4th Edition of the Awards Invites Rural Entrepreneurs and Student Startups Across India | Nominations Close on 20 November 2026
India’s rural landscape is home to countless entrepreneurs who are creating opportunities, generating employment and transforming communities through innovation and determination. Recognising these inspiring journeys, the Amara Raja Better Way Awards, an initiative of the Amara Raja Group, returns with its 4th Edition in 2026, inviting nominations from rural entrepreneurs and student startups across India.
Launched in 2023, the Better Way Awards has, over the last three years, recognised and funded nine outstanding rural entrepreneurs, with each winner receiving a cash award of ₹3 lakh. These success stories stand as powerful examples of how the right encouragement, recognition and financial support can transform grassroots enterprises into sustainable businesses. Their journeys demonstrate that innovation and entrepreneurship are not restricted to metropolitan cities – India’s villages and small towns have the potential to create businesses that make a meaningful difference.
Four Award Categories to Recognise Grassroots Innovation
The 4th Edition brings an expanded opportunity to recognise established rural entrepreneurs as well as the next generation of innovators through four award categories:
- Women Employment: Recognising enterprises creating meaningful employment opportunities for women.
- Rural Income Generation: Celebrating businesses improving rural incomes and livelihoods.
- Best Agri-Based Business: Recognising innovative enterprises transforming agriculture and allied sectors.
- Changemaker of Tomorrow: Encouraging student startups and young innovators developing solutions for rural development.
What Do the Winners Receive?
Each award category winner will receive:
- ₹3 lakh cash prize for each category.
- One year of structured mentorship to support business growth.
- Professional guidance from experienced experts across Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Information Technology and Supply Chain Management.
Beyond financial recognition, the awards aim to help promising enterprises strengthen their operations, scale their businesses and create a greater social and economic impact.
Who Should Apply?
Nominations are invited from:
- Rural entrepreneurs and rural enterprises.
- Women-led businesses.
- Agricultural and food-processing enterprises.
- MSMEs creating rural employment and income opportunities.
- Graduate and postgraduate student startups with innovative, rural-focused solutions.
Nominations Close: 20 November 2026
Rural entrepreneurs and aspiring innovators across India are encouraged to step forward and showcase their journeys. This is an opportunity to gain recognition, access valuable mentorship and become an inspiration to thousands of others across rural India.
YOUR JOURNEY DESERVES TO BE RECOGNISED!
Nominate Now:
- Rural Entrepreneurs: https://forms.gle/s1NRVi8APVbuHJCD7
- Student Startups: https://forms.gle/d6MyygwvPsUKz6qPA
The Amara Raja Better Way Awards 2026 is an initiative of the Amara Raja Group , with Small Enterprise India serving as its Outreach and Validation Partner for the third consecutive year.
Discover the changemakers. Celebrate their journeys. Inspire a Better Way for Rural India.
