More than 750 TELUS Digital India volunteers helped revitalize the 78-year-old, government-aided Shri Gandhi Inter College in Greater Noida as part of the company’s signature TELUS Days of Giving (TDOG) program, it said on Monday.



Volunteers painted murals in 25 classrooms and six hallways across six school buildings, whitewashed walls and refurbished 250 benches. The event also launched TELUS Wise, a volunteer-led program that teaches young people to stay safe and responsible online, and took place during the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, observed throughout 2026.



Ahead of the volunteer day, skilled professionals completed repairs including washroom renovations and waterproofing of nine classroom ceilings. Five science laboratories and the library were also repainted.



<a href="https://www.telusdigital.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TELUS Digital India</a> also helped install a 10 KW off-grid solar system and donated 30 laptops for the computer laboratories, a water cooler and sports equipment for the school’s more than 1,000 students.



“A supportive learning environment plays an important role in shaping students’ educational experiences and aspirations,” said Rajiv M. Dhand, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Experience and Trust &amp; Safety Operations.



“We wanted to help create spaces that inspire curiosity and give students access to resources that support their learning,” Dhand said.



TELUS Digital India recently launched TELUS Wise in India to build awareness of online safety, security and responsible digital behavior, helping students recognize risks and develop safer habits.



“Safe classrooms matter, and so does a safe experience online. Bringing TELUS Wise to India lets our team members share what they know about digital safety directly with students,” said Kapil Uniyal, Vice President, APAC &amp; Australia, Digital Solutions, TELUS Digital.



TELUS Days of Giving brings TELUS Digital team members together to volunteer in the communities where they live and work, reflecting the company’s philosophy, “We give where we live.”



“At Shri Gandhi Inter College, the school is now better equipped to cultivate student success, and we hope it’s the start of a longer relationship with the school and its community,” said Iftikar Ahmed, Vice President of Operations, TELUS Digital India.

TELUS Days of Giving transforms Greater Noida school as 750 volunteers repaint classrooms, launch online safety program

<a href="https://www.malabargoldanddiamonds.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malabar Gold &amp; Diamonds</a>, the flagship company of Malabar Group, has announced a scholarship worth Rs 9.36 lakh for 104 girl students in <a href="https://www.goa.gov.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goa</a> under the Malabar Charitable Trust Scholarship for Girl Students Programme.



The Malabar Gold &amp; Diamonds scholarship was announced earlier this month at an event in Madgaon, attended by Digambar Kamat, Goa&#8217;s Minister for Public Works Department (PWD), and senior representatives of Malabar Group. Damu Naik, Goa President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was also present.



The initiative aims to expand access to education and support deserving girl students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.



As part of its national corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, Malabar Charitable Trust has committed scholarships to support the higher education of 40,000 girl students across India in the 2026-27 financial year. Since its launch in 2007, the programme has supported more than 1.5 lakh girl students across 19 states, with cumulative contributions exceeding Rs 102 crore.



&#8220;At Malabar Group, we believe that education is a powerful enabler of social progress and an important step towards building a more inclusive society,&#8221; said M P Ahammad, Chairman of Malabar Group.



&#8220;We will continue to build on this initiative to create lasting opportunities and contribute to the country&#8217;s long-term social development.&#8221;



Under the programme, scholarships are awarded to girls studying in Classes 11 and 12 at government schools who passed Class 10 with at least 50% marks. The financial assistance covers tuition fees, books, stationery, examination fees and other essential educational expenses.



The trust said the programme seeks to reduce financial barriers, allowing young girls to pursue higher education, build confidence and work towards a better future.



The Goa initiative reinforces Malabar Group&#8217;s commitment to community development and to expanding access to education across the country.

Malabar Gold &amp; Diamonds scholarship empowers 104 girl students in Goa

<a href="https://www.shmshipcare.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SHM Shipcare Private Limited</a>, an integrated maritime company, has extended its coastal conservation programme to Mumbai with a beach clean-up drive at Dadar Kirti College Beach, the company said.



Conducted in partnership with the <a href="https://mu.ac.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Mumbai</a>, the beach clean-up drive is the third phase of the programme, following earlier clean-ups in Surat and Goa. The company is engaged in shipbuilding, ship repair, ship management and maritime safety solutions.



