At the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of India, felicitated the winners of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award 2026 and recognized other grassroots women leaders transforming communities in the fields of Health, Education, Micro-enterprise and Community Strengthening.
From over 340 nominations, an eminent jury selected 4 winners who received the prestigious award.
Highlights:
* Shri Pradhan felicitated Nirmala from Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, for her exceptional work in the Micro-Enterprise category focused on strengthening women’s financial independence and livelihood opportunities.
* Since 2016, Nirmala has strengthened over 500 Self-Help Groups across 15 blocks, enabling more than 15,000 women to access financial literacy, savings, credit systems, and collective governance.
* She has supported women in building micro-enterprises ranging from tailoring and livestock to service-based livelihoods, helping improve household resilience and steady incomes.
* Her work prioritises inclusion of marginalised women while strengthening transparency and sustainability within women-led collectives.
Why the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award Matters:
The Award spotlights women from underserved communities driving social change, helping amplify their voices and build support, resources, and partnerships to scale their impact.
Each Awardee receives a trophy, a cash prize, capacity-building support, and becomes part of a nation-wide network of 150+ woman exemplars who are driving positive change.
