The record
Written from the 4 reports below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- The Hindu businessline held its eighth annual Changemaker Awards ceremony in New Delhi, honoring individuals and organizations for contributions to social, financial, and digital transformation in India.
- At the event, Nirmala Lakshman told the audience that lasting societal and business change depends on persistent effort and credible journalism, positioning the press as a driver of reform rather than a passive observer.
- What began as an annual recognition ritual eight years ago has become a fixture on the Indian business-media calendar, and this edition continued its focus on changemakers spanning business and social sectors.
- All available coverage comes from The Hindu businessline itself, presenting the event in a uniformly positive frame; no independent or critical accounts are present, so the winners' real-world impact is not independently assessed in this reporting.
- The stakes are modest but real: the awards signal which initiatives a major Indian business daily chooses to amplify, and such visibility can shape reputations, partnerships, and funding interest.
- Readers should treat this as the organizer's own account and look for the full winners' list and citations to judge the substance behind the recognition.
What to watch next
- Find full winners' list and citations for named awardees
- Watch whether awardee initiatives attract funding or partnerships
- Note which sectors businessline spotlights next year for signals
What changed4
Every report on this story, newest first. Times are when each outlet published.
The Hindu[1]
‘Stork Sister’ Purnima Devi wins businessline Changemaker of the Year award; Border Roads Organisation and M.R. Rajagopal crowned Iconic ChangemakersThe Hindu BusinessLine[2]
businessline Changemaker Awards 2026 - WinnersThe Hindu BusinessLine[3]
Stork Sister Purnima Devi wins businessline’s Changemaker of the Year award; BRO, MR Rajagopal crowned Iconic changemakersThe Hindu BusinessLine[4]
Meaningful change is built through countless decisions, sustained efforts, courage to stay the course: Nirmala Lakshman
Who said what10
Only words found exactly in the article are shown, attributed and linked to the line they came from.
Nirmala Lakshman
Director and Publisher of The Hindu Group of Publications
5 quotes · 2 outlets
“Every year, this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change...and the persistence to see this through.”
In the article
…so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground.” Earlier, inaugurating the event, Nirmala Lakshman, Director, THG Publishing, said, “ Every year, this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change...and the persistence to see this through. ” Raghuvir Srinivasan, Editor, businessline, described how 1,600 nominations were received, from which the winners were chosen — a really tough job for the jury. “It was like a samudra manthan (churning of the ocean),”…
“Every year this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change... and the persistence to see this through.”
In the article
…so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground.” Earlier, inaugurating the event, Nirmala Lakshman, Director, THG Publishing, said, “ Every year this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change... and the persistence to see this through. ” Raghuvir Srinivasan, Editor, businessline, described how 1,600 nominations were received, from which the winners were chosen – a really tough job for the jury. “It was like Samudra Manthan,” he said. The 2026 awards…
Purnima Devi Barman
2 quotes · 2 outlets
“When women rise, magic happens and the hargila (stork) takes flight.”
In the article
…crowned Iconic Changemaker as was ‘pain doctor’ M.R. Rajagopal, founder and chairman emeritus of Pallium India, who integrated palliative care in mainstream healthcare services. Receiving the award, Purnima Devi said, “ When women rise, magic happens and the hargila (stork) takes flight. ” The eighth edition of the event saw awards being given in six categories — Digital Transformation, Social Transformation, Financial Transformation, Young Changemaker, Iconic Changemaker, and Changemaker of the Year.…
“When women rise, magic happens and the hargila (the stork) takes flight.”
In the article
…crowned Iconic Changemaker as was ‘pain doctor’ MR Rajagopal, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Pallium India who integrated palliative care in mainstream healthcare services. Receiving the award, Purnima Devi said, “ When women rise, magic happens and the hargila (the stork) takes flight. ” Six categories The 8th edition of the event saw awards being given in six categories – digital transformation, social transformation, financial transformation, young changemaker, iconic changemaker, and changemaker of…
Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister
2 quotes · 2 outlets
“India is a vast country. Despite the States and Centre doing so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground.”
In the article
…Agarwal, a 16-year-old girl from Jaipur for giving visibility to invisible gig workers. Acknowledging businessline’s role in bringing to the fore the work of changemakers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “ India is a vast country. Despite the States and Centre doing so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground. ” Earlier, inaugurating the event, Nirmala Lakshman, Director, THG Publishing, said, “Every year, this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change...and the persistence to see this…
“India is a vast country. Despite the States and Centre doing so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground.”
In the article
…Changemaker award went to Ariana Agarwal, a 16-year year old from Jaipur for giving visibility to invisible gig workers. Acknowledging businessline’srole in surfacing the work of changemakers, Finance Minister said, “ India is a vast country. Despite the States and Centre doing so much, it is the changemakers who are putting their heart and soul in their endeavours who are making a difference on the ground. ” Earlier, inaugurating the event, Nirmala Lakshman, Director, THG Publishing, said, “Every year this evening gives us a chance to recognise the power of an idea to create change... and the persistence to see this…
Raghuvir Srinivasan
Editor of businessline
1 quote · 1 outlet
“It was like a samudra manthan (churning of the ocean)”
In the article
…create change...and the persistence to see this through.” Raghuvir Srinivasan, Editor, businessline, described how 1,600 nominations were received, from which the winners were chosen — a really tough job for the jury. “ It was like a samudra manthan (churning of the ocean) ,” he said. The 2026 awards function was presented by Sastra Deemed University and powered by City Union Bank. Associate partners were State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation, Government of Andhra Pradesh,…
Related reporting
Grouped by subject or cast while the story boundary is under human review. No chronology is implied.
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Why it matters4
Who is affected first and what likely follows, with a direction and a horizon. Extracted from the reports, never invented.
- Changemaker Award recipients (individuals and organizations) recognition and visibility· immediate
- The Hindu businessline brand prestige and event franchise· immediate
- Awardees' social and business initiatives partnership and support interest· weeks
- Indian journalism sector credibility advocacy· longer
Coverage2
All filed from India
Named India · Pallium India · Aparna Hegde · Ariana Agarwal · ARMMAN · Border Roads Organisation · Businessline · CanKids · Changemaker Awards · Gaurav Shah · Gourmet Popcornica · MR Rajagopal · Nirmala Lakshman
- The Hindu‘Stork Sister’ Purnima Devi wins businessline Changemaker of the Year award; Border Roads Organisation and M.R. Rajagopal crowned Iconic Changemakers[1]English national· neutral
- The Hindu BusinessLinebusinessline Changemaker Awards 2026 - Winners[2]English national· neutral
- The Hindu BusinessLineStork Sister Purnima Devi wins businessline’s Changemaker of the Year award; BRO, MR Rajagopal crowned Iconic changemakers[3]English national· neutral
- The Hindu BusinessLineMeaningful change is built through countless decisions, sustained efforts, courage to stay the course: Nirmala Lakshman[4]English national· neutral
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