Held under the theme &#8220;A Cleaner Coast Starts with Champions Who Act,&#8221; the initiative brought together volunteers to remove litter and debris from the shoreline and promote responsible waste disposal. The programme was conceptualised earlier this month around the birthday of SHM Shipcare Chairman Saifuddin Hajee, reflecting the company&#8217;s connection with India&#8217;s coastal communities and the marine environment.



The beach clean-up drive comes as marine litter and plastic pollution continue to threaten coastal ecosystems, marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the sea. By mobilising volunteers and local stakeholders, SHM Shipcare aims to turn environmental awareness into community-led action.



&#8220;The sea is central to everything we do, and protecting the coastal environment is a responsibility we all share,&#8221; said Mohammed Hajee, CEO – Marine &amp; Fire Safety, SHM Shipcare. &#8220;Through this clean-up drive in Mumbai, we hope to encourage collective action and demonstrate that small, consistent efforts can create a meaningful impact on the health of our coastline.&#8221;



Hajee added that keeping beaches clean requires both awareness and action. &#8220;By bringing volunteers together, we aim to encourage responsible habits and greater participation in protecting India&#8217;s coastal environment,&#8221; he said.



The Mumbai beach clean-up drive forms part of SHM Shipcare&#8217;s wider corporate social responsibility engagement across environmental and community initiatives in coastal regions. Through such programmes, the company seeks to support local conservation efforts, strengthen environmental awareness and contribute to the long-term protection of India&#8217;s coastline.

SHM Shipcare leads Mumbai beach clean-up drive with champions

<a href="https://www.nabard.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)</a> has fully subscribed Rs 4 crore to the maiden <a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/social-stocks/social-stock-exchange-csr-2026-explained/1823" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) </a>issue of the <a href="https://nsdcindia.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)</a> on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) platform of the <a href="https://www.nseindia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Stock Exchange (NSE)</a>, in a landmark step for outcome-based social finance in India.



The NABARD ZCZP investment will help fund a project with an estimated outlay of Rs 11.25 crore, aimed at creating sustainable overseas employment for 600 rural youth from Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Madhya Pradesh.



NSDC is implementing the initiative with the Madhya Pradesh government. Under the structure, NABARD is participating through the ZCZP subscription, while the state government is expected to provide Rs 5.60 crore in outcome-linked funding once agreed employment targets are met. The remaining funds are proposed to come from beneficiary contributions.



The programme will prepare rural youth for jobs in Japan and Germany. Participants will receive language training, technical skills development, certification, cultural orientation and end-to-end placement support, including documentation and deployment assistance. The initiative aims to create lasting livelihoods and raise incomes of rural households by opening access to global labour markets.



The project is designed around outcomes rather than activities, prioritising verified overseas employment and sustained income gains over training completion alone. The approach marks a shift towards evidence-based development financing.



The transaction also highlights the potential of the Social Stock Exchange, set up under the framework of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), to draw institutions, philanthropies, foundations and corporates into financing social projects through transparent and accountable mechanisms. The ZCZP instrument allows social projects to be funded without creating repayment obligations for implementing entities.



The NABARD ZCZP subscription reflects the bank&#8217;s commitment to strengthening the SSE ecosystem and exploring new financing tools for complex rural development challenges. Beyond the single project, the initiative is expected to yield experience in designing, implementing and monitoring outcome-linked interventions.



The project also shows how development finance institutions, government agencies and specialised implementers can collaborate around measurable goals, improving accountability, optimising resources and extending programmes to underserved communities.



NABARD said it hopes lessons from the programme will encourage wider use of Social Stock Exchange-based financing across development sectors.

NABARD ZCZP: Bank subscribes Rs 4 crore to NSDC&#8217;s maiden issue on Social Stock Exchange

<a href="https://www.sterlingholidays.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL)</a>, one of India&#8217;s leading hospitality companies, has supported dialysis infrastructure for underserved regions, with its Sterling Holiday Resorts dialysis programme boosting capacity by 34,200 treatments a year, the company said.



