April 2025 | 852 words | 3-minute read
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For talented students from economically underprivileged and affirmative action families, Tata Capital’s Pankh Scholarship programme offers a beacon of hope, helping tide over pockets of turbulence in their pursuit of higher education and their vision of a better future
Karaikal. A popular seaside resort in the union territory of Puducherry. An idyllic backdrop against which plays out an all-too-human tussle of hope and despair. As the eldest child of a modest family, the pall of gloom that descends on the household upon the untimely death of her father is particularly harsh on Ms Jerina S. Through the despair and struggle, even as a sea of expenses steadily engulfs the family, she holds steadfastly on to a dream whose seeds were first sown by her father — of becoming a physiotherapist. Hope appears at this critical hour in the form of Tata Capital’s Pankh Scholarship programme. Thanks to the scholarship, her essential school fees for Classes 11 and 12 no longer threaten her dream. Scoring 72% in her Class 12 examinations, her efforts bear fruit as she successfully clears the NEET examination to secure a seat in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy programme at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College in Puducherry.
Enabling young academic achievers hailing from underprivileged backgrounds like Ms Jerina to pursue their academic goals is the objective of Tata Capital’s Pankh Scholarship programme. “Education is the cornerstone of a brighter and more equitable future. At Tata Capital, we are deeply committed to driving meaningful change. We believe in the philosophy of inclusivity and lay a lot of emphasis on affirmative action,” says Mr Sridhar Sarathy, Chief Ethics Officer & Head – Sustainability & CSR, Tata Capital. “We started the Pankh Scholarship programme in 2013 to empower talented students from economically underprivileged and affirmative action families, especially those residing in the underdeveloped and interior parts of the country to study further, thereby turning their aspirations into achievements.”
Eligible students enrolled in Senior Secondary, Under Graduate, Diploma and Post Graduate courses can apply through an online portal or be recommended by the employees of Tata Capital. Application cycles typically run between the months of June to August each year. Depending on their course of study and financial need, students receive scholarships covering up to 80% of tuition fees or financial grants aligned with the programme."
This amount is transferred to the bank account of a deserving student through a reimbursement system. Scholars are periodically evaluated, and scholarship renewal is contingent on academic performance, to promote sustained academic focus and overall development. Approximately 60% of Pankh scholars are bright girl students, who would have otherwise been compelled to abandon their academic pursuits and tend to their siblings or perform household chores. “The first right of refusal is given to the girl child because we felt that we should do our bit to encourage bright girls to continue their studies by giving them wings (Pankh),” says Mr Sarathy.
The success of the Pankh Scholarship programme can also be credited to the tireless efforts of the employees of Tata Capital, who nominate and mentor students and periodically review their performance, enabling them to make a mark for themselves in their respective fields.
In its quest to scale the Pankh Scholarship programme and make it accessible for students across India, Tata Capital partnered with Buddy4Study — one of India’s largest scholarship providers that connects scholarship seekers with scholarship providers. There has been an increased focus of the company in targeting youth from marginalised backgrounds pursuing degrees in areas such as medicine, aerospace engineering, quantum physics, architecture, banking and financial services and other specialised streams to create a talent pool of exceptional individuals who can participate in the India growth story. Through such concerted efforts, the programme which initially began in the state of Maharashtra has now expanded to Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, benefitting over 25,000 scholars as of March 2025.
The success of the Pankh Scholarship programme can also be credited to the tireless efforts of the employees of Tata Capital, who nominate and mentor students and periodically review their performance, enabling them to make a mark for themselves in their respective fields. For Ashok Karkera, AVP, L&D, Tata Capital, the opportunity to mentor Pankh scholars Vikas Kamble and Kajal Sonawane has been an immensely rewarding experience. “There are companies which offer scholarships but not a lot of them have a mentor-mentee relationship, where they expect the mentor to take responsibility to ensure that the programme becomes a success. I think that is a key differentiator.” He adds, “More than the feel-good factor, it’s about helping people make a difference to someone’s life, somebody who might not be able to complete their graduation because of their familial conditions.” A small yet significant step towards kindling the resplendent flame of knowledge.
Making the cut
Students who wish to apply for the Pankh Scholarship programme have to meet the following criteria:
- The annual income of the student’s family should not exceed ₹2,50,000 from all sources.
- Assessment is based on the percentage achieved in the qualifying examination, which should be at least 60%.
- Applicants are evaluated on the basis of an interview. Students who clear the telephonic interview are shortlisted for the final committee round.
- Children of employees of Tata Capital and Buddy4Study are not eligible.
- Sharmistha Choudhury
