleges.
Scholarship for Women Engineers
The Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering has been designed for young women pursuing core engineering disciplines. These include Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Industrial Instrumentation, Mechatronics, Robotics, and allied fields.
Under the scholarship, selected students will receive financial support of up to INR 8 lakh during their engineering education. The programme also includes mentorship, leadership development, industry exposure, and access to professional networks.
Focus on Core Engineering
The scholarship seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in core engineering and manufacturing. The initiative comes at a time when advanced manufacturing, deep technology, and industrial innovation are becoming important for India’s economic growth and competitiveness.
The Foundation said the programme is part of its wider approach to skilling, education, and opportunity creation. It also unveiled its broader proposition, “Where there’s a skill, there’s a way.”
‘Investment in Talent’
Speaking at the event, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Limited, said, “Women possess inherent skills of patience, empathy and diligence which are very strong attributes to excel in core engineering jobs. We identified this long back and made women engineers a significant part of our workforce.”
He said women now account for nearly 20% of Bajaj Auto’s workforce, compared to virtually no women in operations around a decade ago.
“This program would extend our learning with the larger manufacturing industry. The Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering holds a special place in my heart, as it carries the name of my beloved mother, Rupa Rahul Bajaj,” he said.
Inclusion in Engineering
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder of Biocon Limited, attended the event as chief guest.
“The future of science, engineering, and manufacturing must be built on inclusion and equal opportunity. Encouraging more women to pursue core engineering disciplines is not just a social imperative, but an economic one,” she said.
She added that such initiatives can help create a stronger and more diverse innovation ecosystem for India.
CSR and Skilling Commitment
Bajaj Auto Foundation said its work focuses on creating skilled resources and strengthening India’s future workforce through skilling, education, and community development.
Over the last five years, Bajaj Auto Limited has invested nearly INR 550 crore towards skilling and community impact initiatives. The Foundation plans to invest close to INR 1,500 crore over the next five years to scale its impact across India.
Copyright@India CSR®