Under its &#8220;Doing Good by Doing Well&#8221; philosophy, Sterling has committed Rs 2.25 crore across FY2024-25 and FY2025-26. So far, 38 machines have been provided to 19 hospitals and healthcare institutions.



The programme focuses on bringing renal care beyond the metros. Patients needing dialysis several times a week often face repeated travel, lost working hours and financial strain, the company said. Sterling aims to ease that burden by placing infrastructure closer to where patients live.



The initiative covers Tier II and Tier III cities, district headquarters and underserved communities in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Machines have been deployed at government hospitals, medical colleges, district hospitals and community healthcare institutions.



Sterling said it measures the programme by healthcare capacity created, not money spent or machines installed. It reported patient savings of about Rs 2.05 crore and 260 local jobs generated across the healthcare ecosystems supported.



The company said a dialysis machine is a lasting asset that can serve communities year after year, so the social return could compound over time through more treatments, lower patient costs and stronger local infrastructure.



&#8220;&#8216;Doing Good by Doing Well&#8217; reflects a simple belief at Sterling — that as our business grows, the positive impact we create around us should grow with it,&#8221; said Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director and CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited.



&#8220;Each machine becomes a community healthcare asset that can serve patients year after year, reducing travel, easing the financial burden on families and strengthening healthcare capacity where it is needed most,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The real measure of meaningful CSR is not simply what we spend, but the capacity we create and the impact that continues long after the investment is made.&#8221;



As it expands its hospitality footprint, Sterling said it intends to focus CSR investment on interventions that deliver measurable, scalable and lasting social impact.



Impact at a Glance



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Rs 2.25 crore: CSR commitment across FY2024-25 and FY2025-26</li>



<li>38: Dialysis machines supported</li>



<li>19: Hospitals and healthcare institutions supported</li>



<li>34,200: Annual dialysis treatment capacity</li>



<li>Rs 2.05 crore: Reported patient savings</li>



<li>260: Local jobs generated</li>



<li>7 states: Geographic reach</li>
</ul>

Sterling Holiday Resorts dialysis drive boosts care access

<a href="https://www.bisleri.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bisleri International</a>, India&#8217;s leading packaged drinking water brand, partnered with the <a href="https://www.purpleumbrella.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Purple Umbrella</a> Festival 2026 as Official Hydration Partner, using its flagship <a href="https://www.bisleri.com/bottles-for-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bottles for Change initiative </a>to empower young people on plastic waste management, recycling and circularity. 



The Bisleri Purple Umbrella Festival tie-up reached over 1,000 school students at Dr Ambedkar International Centre.



Themed &#8216;AI &amp; Climate: Reimagining the Future Together,&#8217; the festival also drew educators, climate experts, artists and innovators. It forms part of the Purple Umbrella Foundation&#8217;s mission to empower one million young climate champions.



Bisleri&#8217;s dedicated &#8216;Greener Promise&#8217; experience helped students see plastic waste as a resource to be recovered, recycled and reimagined. Its centrepiece, Wings of Change, was an art installation made from 2,000 used PET bottles. 



The company also displayed Benches of Dreams, made from recycled plastic, showing how discarded material can return to everyday use.



&#8220;It is vital to engage young people in conversations about environmental responsibility and inspire them to turn awareness into action,&#8221; said Dr Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International. 



&#8220;Through Bottles for Change, we continue to build awareness of responsible plastic waste management and recycling, encouraging everyone to play their part in creating a cleaner, greener planet.&#8221;



The festival encouraged students to explore climate change as creators and problem-solvers through theatre, film, technology and dialogue. 



The programme included Theatre for Climate, short films and documentaries, student innovations, climate talks, a Climate, Health &amp; Mental Wellbeing Conclave, and the Climate &amp; Heritage Quiz.



&#8220;The Purple Umbrella Festival is designed to encourage young people to think creatively about climate challenges and the role they can play in addressing them,&#8221; said Neeraj Kumar, Founder, Purple Umbrella Foundation. 



&#8220;Bisleri&#8217;s participation adds an important dimension by helping students understand responsible plastic waste management and recycling through hands-on experiences.&#8221;



Through Bottles for Change, Bisleri continues to promote recycling and circularity, encouraging more responsible waste-management choices at the individual and community level.

