Kotak Education Foundation (KEF), the CSR implementing agency of Kotak Mahindra Group, has started its implementation of a large-scale capacity building program, spanning 13 districts and impacting over 300 PM Shri schools in Maharashtra. This  program gears towards teachers with the skills, tools, and guidance needed to build stronger learning environments for students. Designed as a teacher-centric program, the focus lies on enhancing the professional capacity of educators across four critical areas:

Leadership Development

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)

Communicative English

Pedagogical Technology (PedTech)

At the heart of the program lies a commitment to support teachers in helping students achieve the learning outcomes defined under NIPUN Bharat. By strengthening classroom pedagogy and ensuring effective implementation, the program aims to transform teaching practices and student learning experiences.   The initiative provides comprehensive on-ground support to educators through:

1. Regular school visits for continuous guidance
2. Assistance in daily teaching practices
3. Interactive workshops that encourage innovation and outcome-oriented learning and hands on learning

Speaking on the Program, Ms. Sangita Dandapat, Project Head, PM SHRI , Kotak Education Foundation, said, “Through the PM SHRI Capacity Building Program, we are investing in our greatest asset, our teachers. By equipping them with leadership skills, innovative pedagogies, and foundational learning, we are not just enhancing classrooms learning, we are shaping futures. The program ensures that quality learning reaches every child, in every corner of our districts.”   This approach ensures that training translates effectively into practice, enabling educators to create engaging and impactful classrooms. By equipping teachers with leadership skills, foundational skills (FLN), innovative pedagogical methods, 21st century skills and technological know-how, the program is fostering a culture of excellence that directly benefits students and strengthens the education ecosystem. With its sustained focus on capacity-building, the program is laying the foundation for long-term, scalable impact in the education sector.   PM SHRI School   PM SHRI School is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India. This initiative is intended to develop more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools managed by Central Government/State/UT Government/local bodies including KVS and NVS in which every student feels welcomed and cared for, where a safe and stimulating learning environment exists, where a wide range of learning experiences are offered, and where good physical infrastructure and appropriate resources conducive to learning are available to all students. The pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based (particularly in the foundational years), inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible, and enjoyable. The focus will be on the learning outcomes of every child in every grade. Through this scheme the students will engage productively and contribute in building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by the National Education Policy 2020.   About Kotak Education Foundation (KEF)   Celebrating two impactful decades, Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) is committed to empowering children and youth from under-resourced communities through education, skills, and opportunity. Guided by the philosophy of “Inch Wide, Mile Deep”, KEF implements scalable, high-impact programs that uplift children and youth across the country.   1. Holistic School-Based Programs with Students and Educators  

In Mumbai, KEF’s interventions focus on strengthening school leadership, enhancing teacher capabilities in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), creating digital learning environments, and building students’ confidence through communicative English.

In Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh, KEF is driving systemic transformation through Project KSHAMATA (Kindling Scholastic Acumen and Mediating Academic and Technological Awareness). This initiative builds the capacity of teachers and school leaders, fosters academic excellence, and promotes all-round student development—aligned with the state curriculum and NEP 2020 goals.

As a key partner in the PM SHRI Schools initiative, KEF is now scaling its capacity building program in  300+ schools in Maharashtra. The program uses experiential, play-based, and discovery-oriented pedagogy to make learning engaging and outcome-driven. Every child’s progress is assessed on conceptual understanding and real-world application, creating inclusive, equitable learning environments in line with NEP 2020’s vision of exemplar schools.

In alignment with NIPUN Bharat and SCERT state plans, KEF’s Model School Project promotes 21st-century learning across 21 schools in five Maharashtra districts. The initiative integrates FLN, communicative English, digital solutions, leadership development, and infrastructure enhancement to foster creativity, critical thinking, and future readiness among students.

  2. Equitable Scholarships for Higher Education

The Kotak Kanya Scholarship (launched in 2021) supports academically meritorious girl students from across India in pursuing higher education.

The Kotak Junior Scholarship aids bright students from Mumbai’s underserved communities in completing Grades 11 and 12.

Kotak Shiksha Nidhi, a compassionate response to the COVID-19 crisis, provides educational continuity to students aged 6–22 who lost a parent or primary earning family member. Going beyond financial aid, the initiative offers academic mentoring, mental health support, life coaching, and career guidance—helping students rebuild their future with renewed confidence.

  3. Vocational Education & Livelihood Training for Youth

KEF’s Unnati Program equips unemployed youth from low-income backgrounds with essential life skills, digital literacy, spoken English, and personality development. With a strong focus on placement support, Unnati ensures participants are job-ready and confident to step into the professional world.

With a strong foundation and bold vision, KEF is now transitioning from a "school-as-a-unit" model to district- and state-level transformation—driving Impact at Scale.   Kotak Education Foundation is the primary implementation partner for the education-focused CSR initiatives of Kotak Mahindra Group, under the Group’s CSR identity, Kotak Karma.   For more information, please visit the Company’s website at https://www.kotakeducationfoundation.org/   About Kotak Mahindra Group   Established in 1985, Kotak Mahindra Group is one of India's leading financial services conglomerates. In February 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. (KMFL), the Group's flagship company, received banking license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), becoming the first non-banking finance company in India to convert into a bank - Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL).   Kotak Mahindra Group (the Group) offers a wide range of financial services that encompass every sphere of life. From commercial banking, to stock broking, mutual funds, life and general insurance and investment banking, the Group caters to the diverse financial needs of individuals and the corporate sector. The premise of Kotak Mahindra Group’s business model is concentrated India, diversified financial services. The bold vision that underscores the Group’s growth is an inclusive one, with a host of products and services designed to address the needs of the unbanked and insufficiently banked.   Kotak Mahindra Group has a global presence through its subsidiaries in UK, USA, Gulf Region, Singapore and Mauritius with offices in London, New York, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Mauritius respectively. As on 31st March, 2023, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has a national footprint of 1,780 branches and 2,963 ATMs, and branches in GIFT City and DIFC (Dubai). For more information, please visit the Company’s website at https://www.kotak.com