Bisleri Purple Umbrella festival empowers youth on recycling

<a href="https://www.delta.exchange" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delta Exchange</a>, India&#8217;s leading crypto exchange, has partnered with the <a href="https://www.iskconbangalore.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation </a>(<a href="https://www.hkmcf.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HKMCF</a>) to support the <a href="https://www.telangana.gov.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telangana Government</a>&#8216;s School Breakfast Programme, contributing Rs 4 crore towards a centralised kitchen in Vikarabad.



The facility is expected to provide breakfast to about 27,000 government school students every day. The company said its Delta Exchange CSR initiative strengthens access to regular, quality meals for children across the region.



The partnership was formalised through an MoU exchange between Chain Labs Pvt. Ltd. (Delta Exchange India) and HKMCF in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.



The initiative is part of the state-wide expansion of HKMCF&#8217;s centralised kitchen model, which aims to reach about 18 lakh students across 23,106 government schools through 31 centralised mega kitchens.



The Vikarabad kitchen will follow the model HKMCF established in Kodangal in 2024. The model is designed to prepare and distribute nutritious meals at scale while maintaining consistency in nutrition, hygiene and quality. It also allows a wider variety of breakfast options, including dosa, millet idli and puri.



As the programme expands across the state, the initiative is expected to create 10,000 to 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.



&#8220;Access to nutritious food is an important foundation for a child&#8217;s wellbeing and development,&#8221; said Pankaj Balani, Co-founder and CEO of Delta Exchange.



&#8220;Through our partnership with HKMCF, we are proud to support the infrastructure needed to extend a scalable breakfast programme to thousands of government school students in Telangana,&#8221; Balani said. He added that the company sees the move as a way to contribute to immediate nutritional needs and to an initiative that can create sustained impact for children and communities over the long term.



HKMCF, part of the ISKCON Bangalore group, has more than 13 years of experience providing meals to underserved communities. It operates more than 20 centralised community kitchens across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and has served over 25 crore meals to date.



The company said the partnership is part of its broader Delta Exchange CSR efforts to contribute to communities beyond its core business and support initiatives with measurable social impact.

Delta Exchange CSR powers breakfast for 27,000 Telangana school students with Rs 4 cr kitchen pledge

<a href="https://www.pepsicoindia.co.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PepsiCo India </a>said on Monday that its Better-for-You agenda, a key part of its <a href="https://www.pepsico.com/our-impact/sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESG strategy</a>, expands choices for India&#8217;s increasingly discerning consumers, with more than 70% of its beverages now zero-sugar or mid-calorie and a goal of raising that share to 90-100% over time.



The company&#8217;s Better-for-You product agenda is part of its ESG and sustainability strategy, specifically under the Positive Choices pillar of its company-wide pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) framework. 



The PepsiCo India ESG approach balances the taste consumers love with a growing interest in wellness, through reformulation, new products and formats, and diverse ingredients.



Social: lower-sugar beverages and consumer health



PepsiCo India is advancing the shift through reformulation and a wider range of low- and no-sugar variants, including Pepsi Black, 7UP Zero Sugar, Gatorade Zero and Nimbooz. The company said reducing sugar across its beverage range supports its Positive Choices goals and gives consumers more variety to suit their individual preferences.



Product stewardship: wholegrains, millets and baked snacks



In foods, the company is expanding choice through positive nutrition, diverse ingredients and new preparation formats. In 2026, it restaged <a href="https://www.quakeroats.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quaker</a> to bring the brand&#8217;s inherent protein, fibre and wholegrain credentials to the forefront.



Other positive-choice products include Red Rock Deli baked variants with 40% less fat and Kurkure Jowar Puffs, a millet-based snack that celebrates India&#8217;s agricultural heritage. The use of millets also reflects the company&#8217;s focus on diverse, locally rooted ingredients.



The company also said its entire convenient foods portfolio, spanning Lay&#8217;s, Kurkure, Doritos, Cheetos, Uncle Chipps, Quaker and Red Rock Deli, is made with no artificial flavours or colours.



Governance: transparency on pack



PepsiCo India provides nutritional information on pack, including energy, serving size and contribution to recommended dietary allowances for key nutrients. The company said this transparency gives consumers the information they need to choose according to their preferences and consumption occasions, in line with its ESG disclosure commitments.



&#8220;Evolving with our consumers means understanding their changing preferences and recognising the different choices they seek,&#8221; said Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia.



&#8220;Making positive choices easier is not just a responsibility for us but also an integral part of how we continue to innovate and grow,&#8221; Singh said. She added that the company is widening options for mindful consumers, from lower- and zero-sugar beverages to snacks made with wholegrains and millets, while keeping taste and enjoyment at the heart of the experience.



The company said these steps reflect a consumer-led approach to portfolio transformation, evolving established products and creating new choices for the changing tastes, lifestyles and occasions of Indian consumers. As the PepsiCo India ESG agenda, anchored in pep+, expands, the company said it aims to reflect the diverse ways in which India eats and drinks.

PepsiCo India ESG push expands Better-for-You choices with zero-sugar drinks, millet snacks

The Muthoot Finance Scholarship programme has disbursed more than Rs 5.26 crore over nine editions, helping 512 students build careers in medicine, engineering and nursing, the company said.



The Muthoot M. George Higher Education Scholarship has supported 176 doctors, 184 engineers and 152 nurses since its launch. The programme has now entered its 10th edition, with applications open to eligible students from Kerala until October 17, 2026.



For the 2026-27 academic year, the scholarship programme will offer 120 scholarships. Of these, 30 scholarships are earmarked for students from Kerala pursuing MBBS, B.Tech and B.Sc. Nursing courses.



Under the latest Muthoot Finance Scholarship, selected MBBS students will receive Rs 2.40 lakh, while students pursuing B.Tech and B.Sc. Nursing will receive Rs 1.20 lakh each. The financial assistance covers the four-year course duration.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Eligibility for Muthoot Finance Scholarship</h3>



Applicants must have secured at least 90% or an equivalent grade in Class 12, with annual family income not exceeding Rs 2 lakh.



Candidates must also have qualified the relevant entrance examination and secured admission to a recognised educational institution.



Students applying from Kerala must select the region corresponding to their permanent place of residence rather than the location of the college where they have secured admission.



Applications can be submitted online through the company’s scholarship portal.



Alexander George Muthoot, managing director of Muthoot Finance, said education can transform individual lives as well as families and communities. He said the scholarship aims to support talented and deserving students seeking to build their futures through education.



The powerful impact of the Muthoot Finance Scholarship is reflected in the 512 professionals supported through the programme so far, according to the company.



Muthoot Finance Ltd is an Upper Layer non-banking financial company and gold-loan provider in India. The company said it serves more than 2 lakh retail customers daily through its gold-loan business and has more than 5,029 branches across 29 states and union territories.



The company reported loan assets of Rs 1,91,532 crore as of June 30, 2026.

Muthoot Finance scholarship delivers powerful career boost

&#8211; Mankind Pharma has extended Rs 1 crore in financial support to Captain Smit Macchhar and his family, recognising the courage, composure and sense of responsibility he showed during an unprecedented crisis, the company said.



The drugmaker said the gesture reflects its belief that acts of exceptional courage deserve more than words of appreciation. It chose to turn its gratitude into action, citing Macchhar&#8217;s commitment to the safety and well-being of those in his care.



&#8220;There are moments when words of appreciation simply do not feel enough,&#8221; said Rajeev Juneja, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Mankind Pharma.



Juneja said Macchhar put the safety of others before his own during the crisis, demonstrating leadership and service. He said the company believes meaningful recognition is best expressed when appreciation is accompanied by action.



&#8220;We salute his courage, his humanity and his unwavering commitment to those entrusted to his care,&#8221; Juneja said.



Mankind Pharma said the support is a gesture of gratitude for Macchhar&#8217;s courage and leadership, and in recognition of the responsibility he showed towards the lives entrusted to him.



Earlier this year, on the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Juneja contributed Rs .17 crore, reaffirming his personal commitment to supporting those who serve the nation.